In mid November, Bank of American Corp. (BAC) ponied up more than $7 billion to nearly double its already existing investment in the state-owned China Construction Bank Corp., a move that gave the biggest U.S. bank a 19% stake in China’s second-largest lender.

The liquidity crisis that began with the collapse of Bear Stearns and has led to the fall of Lehmen Brothers (NYSE:LEH) is spreading. This has prompted foreign central banks to bolster liquidity in domestic markets, reports Jason Simpkins. Even the Bank of China decided to cut its benchmark lending rate. It is its first rate cut in six years.