AIG rallies as financial sector see-saws

Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009

AIG rallies as financial sector see-saws

Early gains in U.S. financial stocks wilt as the morning wears on,
while shares of American International Group build on their recent
rally.

FINANCIALS FRONT ADVANCE FOR EUROPE STOCKS

Hopes that beleaguered financials are past the worst and a surprise
move by the.Bank of England to expand a program to purchase assets
sent Europe stocks
higher on Thursday.

MOST ASIAN MARKETS REBOUND, SHANGHAI EXTENDS FALL

Asian shares ended mostly higher Thursday, though Chinese stocks
tumbled on.persistent worries Beijing may tighten monetary policy to
prevent asset
bubbles.

LESSONS OF 2009'S TWO STOCK MARKETS

The stock market's recent joyful buoyancy fits well with summer
vacation. How long it lasts remains to be seen. But meanwhile we can
take the trouble to learn what makes it tick.

DON'T SIMPLY ACCEPT HIGHER FEES, COSTS

"The key is cost avoidance." That's what Don Blandin, chief executive
of the Investor Protection Trust, said to me once. It's a phrase that
captures so much of what I try to teach.