21.  U.S. thrifts are buying back stock in the first year after going public, as regulators encourage repurchases as the best way for savings banks to use excess capital.

22.  Was their collecting simply the leisure activity of a pair of Yankees blessed with excess capital and a yen for cultural credentials, as it has sometimes been portrayed?

23.  Woolwich Chief Executive John Stewart this week told the Financial Times the bank would likely return excess capital to shareholders rather than acquire another company.