Article: Banks' big bets on real estate market backfired ; Experts: Looser regulation enabled investment banks to make riskier bets

WALL STREET WOES

Investment banks like Lehman Bros. are the grease that keeps the worldwide financial market turning.

You want to raise money by selling stocks or bonds, you call an investment bank. They will tell you how much you can get for your stock, and guarantee there will be buyers.

You want to merge your company with another firm or buy out the other guy, you need an investment banker.

And if you are a really big investor, say a pension fund, your average stockbroker isn't going to do. When you buy and sell in $10 million units, you need a brokerage account at an investment bank.

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