Overview: Following more than a week of intense discussions between the Democrats and Republicans over the initial bail-out plan put forward by Treasury Secretary Paulson last Sunday, a compromise was finally reached this weekend (see details below). The main part of the proposal is intact - the Treasury will set up a fund to buy troubled assets from financial institutions and it will have 45 days to set up guidelines for the implementation of such purchases. The House of Representatives may consider the proposal today and the Senate could vote by October 1. Although highly likely, it is not certain that the proposal will pass in its current form.