And in the real world... Financial crisis, Royal Dutch Shell, Borders UK, GM and more

LONDON - Today's round-up of the biggest business stories.

The Bank of England secretly lent £61.6 bn to Royal Bank of Scotland and HBOS at the height of the financial crisis to prevent their immediate implosion.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Royal Dutch Shell has signalled that the steep rise in its debts is coming to an end with its chief executive forecasting that it would not need to borrow more money if oil remains at about $80 per barrel.
Source: Financial Times

Borders UK will fall into administration unless a last-minute buyer emerges to rescue the bookseller.
Source: Financial Times

General Motors has failed for the second time in two months to sell a lossmaking brand to outside investors after a Swedish consortium pulled out of talks to buy Saab, the premium car marque, from the US car maker.
Source: Financial Times

Facebook, the social networking site, has moved swiftly to dampen speculation that it is planning a public offering. The company confirmed that it was creating a dual-class stock structure to give existing shareholders more control over the company.
Source: The Times