Inpeace,

Good point.  For novice investor the picture is never clear, and again you are right there have been change in mark to market rule by SEC after massive losses financial institutes were showing.  So, the whole market is going through a major transition.  If we are not in recession people would not have been frearful, and fearful causes panic, and that is what we are seeing in the market.  That is why I am not exiting Citi eventhough it plummeted after quarterly report.  From my experience, people are just reacting, and Citi share will come up, and I will exit and take profit around $5.10.  Loss on the other hand is to shareholder's dividend, but the company made money.  Good point.  Keep your thoughts coming and keep writing and reading you will get it, and that is what I teach in my classroom.

P.S. AIG is RISKY, but could be profitable in near future.  I do not own AIG.