51.   South Korean stocks rose for a second day amid speculation Korean banks may be bought by foreign banks.

52.   Still, the company has long suffered from the criticism that it was better at buying banks than at running them.

53.   The alternative, not buying banks, could leave First Union vulnerable to increasingly bigger competitors.

54.   The acquisition comes as commercial banks are taking advantage of relaxed regulations to buy investment banks.

55.   The acquisition comes as commercial banks take advantage of relaxed regulations to buy investment banks.

56.   The bank also has bought shares in several bank stocks before, including a stake in Shawmut National Corp. before that bank was bought by Fleet Financial Group Inc.

57.   The bank soared earlier this year on speculation that Banco Santander was planning to buy the bank.

58.   The Boston-based bank is also looking to buy banks in the region.

59.   The law, signed this afternoon, lets banks lend money, open branches and buy banks outside Chile.

60.   The Korean rebound was spurred by an end to limits on currency trading, eased restrictions on interest rate movements and permission for foreigners to buy troubled banks.