Crash of 2008/Timelines

For definitions of the terms used in the linked news announcements, see the glossary subpage.

The 1980s

Financial deregulation In the USA [1], [2], the UK [3] and elsewhere [4].

Savings and Loans crisis - Failure of 296 US "Savings and Loans" mortgage lenders [5]

1987 stock market crash [6].

The 1990s

The decade:

Banking crises in Switzerland, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Japan and the US [7].

Failure of a further 451 US "Savings and Loans" mortgage lenders.

1997-8 Asian banking crisis [8].

1998 LTCM rescue [9]

1999 Savings and Loans rescue costs to US taxpayers reach $129 billion [10].

2000-2006

Dot com crash (2000)

US mortgage growth Annual issue of mortgage-backed bonds up from ~ $500 billion to over $2,000 billion [11]

US housing boom Average price rises 80% [12] .

US mortgage foreclosures increase [13].

The year 2007 (summary)

US house prices fall throughout 2007 (fall 8% below 2006 peak) [14].

Further increases in US Mortgage defaults and foreclosures [15].

Large bank writedowns and losses at Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Citigroup and HSBC.

2007

June

25 Two Bear Stearns hedge funds threatened by losses from mortgage defaults [16].

August

2 German IKB bank rescue [17]

6 American Home Mortgage bankrupt [18].

9 French bank BNP Paribas freezes funds because it is .unable to value its US mortgage-backed assets. [19]

-Collapse of interbank market [20].

September

UK Northern Rock bank run [21]

2008

January

US mortgage lender Countrywide sold to Bank of America after its share price drops by 48% [22].

February

Northern Rock bank nationalised[23].

March

Bear Stearns rescued [24]

April

Global subprime crisis costs could reach $1 trillion (IMF estimate) [25].

IMF forecasts US recession and world growth slowdown [26].

June

US house prices 20% below 2006 peak [27].

August

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rescued [28].

September

7 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac nationalised [29].

12 Lehman Brothers bankrupt[30] with losses of up to $160 billion to holders of its unsecured bonds.

15 Merrill Lynch sold to Bank of America after major capital write-downs [31].

16 US money market's Reserve Primary Fund write-off of $785m Lehman holding and its investors suffer asset value loss [32].

Money market panic [33].

17 American Insurance Group nationalised [34].

UK's Halifax/Bank of Scotland (HBOS) accepts rescue bid from Lloyds TSB [35].

18 Paulson Rescue plan proposed (US Treasury scheme to take "toxic assets" out of the US banking system) [36]

UK temporary ban on short selling [37].

19 Federal Reserve Bank ready to finance loans from the money market [38].

23 Federal Reserve Bank protects Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley banks[39].

26 Washington Mutual closed by regulator. Assets sold to JPMorgan Chase [40].

Central Banks offer extra loans to banks. Coordinated action by US, UK, European and Swiss central banks [41].

28 UK bank Bradford and Bingley nationalised [42].

Multiple European bank rescues [43].

30 Icelandic Glitnir bank nationalised [44].

October

3 Modified Paulson Plan approved by Congress [45].

Dutch Fortis and ABN Amro banks nationalised [46].

5 European leaders fail to agree on coordinated rescue action.

German Hypo Real Estate bank rescued [47]

Icelandic economic crisis" [48].

6 US Wachovia Corp rescued [49].

7 UK credit insurer withdraws cover [50].

8 Part-nationalisation of UK banks [51] [52].

Coordinated interest rate cut of half per cent by the central banks of the United States, China, Britain, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland [53].