This is one of the most tumultuous times on record in the global financial markets.

The financial landscape is going through a period of upheaval with some major firms folding, other operations merging and a limited number of companies in both the Europe and the US, being rescued by governments.

Governments have spent billions of dollars on rescue packages, led by the US with its $700bn rescue package.

BANKS AFFECTED BY THE GLOBAL CRISIS - 2008

Giants of the business world, such as Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch, have crumbled or been bought out.

In London confidence in the markets fell with news of Bradford and Bingley's nationalisation.

Banking shares have been the worst hit by the financial turmoil.

NIKKEI 225 INDEX: 16 September 2008 - present After the failure of the US bail-out plan, the Dow Jones index lost 770 points, 6.9%, its biggest one-day fall since the present crisis began. DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE: 16 September 2008 - present SHARE PRICES Banks have continued to suffer the steepest falls in share prices. US bank Merrill Lynch was taken over by Bank of America on 15 September prompting an initial recovery in shares, but they have since dipped again. Fortis shares were falling sharply until a rescue deal was mounted by European banks on 29 September. COMMODITIES The price of metals and oil has also been affected by the financial chaos. After reaching a record high in July of $147 a barrel, the price of oil has fallen and is now back under the $100 mark. Gold has fluctuated significantly.

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