In the cases of Lehman, Merril Lynch, Freddy Mac, Fannie Mae, Enron, World Online, ING, Northern Rock and the many other financial institutions running into trouble, nothing illegal has happened. It is simply the case of investments turning the wrong way.
Since 2008, banks and other financial institutions have been in the centre of attention. This economic sector has seen several bankruptcies and bailouts, and a new one has been added to this list on February 1st: the Dutch bank SNS has been nationalised.