AIG stake

AIG said yesterday it agreed to sell its 97.6 per cent stake in Nan Shan Life Insurance Co. to a local business, Ruen Chen consortium, for $2.2 billion.

Import climb

US import prices ex tended their recent climb in December, rising 1.1 percent — completing their biggest three-month gain since the period ending August 2009.

PC shipments

Global personal-com puter shipments rose 2.7 percent in the fourth quarter, missing projec tions, as consumers held back on holiday pur chases and chose Apple iPads over desktops and notebooks.

Chrysler plan

Chrysler said yesterday it can be profitable with fewer sales than it had in 2010 as the closely held company prepares for an IPO this year. Chrysler needs to sell about 1.5 million vehicles annually to break even on an oper ating basis.

Gold rises

Gold futures ad vanced for a fourth day after a weaker dollar boosted demand for precious metals and other commodities. The February-delivery contract rose 0.1 per cent to $1,386.70 an ounce.