Protiviti's latest edition of Global Financial Crisis Bulletin tracks new concerns, including mortgage loan modifications and auto industry bailout

MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly every day a new crop of issues emerges in the evolving global financial crisis. To help companies keep pace with these rapid changes, Protiviti, a global business consulting and internal audit firm, has released the latest edition of its Global Financial Crisis Bulletin.

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The Current Financial Crisis: Frequently Asked Questions (January 2009) answers more than 90 important questions about such emerging issues as mortgage loan modifications, the auto industry bailout, and the potential impact of the new administration on the current economic situation. The bulletin also includes updated information about issues addressed in prior editions as well as an expanded timeline of events.

"This updated FAQ bulletin reflects the latest key questions and issues our clients and business partners around the world have on their minds," said Carol Beaumier, a Protiviti executive vice president and leader of Protiviti's Global Financial Crisis Team. "The resolution of issues discussed in the bulletin will have a very real impact on organizations across all sectors of the economy, so it's critical for anyone in business to understand these issues and their potential impact on the economy."

New and updated questions in The Current Financial Crisis: Frequently Asked Questions include:

--  Why haven't loan modification efforts been more effective?
--  What is the outlook for the regulation of the credit default swap
    market?
--  Are banks tightening their underwriting standards?
--  What type of regulatory reform is being suggested to address the
    financial crisis?
--  Is the new administration likely to take a different approach from the
    previous administration to resolving the economic crisis in the United
    States?
--  How significant is the impact of the automotive crisis in the United
    States?
--  How are governments outside of the U.S. responding to the automotive
    crisis?
--  How has the financial crisis affected the U.S. dollar's role as the
    world's main reserve currency?
--  What is the magnitude of the actual economic stimulus packages from
    countries around the globe?

"The financial crisis is truly global and many of the issues affecting countries around the world are addressed in our new bulletin," said Joseph Tarantino, president and CEO of Protiviti. "Protiviti is dedicated to the delivery of practical thought leadership publications to help our clients around the globe.