According to The Wall Street Journal, the Treasury Department is considering using more of the $700 billion it has set aside (to help banks and insurers) in a broad range of companies. This decision was made after early signs show that the program has been successful (according to "people familiar with the matter"). Some of the companies in focus include bond insurers such as MBIA (MBI: sentiment, chart, options) , and specialty finance firms such as General Electric's (GE: sentiment, chart, options) GE Capital unit, amongst others.

Thanks to this news, bond insurers like MBIA and Ambac (ABK: sentiment, chart, options) are enjoying a bit of a rally. ABK is more than 14% higher of course, the stock trades in the 3 region. MBI is more than 16.5% higher, which is a bigger jump considering it trades in the 10 region. Even GE is enjoying a bit of a push higher, adding more than 8% to trade in the upper reaches of the 20 region. Analysts are bearish toward both MBI and ABK, as all of the analysts tracking the 2 firms rate them a "hold" or worse. For more on the sentiment and technical picture for MBI, make sure to check out Andrea Kramer's view.