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OSLO, Norway-The Norwegian parliament unanimously passed the government's 350 billion kroner ($51.5 billion)bond package Friday to help banks improve liquidity in the market.Passage of the package that the government proposed on Oct. 12 had been expected because the three-party coalition controls a majority in the legislature.Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen told lawmakers that the government was prepared to take more and stronger steps if needed.The government said banks will be offered the new bonds in exchange for bonds secured against Norwegian mortgages. They can then use the bonds as a security for loans.The bonds will have a maturity of three years.The vote came as the Oslo bourse's main index closed down more than 9 percent on Friday, joining a worldwide dive in share prices.As in the days of Noah...
