On 29 September US regulators decide that AIG insurance will no longer be considered a threat to financial stability, removing its classification as “systemically important financial institution” (SIFI). The majority decision was taken by the Financial Stability Oversight Council, which decides whether non-bank financial companies are SIFIs. The decision frees the insurer from the threat of more stringent capital rules. In 2008 AIG needed a $185bn taxpayer bailout due to the impact of its derivatives portfolio. It has since disposed of half its $1tn in assets. After the announcement shares in AIG rose a percent in after-hours trading, giving it a market capitalisation of $55bn. Rival insurer Prudential Financial remains the only non-bank SIFI in the USA. In 2016 regulators withdrew the classification from General Electric’s financial services business, and MetLife successfully challenged its too big to fail status in court.
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