Britain gives impetus to global tax on banks
ST ANDREWS, Scotland (Reuters) - World governments should consider urgently a levy on banks to fund future bailouts, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Saturday, departing from London's longstanding resistance to a global tax.

Freddie Mac posts $5 billion loss
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Freddie Mac <FRE.N> <FRE.P>, the second largest provider of U.S. residential mortgage funding, on Friday posted a loss of $5 billion in the third quarter and predicted it would need more government support amid a "prolonged deterioration" in housing.

Berkshire Hathaway's net income triples
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc <BRKa.N> <BRKb.N> on Friday said quarterly earnings tripled, as rising stock markets boosted its investment holdings and a quiet hurricane season contributed to higher insurance profit.

U.S. jobless rate surges to 10.2 percent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. jobless rate unexpectedly jumped to 10.2 percent last month, a 26-1/2-year high, adding to pressure on the Obama administration to do more to tackle unemployment even as signs of recovery mount.

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