Given the difficulty of tackling touchy banking issues in an election year, this means that both bills "could very well be" dead, he added.

He is widely considered the most credible impartial voice in Government on banking issues.

"This is much more of a legal issue than a banking issue," one person involved in the talks said.

Mr. Corrigan has played a major role in international banking issues.

This is an attempt to litigate the banking issues of a foreign country in American courts.

By the close of trading, however, the perception that interest rates were moving lower marginally lifted some banking issues.

Chase's stock, which has not improved in recent days to the same extent as other banking issues, rose yesterday by 37.5 cents, to $11.125.

American officials attributed the delays to "technical banking issues."

For example, thirty percent of the firm's reported litigation cases over the last two years have involved banking issues.

The principle figures on the banking issue do not seem to have equivalent political skills or authority.