PE inquiry
The SEC has launched a wide-ranging probe into the private-equity industry that examines how firms value their investments, among other matters, wsj.com reported, citing sources.
Italian job
UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena were among 34 Italian financial firms downgraded by Standard & Poor’s, after the credit-ratings company cut the nation’s grade last month.
Faith no more
True Religion, maker of designer jeans, fell 28 percent to $26.61 after projecting profit that trailed analysts’ estimates.
Apollo
Leon Black’s Apollo Global Management, the private-equity firm that went public last year, said fourth-quarter profit fell 66 percent as market swings hurt its PE holdings.
Lion roars
Lionsgate Entertainment, the indie studio that bought the producer of the “Twilight” movies last month, rose to an all-time high of $12 intraday after outlining plans following the purchase. It later closed at $11.84, up 7.54 percent.