AIG Honchos Quit Paris Office, Spurring Fears of Default

(NEWSER) - President Obama wants to put the so-called dark markets under control, the New York Times reports, seeking congressional approval to regulate the byzantine world of derivatives trading—which played a large role in the current financial mess. In a letter to lawmakers, Treasury chief Timothy Geithner calls for an oversight system to be run either by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. More»

Federal aid may offer AIG a competitive advantage in ailing industry

(NEWSER) - AIG’s troubles were quickly blamed on a single, obscure wing of the company, but its problems extend to its core life-insurance division—underscoring dangerous weaknesses across the entire industry and pointing to the possibility of a second financial crisis, the Los Angeles Times reports. What's more, by offering AIG a federal lifeline, the behemoth at the eye of the storm may have an unfair competitive advantage over smaller rivals. More»

VP's resignation letter rips cowardly CEO, grandstanding pols

(NEWSER) - Though he says he’s blameless for the mess that brought down AIG, and worked 14-hour days at $1 a year to help dismantle the insurer, executive Jake DeSantis feels “betrayed” by CEO Edward Liddy—and lets him know in a resignation letter published by the New York Times. He rips elected officials for “persecution,” and Liddy for not standing up to them, particularly over bonuses. More»

President instructs Geithner to use "every legal avenue" to reclaim funds

(NEWSER) - President Obama has asked Tim Geithner to use “every legal avenue” to prevent AIG from paying out $165 million in bonuses to top employees who had a hand in the company's near-collapse, the Wall Street Journal reports. "This isn't just a matter of dollars and cents. It's about our fundamental values," said Obama. More»

3rd rescue could see government acquire parts of insurer

(NEWSER) - AIG is seeking yet another bailout from the federal government, the Financial Times reports, as the troubled insurer prepares to post a quarterly loss the Wall Street Journal expects to exceed $60 billion. The new package would see the government swap its previous $60 billion loan for equity and acquire of some of its Asian businesses. A new bailout would be the third time in just five months that the taxpayer has bankrolled AIG; the authorities already own 80% of the company. More»