These factors include:  the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and access capital markets;  market and interest rate fluctuations and interest rate levels;  the strength of the global economy in general and the strength of the economies of the coun tries in which we conduct our operations, in particular the risk of continued slow economic recovery or downturn in the US or other developed countries in  the direct and indirect impacts of deterioration or slow recovery in residential and commercial real estate markets;  adverse rating actions by credit rating agencies in respect of sovereign issuers, structured credit products or other credit-related exposures;  the ability to achieve our strategic objectives, including improved performance, reduced risks, lower costs, and more efficient use of capital;  the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations to us;  the effects of, and changes in, fiscal, monetary, trade and tax policies, and currency fluctuations;  political and social developments, including war, civil unrest or terrorist activity;  the possibility of foreign exchange controls, expropriation, nationalization or confiscation of assets in countries in which we conduct our operations;  operational factors such as systems failure, human error, or the failure to implement procedures properly;  actions taken by regulators with respect to our business and practices in one or more of the countries in which we conduct our operations;  the effects of changes in laws, regulations or accounting policies or practices;  competition in geographic and business areas in which we conduct our operations;  the ability to retain and recruit qualified personnel;  the ability to maintain our reputation and promote our brand;  the ability to increase market share and control expenses;  technological changes;  the timely development and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users;  acquisitions, including the ability to integrate acquired businesses successfully, and divestitures, including the ability to sell non-core assets;  the ability to achieve our cost efficiency goals and cost targets; and  our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.