BNP Paribas weighs bid for Societe Generale

Societe Generale's cross-town rival BNP Paribas said Thursday it is considering a bid for the French bank, weakened by a fraud scandal that has cost it billions.

Analysts have been speculating about the possible sale or dismantling of Societe Generale after the bank revealed a €4.82 billion ($7.09 billion) loss in a trading crisis last week.

BNP Paribas, France's largest bank by market value and Societe Generale's chief competitor, would be the most likely buyer of all or part of the struggling bank, analysts said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/01/31/french.bank.ap/index.html