September 15, 2001

Stocks Plunge in Europe Amid Uncertainty in U.S. Europe's leading stock markets dropped sharply amid uncertainty about the reopening of United States markets on Monday and the effect of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In the United States, bond yields fell as investors retreated to the traditional safety of government securities and the dollar dropped against the euro and the yen. [Page C4.]

American Express Bank, which normally works out of 7 World Trade Center, began its contingency plan out of backup offices in New Jersey soon after planes crashed into World Trade Center, processing about 19,000 transfers for total of $14.3 billion, about 70 percent of transactions its customers had entered, by late Sept 11; it was testament to sort of contingency planning that regulators urge on companies, but that only some do; American Express had established backup site as part of computer crisis that never came on Jan 1, 2000; company will make its home in New Jersey indefinitely; photos (M)

Article on stalled construction projects in New York City in aftermath of terrorist attack on World Trade Center noted

FedEx Corp returns to normal operations after grounding of all planes in US for 52 hours because of terrorist attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon; FedEx had to rely solely on trucks to keep its packages moving for first time since it started business in 1973 as overnight delivery service; it tripled size of its truck fleet, to more than 950 trucks, by contracting with various trucking concerns; FedEx had to put new security precautions into effect after terrorist attacks, including tightening of security around its major hubs; president-chief executive David J Bronczek comments; photos (M)

Bogota, Colombia's fog-shrouded capital high in Andes, is thriving despite 37 years of conflict that has displaced millions and still rages elsewhere; Bogotans enjoy drop in crime and economy that, while sluggish, is considered country's sole reliable engine for creating jobs; three-year capital improvement program has refurbished parks, paved roads, installed sewage treatment and built schools and libraries; symbol of transformation is new Transmilenio bus system; photos; map; credit is given to former mayor, Enrique Penalosa, and Mayor Antanus Mockus, son of Lithuanian immigrants who preceded and succeeded Penalosa and changed stubborn 'me-first' mentality (M)