AIG profit

AIG posted its first profit in three quarters on gains from divesti tures. AIG advanced 2.8 percent to $41.57 in ex tended trading.

Homes hit

US new home sales fell in January to a season ally adjusted annual rate of 284,000, below the 300,000 pace expected by economists. Overall, new-home sales were down 18.6 percent com pared with a year ago.

Muni exit

Investors withdrew about $610 million from US municipal-bond mu tual funds this week, the 15th-straight period of withdrawals, Lipper US Fund Flows said.

Fewer claims

The number of US workers filing new un employment claims dropped by 22,000 to 391,000 in the week ended Feb. 19, better than the 5,000 decline expected by economists.

GM slammed

General Motors stock fell 4.5 percent, to $33.02, its lowest level since the November IPO, as rising oil prices dimmed the outlook for truck sales after the largest US auto maker posted its most profitable year since 1999.