John Thain, Merrill Lynch's new chief executive, said he expected individual credit insurers would receive capital infusions from investors, but that it would be difficult to craft an "industry-wide" bailout for the beleaguered guarantors.

Mr Thain said an effort by New York state regulators to help leading bond insurers maintain their credit ratings was raising interest in the sector on the part of investors including private equity groups and specialists in distressed companies.