Citi Bailout a Windfall for U.S.

Citigroup was among the largest—and weakest—banks to receive emergency federal aid during the financial crisis, with the government buying a stake considerably bigger than in many other financial institutions. Now that its stock prices have stabilized, however, the U.S. bailout is set to bring taxpayers some serious profit. The government is getting set to sell its portion of Citi shares at an estimated $8 billion profit, which would free the bank from strict government oversight. "It's unprecedented to do [a stock sale] of this size right after the financial industry has been so battered," one industry official told the Washington Post. "It's just a very bullish sign."