MORTGAGE LENDING

LEGAL

Quattrone Charges Dropped

A U.S. judge formally approved a request by prosecutors to dismiss all remaining charges against ex-Credit Suisse Group banker Frank P. Quattrone, left.

The decision comes four years after Quattrone was accused of obstructing justice and 17 months after his conviction for the crime was reversed. They government had agreed to drop its case if Quattrone didn't break the law for a year.

The dismissal means Quattrone, head of Credit Suisse First Boston's technology banking group from 1998 to 2003, is free to return to the financial industry he left when he was indicted. He is currently chairman of the Tech Museum of Innovation.

CONTRACTING

Boeing Wins Rocket Contract

Boeing won a contract valued at as much as $1.13 billion to build the upper stage of the NASA Ares I rocket that is to carry the replacement for the space shuttle. The section will be made by a team of eight suppliers that also includes Northrop Grumman.

INVESTING

Global Hyatt Stake to Be Sold

Global Hyatt, the hotel company controlled by Chicago's Pritzker family, will sell a minority stake to a group of investors including Goldman Sachs Holdings for $1 billion. Goldman and Madrone Capital Partners, a firm affiliated with Wal-Mart Stores Chairman Rob Walton, will appoint members to the board, Global Hyatt said.

Global Hyatt owns, manages or franchises more than 735 hotels in 44 countries.

Compiled from reports by Washington Post staff writers, the Associated Press and Bloomberg News.