Conseco Plunges Early Before Recovering

Updated from 11:41 a.m. EST

Conseco (CNC Quote) plunged 24% early Thursday after a Wall Street analyst put a rare sell rating on the insurer and lender, but the stock recovered to end down just 4% after the company said it had fired an executive who departed Wednesday.

Conseco shares fell 15% Wednesday after rating agency Moody's questioned the debt-heavy company's ability to raise enough cash to continue operating, and Conseco's financial chief left without explanation following just a year on the job. The stock dropped 92 cents Thursday morning to $2.83 after earlier hitting a 52-week low, but ended down just 16 cents at $3.59. ...