The UK's largest bank HSBC is expected to unveil about $16bn (8.1bn) of losses for 2007, but will still make an annual profit, reports suggest.

The firm's annual results out on Monday will show that the bad debt charge is mostly related to the crumbling US housing market and consumer blues.

But it is still thought profits will rise to $25bn, from $22bn the year before and it will raise its dividend.

UK banks have so far fared better than their US rivals in the credit crisis.

HSBC is the last of the "big five" British banks to report its earnings for 2007.

Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Lloyds TSB and HBOS, which was formed by the merger of Halifax and Bank of Scotland, have already filed their figures.

Together with a number of smaller High Street lenders, they have made a collective loss of about 5bn on the declining value of investments linked to the US sub-prime mortgage crisis before factoring in potential losses at HSBC, according to The Observer.

Hip-Hop Rumors: LaLa Plumps Up, Amerie Dropped? AHHmerican Gangster!

I know she wants to be regarded as a serious actor, but “Angel Heart" messed Lisa Bonet's career up. Read our interview with Vanessa while you are at it! She discusses the FACTS, not conjecture.

There were a lot of little petty incidents at the Grammys…I ignored a lot of them. You know, the whole thing with Rihanna pulling Beyonce's man on stage like it was her man or something.

NAB boss warns RBA over rates

THE head of one of the nation's largest banks has warned the Reserve Bank about overusing the "blunt instrument" of interest rate policy to curb inflation, and downplayed the prospect of more unpopular rate hikes outside RBA increases.

The major banks incurred the wrath of the Federal Government in January and earlier this month by passing on their own higher funding costs to variable-rate home-loan customers. However, National Australia Bank chief executive John Stewart said the controversial practice of restoring bank profit margins eroded by the global liquidity crisis had probably run its course. "I wouldn't rule it out, but it's probably unlikely," he told The Australian. "It's very political, it affects people's living standards, and you have to balance the interests of our shareholders.

Travel-Finding a flight at a price that's right

It's no secret that budget travelers want to find the cheapest fares out there. Where to find them is another matter. Here's our updated primer on how to snare a decent airfare.

1. Look at historical data. By examining pricing history, a number of relatively new sites tell you if fares are heading up or down, or alert you to unusually low fares. At www.farecast.com, for example, do a search for one of the fares for the 75 domestic cities tracked by Farecast, and the site not only makes a prediction but indicates how sure it is of that prediction. Farecast also has a product called Fare Guard. For $9.95, it will lock in a price for one week, but only for fares it predicts will stay stable or go down during that time. Other sites that offer fare trending include www.farecompare.com and www.kayak.com, which recently merged with SideStep.com (both maintain a Web presence).

Rivalry all it's quacked up to be

This is right smack in the middle of something, and it's getting juicier every time we see it.

Anaheim hung on for a 3-2 victory only after Nicklas Lidstrom's apparent tying goal with 40 seconds left was disallowed. It was an iffy call -- the referee said Tomas Holmstrom was in the crease and made contact with goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and he did, but slightly. It's the type of call that better not decide a playoff game. And this was the type of game that confirmed why these teams better meet in the playoffs.

The Judgment.

Meanwhile, the US has invaded two countries, throwing them into total chaos, while beating the drums for war with Iran and conspiring with Israel to invade Lebanon and to attack Syria. The indisputable facts are that the US and Israel have attacked four Middle East countries and are determined to attack a fifth. Yet, it is peaceful Iran, at war with no one, that Bush and Israel blame for causing instability in the Middle East. Not content with its many wars in the Middle East, the Bush Regime is sponsoring wars in Africa and is setting up an African Command. The US government has been bombing and attacking other countries ever since the cold war ended. Instead of peace, the gang in Washington DC chose war. Other than the Israel Lobby, the greatest supporters of Bush's wars are Christian evangelicals, specifically the "rapture evangelicals" and the "Christian Zionists." I remember when Christianity was about saving one's soul.

Obama routs Clinton in Potomac primaries, as another of her aides ...

Barack Obama has overtaken Hillary Clinton in the race for Democratic presidential delegates after routing her in last night's three primary contests, victories that saw him dramatically cut into her core support for the first time.

As the scale of his victories emerged, Mrs Clinton's camp announced that her deputy campaign manager Mike Henry had resigned, two days after the removal of her campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, adding to the sense of mounting stress and pressure in the face of Mr Obama's recent string of victories.

Herald Resources board accepts $444m takeover bid

THE board of takeover target Herald Resources have unanimously recommended shareholders accept the all-cash takeover offer from Indonesia's PT Bumi's subsidiary Calipso.

Kayakers battle fatigue and competition

TWO men attempting to become the first Australians to paddle across the Tasman are battling physical and emotional exhaustion, as well as the likelihood a competing craft will steal their glory.

Florida Schools To Teach Evolution as ‘Scientific Theory’

Following numerous public complaints, though, the state Department of Education suggested the wording change to clearly label every scientific law and theory — not just about evolution — as such.

But supporters of the standards and a majority of the board said the proposal was anything from unnecessary to redundant to suspect.