Bank representatives and government officials are working on a broad settlement of most state and federal foreclosure-practices investigations that could move forward without the participation of California, long considered a key to any deal, the Wall Street Journal reported. The dollar value of the settlement would include the value of principal write-downs, interest-rate reductions and other benefits to homeowners as well as cash penalties. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203710704577054550234461744.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection#printMode