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Mid-day Update

PODCAST: U.S. to sell AIG stock, Congress returns

Daryl Paranada Sep 10, 2012
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Mid-day Update

PODCAST: U.S. to sell AIG stock, Congress returns

Daryl Paranada Sep 10, 2012
HTML EMBED:
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The U.S. Treasury Department says it is preparing to sell most of its stake in one of the most notorious bailout cases of the financial crisis. AIG would no longer be in government control once the government’s $18 billion stock sale goes ahead.

All eyes will be on the Federal Reserve this week. The Fed will hold a two-day meeting starting Wednesday. The big question: Will the Fed announce another round of economic stimulus or stay on the sidelines?

There’s news today that international commodities trader Glencore has upped its bid for mining company Xstrata. This $36 billion deal would be the biggest global merger of the year. And it seems former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has had a hand in the negotiations.

Congress comes back from its summer vacation today. And yet, most analysts expect actual policy making in Washington will take a break — at least through the election.

Toys “R” Us is releasing a tablet of its own with hopes of enticing kids who want to be like mom and dad. But getting into the tablet hardware business could prove to be a grown-up challenge.

Since Oprah left the network airwaves, no host has filled her ratings shoes. But today one of the biggest names makes her go of it — Katie Couric’s new talk show debuts. She joins a long list of contenders hoping to make a mark amid the existing crowd, including Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, and Ellen.

America’s smallest state capital — as well as one of its coldest — is getting into the utility business. Montpelier, Vt., plans to sell heat generated by a wood-fired plant to local businesses.

And if you didn’t go the movies this weekend, you were not alone. It was the lowest grossing box office weekend of the year so far, and one of the worst for the industry in a decade. No film made more than $10 million.

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