Though the Federal Reserve steered clear of bailout of Lehman, the Wall Street Journal said it is expected to take new steps to stabilise the broader financial system.
These steps, expected to be temporary, would make it easier for banks and securities firms to borrow from the central bank by using a wider range of collateral.
Bankers say these financial institutions might need short-term funds as they unwind their many trading positions with Lehman.
Merrill has some 60,000 employees and Lehman 25,000. It was not clear how the moves would affect them.
AIG executives were reported to be trying to raise funds by selling assets or infusion of capital from private equity firms.
But late Sunday night, the New York Times reported quoting a person briefed on the matter that the insurance giant was seeking a $40 billion bridge loan from the Federal Reserve as a potential downgrade of its credit rating could spell doom.
Ratings agencies threatened to downgrade the insurance giant's credit rating by Monday morning, allowing counter-parties to withdraw capital from their contracts with the company, the paper said.
Image: People walk under a ticker sign announcing Lehman Brothers financial losses on September 10 | Photograph: Chris Hondros/Getty Images
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