Dodd says fundamental agreement on bailout bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee said House of Representatives and Senate negotiators have reached "fundamental agreement" on a set of principles guiding a Wall Street bailout bill.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, emerged from a morning-long meeting on Thursday with top House and Senate lawmakers to tell reporters that he thought Congress could act within the "next few days" to pass a bill.

Dodd did not provide details on the major areas of contention that have been under negotiation.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Writing by Lisa Richwine; Editing by James Dalgleish)