Citigroup and Merrill in talks for foreign capital

[katty]

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080110/bs_nm/banks_investment_dc

Citigroup and Merrill in talks for foreign capital: report Thu Jan 10, 5:40 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc. (C.N) and Merrill Lynch & Co Inc. (MER.N) are in discussions to receive more capital from investors, primarily foreign governments, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Citigroup could get as much as $10 billion, likely all from foreign governments, while Merrill is expected to get $3 billion to $4 billion, much of it from a Middle Eastern government investment fund, the report said.

The report also said Citigroup's board is expected to discuss cutting the firm's dividend in half, a move that could save it more than $5 billion a year.