``structural weaknesses'' that surfaced this month in Russia's banking system and the possible impact of the global credit squeeze

``structural weaknesses'' that surfaced this month in Russia's banking system and the possible impact of the global credit squeeze may hurt the ability of banks to repay debt and attract financing, Moody's said in a report. Sberbank dropped 0.83 rubles, or 1.8 percent, to 45.20 rubles, its steepest retreat in three days. VTB fell 0.06 kopeks, or 1.1 percent, to 5.23 kopeks, its third decline this week. Both banks are controlled by the government. Russia halted stock market trading for two days last week and rushed to pledge more than $100 billion in emergency funding to ameliorate the country's worst financial crisis since the government defaulted on domestic debt in 1998. The Micex Index fell 17 percent on Sept. 16. JPMorgan Chase & Co. yesterday acquired Washington Mutual Inc.'s branch network for $1.9 billion after the thrift was seized in the largest U.S. bank failure in history.