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GM execs now free to buy, sell, trade company stock: But not for long

gm pontiacTwo years ago, when General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) was entering into a major restructuring program, the company made the unique decision to restrict its executives from buying and selling GM stock; the fear was that the inside information to which they'd be privy would give them too great an advantage over regular shareholders. And, while the corporate communications department didn't say as much, how would it look if the CFO started selling huge blocks of shares two months into a wholesale corporate overhaul? I'm guessing, not so good.

But now (the hope is), the restructuring is mostly complete. In the recent quarter's results, whose reporting was delayed, the company announced better-than-expected sales, but far-worse-than-expected profits. Of course, as GM hasn't been issuing forecasts for its restructuring period, either (that restriction has not yet been lifted, says GM), it's not as if analysts' expectations have a solid basis. Nor are executives saying much about the progress of the restructuring other than "it's not stopping."

Today the announcement came that GM executives (some of them, anyway) would be able to buy and sell the company's shares once again. Perhaps now we'll have a window into exactly what GM execs do think of the restructuring -- at least until May 31, when the window once again slams shut on the inner workings of the auto company.
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Last updated: November 12, 2009: 12:44 PM

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