New Speculator Fave: AIG Stock

Government trying to unwind stock without losing on the deal

(NEWSER) - The Treasury Department has had a tough time selling off some of the stock it took on in exchange for TARP bailout funds, meaning taxpayers are still on the hook for some $132.9 billion—some of which they may never get back, according to a report released today by the government watchdog overseeing the program. Selling the stock has been complicated by swingy stock market prices, and deep dips in some of the bailed out companies, the AP reports. More»

Insurer has shot up 97% in 2010

(NEWSER) - Don’t look now, but financial crisis punchline AIG has had a monster year on the market, with its stock soaring 97% to $58.93. Of that, 42% was gained in December alone. That makes the insurer the fourth-best performer on the S&P 500 this year, and puts the government in a position to make a profit when it sells off its 92% stake, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Manufacturing employment rises

(NEWSER) - News of Prudential's agreement to buy AIG's Asia division sowed confidence on Wall Street today. Stocks rose, boosted as well by a jump in manufacturing employment, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 78.53 points to close at 10,403.79.
• The Nasdaq added 35.31, closing at 2,273.57.
• The S&P 500 gained 11.22 to settle at 1,115.71.

Low interest rates entice small, leveraged players

(NEWSER) - Trading volume is rising on Wall Street, but it’s not because of renewed confidence from long-term investors. The surge has instead been powered by a 14% jump from online brokerages like Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade, and much of the money has been funneled into volatile parts of the market. Day traders, in other words, are back, trying to ride the latest market rally, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Stocks pulled back this morning off yesterday’s heady rally. The Dow sank 77 points, after skyrocketing nearly 500 points in yesterday’s session. The S&P and Nasdaq dropped 1.3% and 1.4% respectively. AIG was the big story, with Timothy Geithner and Ben Bernanke set to testify before Congress. Geithner is expected to ask for the power to seize failing, systemically important companies, even though they're not banks. More»