By Alison Vekshin and Rebecca Christie
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama will require banks to boost lending to consumers and companies in return for taxpayer aid from the $700 billion bailout fund, in a departure from Bush administration policy, a key lawmaker said.

By Candice Zachariahs
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) — The New Zealand dollar fell to an eight-year low against the yen after the Treasury Department said the nation will remain in recession until at least the end of March.

By Ron Harui and Stanley White
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) — The euro fell to its lowest in almost two months against the dollar on concern a report tomorrow will show European producer prices slid for a fifth month, giving the region’s central bank more reason to cut interest rates.

By Ron Harui and Stanley White
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) — The yen rose for a third day against the euro and the dollar before a U.S. report that economists estimate will show manufacturing fell to the lowest level since 1980, adding to signs a global slowdown is worsening.