Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s shares plummeted Tuesday after the bond insurer said adjusted earnings would likely fall during the second quarter, and a day after its top-notch financial strength rating was placed on review for a potential downgrade by Moody's Investors Service.

Credit ratings agency Moody's Investors Service has placed Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s crucial financial strength rating on review for a potential downgrade.

Credit ratings agency Moody's Investors Service on Monday night put the critical financial strength rating of bond insurer Financial Security Assurance Inc. on review for a potential downgrade.

The global tally of write-downs from the credit crisis set to grow by about $6 billion on Thursday when Merrill Lynch & Co. delivers what's expected to be a dismal quarterly report.

Merrill Lynch still has not informed officials at BlackRock about any final decision on whether it will sell even a chunk of the firm's 49 percent stake in the money management company.

Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain is considering selling other investments to drum up capital, not just Merrill’s stakes in financial information powerhouse Bloomberg LP, and money manager BlackRock, sources say.

Shares of insurers fell Friday along with the broader market amid continuing concern about the financial stability of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Shares of insurers fell early Friday as the broader market plunged amid fears Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the nation's largest purchasers of mortgages, would need a government bailout.

Monday marked the last day of a dismal second quarter and first half.  Here are the day's video highlights.

Stocks ended mixed Monday, capping a dismal quarter and first half marked by rocketing oil prices and battered financials. The Dow is down 14 percent since the beginning of the year and ended the first half about 20 points from bear-market territory.

MBIA Inc said on Monday that after selling $4 billion of assets in the second quarter, it now has enough cash and collateral to meet the extra requirements triggered by its recent downgrades.

Stocks wavered as oil's relentless ascent boosted energy stocks but a sharp drop in financials and autos curbed gains.

Stocks fell sharply Friday as oil prices climbed about $3 and a concoction of rumors and bad news shook up the banking sector. Rounding the bend toward the closing bell, the Dow was off nearly 4 percent for the week, the S&P off 3 percent and the Nasdaq off 2 percent.

Stocks fell sharply Friday, with volatility expected to remain high due to the expiration of options, oil prices continuing their climb and bank worries slamming the financial sector.

Stocks fell sharply Friday, with volatility expected to remain high due to the expiration of options, oil prices continuing their climb and bank worries slamming the financial sector.