Financial Roundup: Prudential to Sell Wachovia Share, Credit Suisse Takes Hit, Money Available for Private Equity, Some Credit Thawing

(MoneyWatch)  Prudential to sell Wachovia share -- Prudential Financial is expected to sell to Wells Fargo & Co. its $3.7 billion share of Wachovia, which is being bought by Wells. Meanwhile, Prudential is said to be interested in buying AIG's life insurance business in Japan. [Source: MoneyCNN.com]

Credit Suisse takes big hit -- Credit Suisse Group has lost $2.48 billion in two months and will lay off 5,300 workers. Most of the job losses will be at the bank's investment unit. [Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Private equity firms get money -- Despite the financial crisis, private equity firms are have no trouble raising capital. Carlyle Group has pulled in nearly $14 billion for one of its funds and emerging market specialist Actis has closed a fund at $2.9 billion, exceeding its goa of $2.5 billion. [Source: CFO.com]

Some credit thaws out -- Government buys of commercial paper seem to have stabilized some markets such as credit cards and auto and home buying. But the actions have not stimulated much real lending. [Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Lower mortgage rates get mixed reaction -- Washington's plans to lower mortgage rates to 4.5 percent are drawing frowns in Minnesota. Realtors there say officials should be concentrating more on propping up home values. [Source: StarTribune.com]