Faced with monstrous dud loans and equally gigantic competition, and urged by the Finance Ministry, lenders in Japan are seeking strength in tie-ups and takeovers.

CNN: The Asiaweek Financial 500

The strength of that tie makes it harder for firms to shop around and play one investment bank off against another.

ECONOMIST: Investment-banking fees

That would not give Vivendi the cash it wants immediately, but it could sell its stake at some point in the future - or it could borrow the money from its bankers on the strength of that tie-up.

BBC: Final deadline for Universal bids

However, the re-release of his back catalogue on CD reminded the public of the strength of his work, and 1993's Black Tie, White Noise album saw him return to the spotlight.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Bowie: Pop's most enduring star

The history is instructive: The dollar's formal tie to gold was severed in 1971, and since then we've fluctuated between periods of strength and weakness.

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