European nations scrambled last night to prevent a growing credit crisis from bringing down major banks and alarming savers as troubles in financial markets spread around the world, accelerating economic downturns in major economies on three continents.

FORT WORTH, Texas – The idea of paying a single, simple fare to fly on an airliner is becoming as quaint as stewardesses in short skirts. American Airlines is about to accelerate the trend of breaking the cost of a trip into an airfare plus many smaller fees.

NEW YORK – The battle for control of troubled bank Wachovia tilted toward Wells Fargo yesterday as a state appeals court blocked a lower-court ruling that had favored rival bidder Citigroup.