Market Minute: GM, AIG Rejoin S&P Indexes; Microsoft Eyes Restructuring

Two companies that received huge government bailouts make big strides toward vindication. That and more are what's making news Tuesday.

Another late day rally lifted stocks Monday. The Dow industrials (^DJI) jumped 138 points, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) and the Nasdaq (^IXIC) both rose 9 points.

Two well-known companies that nearly went out of business during the financial crisis are back in a big way. General Motors (GM) is being added back to the S&P 500 and American International Group (AIG) is being added to the S&P 100. That often gives a quick boost to the stocks, as all of the mutual funds that track the indexes need to start buying. Taxpayers still own about 16 percent of GM. And AIG's stock had dropped below 50 cents a share in 2009. It closed yesterday at nearly $45 a share.

AIG is also one of several companies that say financial regulators have identified them as "systemically important," and should be subject to greater government oversight. Others include General Electric's (GE) GE Capital unit and Prudential Financial (PRU).

Microsoft (MSFT) is working on a plan to restructure its operations and focus more heavily on devices and services. According to several news reports, the plan could also involve a management shake-up.

Intel (INTC) says it plans to invest in what it calls "perceptual" computing projects, such as voice and gesture control.

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Lululemon (LULU) has begun restocking store shelves with two of the three styles of yoga pants it recalled back in March because they were too sheer. That cost the company tens of millions of dollars, but its stock price has actually increased 16 percent since the problem was announced.

Shares of Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) are set to skid on word a big investor plans to sell 7 million shares during the next year.

G-III Apparel Group (GIII) posted a profit that surprised Wall Street. The company makes clothes for well-known brand names such as Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, as well as for pro sports teams.

And Dollar General (DG) reported slightly higher earnings, but lowered its forecast for the full year.

Check back after the market closes Tuesday for the new Daily Finance closing bell report.

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