Bazooka Bernanke: Fed To Bailout AIG?
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The Fed held firm today as noted in Bernanke Breaks From Greenspan Fed: No Change.
Futures sold off on the news then came roaring back when the Fed decided to consider to extend its moral hazard policy on a case by case basis.
Please consider Fed Said to Reverse Stance, Consider a Loan Package for AIG.
The Federal Reserve is considering extending a "loan package" to American International Group Inc., the insurer facing a cash shortage, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.Once again the Fed is hoping to buy time. Notice that the Fed did not agree to do anything but AIG acted as if it did.
The stance by federal regulators is a reversal from a position they held as late as last night, and people with knowledge of the talks are "cautiously optimistic," said the person, who declined to be identified because negotiations are confidential.
The person gave no timetable for reaching an agreement or estimate on how much money New York-based AIG would need. New York Fed spokesman Andrew Williams declined to comment.
AIG Daily Chart
click on chart for sharper image
AIG traded as low as $1.25 then bounced all the way to positive territory.
Bazooka Bernanke
The Bazooka Bernanke Fed Policy is a continuation of the Bazooka Paulson Treasury Policy.
Paulson: "If you have a bazooka in your pocket, and people know you have a bazooka, you may never have to take it out."
Mish: "It seems to me Paulson took out his bazooka, fired it, and shot Fannie Mae in the arse. After Fannie Mae blew sky high, Paulson was adamant not to fire another shot."
Bernanke has a Bazooka in his pocket that he is hoping he does not have to fire. Whether or not Bernanke fires that bazooka, AIG is not going to survive in its present form, if indeed it survives at all.
Remember that in the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that equity holders and preferred shareholders were both wiped out. Expect the same if there is an AIG bailout. Expect taxpayers to be on the hook for another $90-200 Billion if it happens.
Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
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