"Oh, no! Two dollars!"

So cried investors three weeks ago. The Federal Reserve had just announced that it was lowering the discount rate by a quarter of a point and had arranged for the sale of Bear Stearns to JPMorgan Chase. Stock futures jumped on news of the discount rate cut and Bear sale until investors heard the price.

The market's anxiety was justified. If a legendary Wall Street investment bank that investors valued at over $100 per share just last December was suddenly worth next to nothing, what were the other Wall Street firms, such as Goldman Sachs, Merrill, and particularly, Lehman Brothers really worth? The news sent S&P 500 futures spiraling and set the stage for a tumultuous opening that Monday morning.

Recap on Crisis

Bear Stearns, founded in 1923, has been an aggressive player in the financial markets for many years. One of the pioneers of mortgage-backed securities in the 1980s, Bear was heavily involved in the packaging of sub-prime mortgages during the housing boom. As the prices of these securities slipped last year, Bear bought not only for its own account but also for its hedge funds that it established for its wealthy investors. Bear's purchases were financed with short-term borrowings that were collateralized against these securities. But as the market continued to tumble, lenders demanded more cash to secure their loans. When Bear knew it would not have enough cash to cover the margin, it went to JPMorgan, one of its lenders. Both then turned to the Fed to arrange a $30 billion dollar loan guarantee against

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Brushing aside the threat of a disruptive takeover battle that could batter its shaky stock, Internet pioneer Yahoo Inc. on Monday reiterated its refusal to sell to Microsoft Corp. for less than $45 billion.

Yahoo's defiance, spelled out in a letter to Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, marked the latest twist in a tug-of-war pitting two high-tech icons trying to mount a more formidable challenge to online search and advertising leader Google Inc.

The increasingly tense struggle now appears to have reached a turning point after more than two months of mostly behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

Analysts believe the two rivals will either broker a friendly transaction before the end of the month or wrestle for the allegiance of Yahoo's shareholders in a prickly showdown that could drag into the summer.

Most people following the saga still seem to think Microsoft -- the world's richest tech company -- holds the upper hand over Yahoo, which has been mired in a two-year slump and unable so far to find an alternative deal that would trump Microsoft's original offer of $44.6 billion, or $31 per share.

"They both have some leverage, but the greatest leverage still appears to rest with Microsoft," said

A little teamwork between you and your partner -- whether you're just married or celebrating your 30th anniversary -- could pay off down the road.

The proportion of married couples with dual incomes has more than quadrupled since 1940, and now accounts for more than 40% of all American families, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That trend and the slow demise of traditional pensions suggests that many American families have two 401(k) plans these days.

You probably understand the benefits of diversification in such long-term accounts. Over the long haul, maintaining the right exposure to large-cap and small-cap stocks, domestic and overseas issues, bonds and cash can maximize returns while minimizing risk.

If both you and your spouse have 401(k)s, treating them as one big portfolio can make maintaining diversification much easier.

Set Your Goals

First, you'll need a good idea of what your joint asset allocation should be based on your risk tolerance and time horizon. A couple in their early 30s might want to hold an asset allocation somewhere in the neighborhood of 70% U.S. stocks, 15% international stocks and 15% fixed income or cash; an older