Fed makes emergency move to lend directly to companies
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081007/financial_meltdown.html
"The central bank invoked emergency powers to lend money to companies outside the financial sector and buy up mounds of commercial paper, the short-term debt that firms use to pay for everyday expenses like salaries and supplies.
The Fed, which has only loaned money to banks before, made the move as the gravest financial crisis in decades wore on and concern spread around the world."