President expected to sign measure that reverses recent hike in federal interest rates.

Calls on Congress to back bipartisan deal on interest rates.

Legislation would avert a doubling of interest rateson July 1 but allow them to vary with market trends.

The company, the country's third-largest homebuilder, will not meet a $6.4 million interest payment due since last month amid a slump in home sales.

U.S. appeals court ruling expected in coming weeks; market is prepared for a technical default.

Price-freeze accords are revived to tame inflation as tax agency seeks to boost revenue, keep dollars at home.

Outgoing governor Mark Carney said he was "very encouraged" that Canadians were stabilizing their debt loads and that the housing market was cooling.

By Kelvin Soh

HONG KONG, Aug 23 (Reuters) - China's big banks are set toreport possibly their last set of bumper profits in coming weeksas weak economic expansion, shrinking deposits and a morecompetitive interest rate market point to more modest earningsgrowth in the future.

The so-called "Big Four" -- Industrial and Commercial Bankof China, China Construction Bank (CCB),Agricultural Bank of China Ltd (AgBank) and Bank ofChina -- are due to report their first-half earningsbetween Aug. 23 and Aug. 30.