NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ambac Financial Group Inc (ABK.N), a bond insurer that struggled to raise capital earlier this year, posted a surprisingly wide first-quarter loss on Wednesday after setting aside $1 billion to cover future payouts on mortgage bonds.

NEW YORK -- Ambac Financial Group Inc. posted another steep loss for the first quarter on Wednesday as turmoil in the bond market pummeled the value of many of the bond insurer's deals. Shares fell 21 percent in premarket trading.

NEW YORK -- Treasurys closed mixed Friday, after being buffeted by a complex mix of news developments, including heavy monthly job losses on the one hand and a generally successful stock sale by bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc. on the other.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc (ABK.N) said on Friday it sold $1.5 billion of shares and convertibles, protecting the company from ratings cuts but not satisfying some analysts who wanted the company to raise more.

The plan by the ailing bond insurer to save its credit rating falls short of Wall Street expectations. Troubled bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc. said Wednesday that it would raise $1.5 billion in capital by selling shares in an effort to preserve its all-important credit rating, but the plan disappointed Wall Street and its stock price tumbled.

Ambac Financial Group tumbled 19 percent in New York Stock Exchange trading yesterday after the bond insurer's plan to raise $1.5 billion failed to allay concern that it may lose its AAA credit rating.

NEW YORK -- Ambac Financial Group Inc.'s plan to try to sell $1.5 billion in stock in a bid to safeguard its critical "AAA" financial-strength rating has also avoided the specter of splitting the company to raise the capital.

NEW YORK -- Wall Street managed a moderate gain in an erratic session Wednesday as investors sorted through a downbeat Federal Reserve assessment of the economy and were also disappointed by a plan to bail out troubled bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc.

NEW YORK -- Treasury prices fell sharply Wednesday after struggling bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc., seeking to shore up its finances, announced a plan to sell $1.5 billion in stock and equity units.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc (ABK.N) said on Wednesday it plans to sell at least $1.5 billion of stock and convertible securities, to help preserve the top-tier credit ratings critical for its main insurance business.