Wall Street Journal:

J.P. Morgan Rescues Bear Stearns  —  U.S. Pushed Deal  —  To Avert Crisis;  —  A Fire-Sale Price  —  Bear Stearns Cos. reached an agreement to sell itself to J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., as worries grew that failing to find a buyer for the beleaguered investment bank could cause the crisis of confidence gripping Wall Street to worsen.