Japan's Banks Crossed Up By Cross-Shareholdings

"To cement business alliances, Japan's three biggest commercial banks-- Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group--have typically bought shares in their borrowers. Yet, as the value those investments plummet amid the global stock market rout, such cross-shareholdings are tugging at the financial foundations of Japan's mega-lenders."