With major banks applying for bankruptcy protection and the US government stepping in to rescue mortgage and insurance companies, all eyes have been on Wall Street this week. But the shockwaves are being felt around the world: Asian and European stock markets are fluctuating wildly, and even Germany has been affected. But the German banking sector seems to be taking it all in its stride: instead of digging in and keeping their heads down, the major players have been on a bit of a buying spree.