Articles by David Lawder

White House Slashes Bailout Cost Estimate After AIG Exit Deal

The U.S. financial bailout will cost less than $50 billion, the Obama administration said Thursday, slashing a prior estimate by more than half on the back of a new plan to sell the government’s stake in insurer American International Group. …

How Will TARP Bailout Plan Be Remembered?

It may have staved off a financial system meltdown, but the U.S. Treasury’s $700 billion bailout program is so reviled by the public that its distaste may rub off on incumbent Democrats in November elections. What goes into the history …

Bank Bailout Fraud On the Rise, Probes Continuing, Says TARP Cop

The top U.S. bailout cop said evidence of fraud among banks that sought taxpayer funds was on the rise, and some of his investigations involve amounts exceeding $550 million. Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief …

Financial Reforms Will Help Curb Systemic Risk, Regulators Tell Panel

New powers from the financial reform law will help avoid a repeat of 2008’s frenzied sale of Wachovia and the wreckage that followed the collapse of Lehman Brothers, U.S. regulators said Wednesday. A commission investigating the causes of the financial …

AIG on ‘Clear Path to Repaying Taxpayers,’ Says CEO Benmosche

But Treasury Chief Says a Full Recovery for Taxpayers Remains Uncertain The head of bailed-out insurance giant American International Group said in late May that the company was on its way to repaying the government, but a U.S. Treasury official …

AIG on ‘Clear Path to Repaying Taxpayers,’ Says CEO Benmosche

The head of bailed-out insurance giant American International Group on Wednesday said the company was on its way to repaying the government, but a U.S. Treasury official said taxpayers could still face losses. AIG is operating with $132 billion in …

Treasury: AIG Risk Reduced But Full Recovery for Taxpayers Uncertain

Bailed-out insurance giant American International Group has slashed its exposure to credit derivatives by nearly two-thirds under government ownership, but a full recovery for taxpayers remains uncertain, a senior U.S. Treasury official said on Wednesday. Jim Millstein, the Treasury’s chief …

U.S. May Follow Citigroup Exit Strategy for AIG

As American International Group Inc. prepares to shed two big units, it looks set to follow the same path as Citigroup Inc. out from under the U.S. government’s wing. The government is likely to follow an exit strategy similar to …

Lawmakers Turn Up Heat on Treasury Chief Geithner Over AIG

U.S. lawmakers challenged Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s credibility on Wednesday after he said he was not involved in a decision by bailed-out insurer AIG to withhold details about $62 billion paid to banks. Geithner held his ground at a hearing, …

Bailout Watchdog Launches Probes of N.Y. Fed’s Disclosure on AIG

A U.S. bailout watchdog has launched two new investigations into the New York Federal Reserve Bank’s actions on insurer AIG’s disclosure of payments to banks after its 2008 rescue, excerpts of prepared congressional testimony showed on Monday. Neil Barofsky, the …