Lawmakers Near Bailout Deal Economy Stumbles - Stocks Rise

STOCK RISE

U.S. stock prices rose at the open, while the data on the weakening U.S. economy knocked down the dollar against the yen and euro.

"Not looking too good at all," said George Davis, chief technical analyst at RBC Capital Markets in Toronto. "Obviously the data reinforces the slowdown in the U.S. economy and it is likely to generate some short-term U.S. dollar weakness."

Traders cited gnawing concern that even if Congress approves a bailout, it may lack the muscle to save the world's largest economy from recession or a steep economic tumble, potentially squeezing a slowing world economy.

"The U.S. may be closer to reaching a deal to approve the bailout, but there is still a lot of uncertainty on its overall impact on the economy," said Mark Pervan, a senior commodity strategist at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

Gold was higher as investors sought safety in bullion. The metal is up about 20 percent since September 11, when a collapse in shares of Lehman Brothers raised questions about the global banking system.

German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck said one outcome of the crisis would be a less dominant role for the United States in the global financial system. "The United States will lose its superpower status in the world financial system. The world financial system will become more multi-polar," he said.

He joined a growing chorus of international politicians who have blamed the United States for spawning the global financial crisis with a blind drive for higher profits and insufficient market regulation.

Bush has offered few details about the emerging bailout but used a prime-time address Wednesday night to warn Americans of "a long and painful recession" if Congress fails to act swiftly to fund a rescue that would cost more than the Iraq war.

In his first prime-time speech devoted exclusively to the economy, Bush told Americans there was little choice but to undertake the bailout, which could cost every man, woman and child in America $2,300.

"I believe companies that make bad decisions should be allowed to go out of business. Under normal circumstances, I would have followed this course. But these are not normal circumstances," Bush said.

"The market is not functioning properly. There has been a widespread loss of confidence, and major sectors of America's financial system are at risk of shutting down."

Struggling automakers General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), and Chrysler LLC, hurt by tight credit markets, won House of Representatives backing on Wednesday for guarantees needed to fund a $25 billion loan package.

McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, has asked to cancel a debate with Obama, the Democratic nominee, set for Friday, citing the need to work on the bailout.

Obama said the first of a series of planned debates should go ahead: "What is important is that we don't suddenly infuse Capitol Hill with presidential politics."

(Additional reporting by Wanfeng Zhou and Nick Olivari in New York, Richard Cowan, Alister Bull and David Lawder in Washington, and Noah Barkin in Berlin; editing by John Wallace)

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