Media Digest 12/21/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

Reuters:   The healthcare bill moved over key hurdles in the Senate.

Reuters:   Oil is above $73 on Iran-Iraq tensions.

Reuters:   Citadel filed for Chapter 11.

Reuters:   The head of AIG (NYSE:AIG) said his company would get aggressive about repaying the US government.

Reuters:   OPEC will keep prices of oil firm as they remain high.

WSJ:   The last decade was the worst for stocks since th 1820s.

WSJ:   GM is seeing renewed interest in Saab

WSJ:   Shell is seeking buyers for its assets in Nigeria.

WSJ:   Treasury dealers said yields will rise in the year ahead.

WSJ:   David Tepper’s hedge fund made $7 billion betting on the recovery.

WSJ:   Buyers turned out last weekend despite a heavy storm.

WSJ:   Store sales are down but e-commerce is having a great year.

WSJ:   Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ)(NYSE:VOD) set a new $350 fee to break cellphone contracts.

WSJ:   China Telecom will offer the RIM (NYSE:RIMM) Blackberry.

WSJ:   The economy will end the year more strongly than most economist had expected.

WSJ:   Barnes & Noble (NYSE:BKS) said that buyers who do not get Nook e-reader by Christmas will get a $100 gift certificate.

WSJ:   The new head of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is trying to cut the firm’s appetite for risk established under John Mack.

WSJ”  S&P estimates that corporate pensions lost $400 billion in the market drop.

NYT:   Companies are hiring many temp workers and may make some of those positions permanent.

NYT:   Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) bought a stem cell research program.

FT:   China sovereign fund CIC will receive $200 billion in new capital.

FT”   Asian demand for Japanese goods is recovering.

FT:   Oil demand next year will keep prices between $70 and $80.

FT:   Returns on high yield bonds soared.

Bloomberg:   Dubai may not be able to offer a standstill agreement on its $22 billion in debt causing more trouble for lenders.

Bloomberg:   Citigroup’s (NYSE:C) warrants may offer the government a low return.

Douglas A. McIntyre