The financial crisis is evolving so quickly that we thought it best to simply share some crisis-related wire headlines with you. Viewing them in aggregate gives a good sense of what is happening in the moment. These headlines are as of 8:58 a.m. ET:

[WB] Wachovia shares rise 41% in pre-open trade 8:48 AM ET
[WM] Washington Mutual shares rise 45% in pre-open trade 8:47 AM ET
[MS] Morgan Stanley shares rise 50% in pre-open trade 8:46 AM ET
[GS] Shares of Goldman Sachs rise 25% in early premarket 7:48 AM ET
[AIG] Shares of AIG rise 35% in early premarket 7:47 AM ET

Fed to buy federal agency discount notes to support market 8:38 AM ET
Fed acts to shore up money market mutual funds 8:38 AM ET

[LM] Legg Mason enters support measures with 3 money market funds 8:33 AM ET
[LM] Legg Mason amends 2 capital support agreements 8:33 AM ET
[LM] Legg Mason sees $318 mln noncash charge 8:33 AM ET

[SKF] Shares of ProShares UltraShort Financials down 19% preopen 7:58 AM ET

October crude up $2.36 to $100.24 a barrel on Globex 7:52 AM ET

The Reserve: No shares to be offered, redeemed in 23 funds 7:44 AM ET

Treasury to provide up to $50 billion in fund guarantees 7:33 AM ET
Treasury announces guaranty program for money market funds 7:32 AM ET
Treasury will insure public offered money funds 7:32 AM ET