So, banks are in a world of hurt right now, following the closure of IndyMac Bank on Friday (July 11, 2008).  But, there could be opportunties.  It may be the time to consider actually purchasing a bank or two!

Continental Airlines [NYSE:CAL] today unveiled its new lie-flat BusinessFirst seats.  The airline reported that the seats would be deployed in the fall of 2009 on the B777-200 fleet; installation on the B757-200 would begin in 2010.  The seats will be installed on the new B787 as they are delivered. 

Continental's new BusinessFirst seats allow customers to lie completely flat, reclining 180-degrees and providing 6 1/2 feet (2 meters) of sleeping space in the fully extended position on its widebody aircraft. The lie-flat seat is one of the widest business-class seats in the air, measuring up to 25 inches when the adjustable armrest is positioned flush with the seat cushion, allowing customers to sleep more comfortably. Electronic "one-touch" controls enable customers to easily move the seats to pre-set upright, cradle and fully extended sleep positions and additional controls allow customers to adjust the seat back, lumbar support and leg and foot rests to the custom position most comfortable for them.

The lie-flat seats provide more individual storage space for personal items. Laptop power, headset and USB plugs are conveniently tucked above the customer's shoulder. There is additional storage under the ottoman, on a shelf under the monitor and on an amenity storage alcove that provides room for small personal items such as a book or magazine and a water bottle.

iPod connectivity will also be available at the seat, allowing each customer to view their personal videos and enjoy their music, all while the iPod is charging. BusinessFirst seats on the 787 and 777 aircraft will feature a 15.4-inch video monitor for customers to enjoy on-demand movies, music and games. Seats on the 757 aircraft will feature 10.6-inch monitors.

The new BusinessFirst seats also have a six-way adjustable head rest, an individual overhead reading light and an adjustable seat light allowing a customer to read in bed without disturbing their neighbor and a privacy shell that allows for seclusion from other travelers.

Two Years to Design and Perfect

Continental's product marketing team began researching new seat options in the fall of 2006 when planning BusinessFirst service for the new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline visited with numerous seat manufacturers worldwide before selecting BE Aerospace, which created five different design concepts. Concurrently, Continental sought feedback from a focus group of BusinessFirst frequent flyers that identified and prioritized key needs of global travelers and worked closely with the airline's project team and the seat manufacturer to help create the new seat. The important features requested by the focus group were to install a wider seat that could lay completely flat and be easy to operate.

Seats are the Centerpiece of Premium Service

BusinessFirst service features an extensive gourmet menu served with premium wines and champagnes created by Continental's Congress of Chefs and Sommeliers. International Concierge Service provides individualized pre- and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 42 airports around the world. Customers traveling in BusinessFirst may also access any of Continental's 27 Presidents Clubs and more than 60 airline affiliated lounges worldwide.

Continental Airlines has won numerous awards for its BusinessFirst product. The Official Airline Guide has awarded Continental's BusinessFirst as the Best Executive/Business Class for five consecutive years (2003 - 2007), and Conde Nast Traveler magazine rated Continental's premium BusinessFirst service the highest among all U.S. carriers for trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flights 10 years in a row.

Continental currently operates the Boeing 777 on routes between Newark and Beijing, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London/Heathrow, Mumbai, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv and Tokyo, and between Houston and London/Heathrow, Paris and Tokyo.

Hong Kong, August 26, 2008: JPMorgan [NYSE:JPM] and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced that they have jointly launched an innovative trade finance structure in Asia and the Pacific to help facilitate and boost trade activities in the region.

The funded trade advance, a component of the IFC Global Trade Finance Program, provides cost-effective pre-export and post-import financing to banks. It combines several trade transactions into a single trade facility and provides an innovative approach to raising funds through risk-mitigated avenues. It is also flexible and can be easily replicated in other regions.

Habib Bank Limited, Pakistan's largest privately owned bank, will be the first to benefit from this solution. It raised a $55 million trade advance to support its corporate clients' international trade activities. This will help the bank expand its financing options as trade flows in Pakistan continue to grow.

"This innovative structure attests to our strategy to partner with multilaterals like the World Bank Group and introduce viable and cost-effective solutions to help customers cope with increasing international trade activities. We are excited about this first transaction with Habib Bank Limited and committed to supporting financial institutions in the region," said Asif Raza, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Head of Trade Services and Logistics Management, JPMorgan Treasury Services.

"In an environment where liquidity is scarce, we are thrilled to work with IFC and JPMorgan on this trade solution. We remain committed to our clients and constantly look for alternative sources of funding to facilitate trade," said Tariq Mateen Khan, General Manager for Financial Institutions International Banking, Habib Bank Limited.

"Creating and delivering this structure demonstrates our leadership in providing world-class solutions tailored to our clients' needs. We plan to expand our capabilities in Pakistan and look forward to working closely with clients to implement new financing ideas," said Reza Rahim, Senior Country Officer of JPMorgan Pakistan.

"We are pleased to partner with JPMorgan to support Habib Bank Limited's expanding trade business. We will continue to look for innovative ways to boost trade in emerging markets," said Priyamvada Singh, IFC Regional Head for Trade, Asia and the Middle East.

About JPMorgan Treasury Services

The Treasury Services business of JPMorgan is a top-ranked, full-service provider of innovative payment, collection, liquidity and investment management, trade finance, commercial card and information solutions to corporations, financial services institutions, middle market companies, small businesses, governments and municipalities worldwide. With more than 50,000 clients and a presence in 36 countries, JPMorgan Treasury Services is the world's largest provider of treasury management services and a division of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., member FDIC. More information can be found at www.jpmorgan.com/ts.

About JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of US$1.8 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management, and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its JPMorgan and Chase brands. Information about the firm is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

About IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. IFC's vision is that people should have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. In FY07, IFC committed $8.2 billion and mobilized an additional $3.9 billion through syndications and structured finance for 299 investments in 69 developing countries. IFC also provided advisory services in 97 countries. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

About Habib Bank Limited

Habib Bank Limited or HBL is Pakistan's oldest and largest commercial bank and has a balance sheet size of over USD 10Bn. With over 1,400 domestic branches, HBL has the strongest Retail Banking network in the country. The bank also enjoys a strong leadership position in the Corporate Banking sector. HBL's presence in 25 countries gives it the largest international presence among Pakistani banks. The bank caters to people from all walks of life and its dedication to the customer base is evinced in the successful nurturing of over 5 million relationships. HBL is currently rated AA+ (Long Term) and A-1+ (Short term) by JCR-VIS, Pakistan, and is the first Pakistani bank to raise Tier II Capital from external sources.