Banking, finance, and taxes

GE No Rescue for Financial Junk Stocks (GE, FNM, FRE, AIG)

GE LogoGeneral Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) may be the one single bright spot taking the market higher this Friday when you consider the 10.2% unemployment rate and when you look over the latest round of earnings. Both Oppenheimer and Bernstein raised their official GE ratings to “Outperform” in research calls this morning. It depends upon which way the wind blows, but there are many times that GE trades more like some of the troubled financial stocks rather than as the top industrial stock in America.

American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG), Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) are all headed in opposite direction of GE. We noted that Fannie had broken the buck in pre-market trading and is back above the $1.00 level now. It is also dragging down Freddie Mac. AIG is adding to larger losses seen at the open.

GE shares are trading up 5.4% at $15.21 and we have already seen over 30 million shares trade hands in the first 20 minutes and pre-market period.

JON C. OGG

Credit Card Companies Are Doing Something Nuts

Credit card companies are at war. The biggest issuers are handing out free rewards and benefits to win the best customers.

It’s possible to find cards paying unlimited 1.5%, 2%, and even more today. That’s free money for qualified borrowers, and the type of thing that would be crazy to pass up. Those rewards can add up to thousands of dollars every year in free money, and include other benefits as well.

We’ve assembled some of the best credit cards for users today.  Don’t miss these offers because they won’t be this good forever.

 

Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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