European Governments Race to Help Banks Amid Crisis

European governments from Brussels to Copenhagen to Berlin rushed to shore up their faltering banks as the credit crunch worsened in Europe.

BNP Paribas SA agreed to buy Fortis's units in Belgium and Luxembourg for 14.5 billion euros ($19.8 billion) after a government rescue failed, while the German state and financial institutions put together a 50 billion-euro rescue package for Hypo Real Estate Holding AG. Denmark and Germany said they will guarantee all their countries' bank deposits.

Financial shares tumbled in European trading on concern the hurried actions will fail to unlock bank lending. The leaders of Europe's four biggest economies were unable to agree on joint responses at an Oct. 4 meeting, pledging instead to work together to limit the economic fallout, ease accounting rules, and seek tougher financial regulations.

The governments' plan for individual action ``is a failure,'' said Pio De Gregorio, head of equity research and trading at Centrobanca SpA in Milan. ``This is a systemic crisis and it warrants a systemic solution. We need a European fund that will recapitalize banks.''

The escalation in the cost of rescuing Hypo Real Estate and Fortis, just a week after the initial bailouts were announced, also undermined confidence, analysts said.

The Bloomberg 500 Europe Banks and Financial Services Index dropped 7.3 percent. The euro slid to a 14-month low against the dollar and Treasuries rose as the crisis spread outside the U.S., prompting investors to opt for less risky investments.