Owens Corning Shares Trading Again
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TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Shares of building materials maker Owens Corning, now out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, began normal trading Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

After a four-year absence, shares fell 45 cents, or 1.6 percent, to close at $27.60 Wednesday. The shares have been trading on a "when issued" basis since early October.

New shares of the insulation maker known for its Pink Panther mascot began trading under the symbol "OC." Its creditors will hold most of the shares.

Its old stock, which continued to trade over the counter, closed Tuesday at 97 cents a share.

Owens Corning sought bankruptcy protection six years ago because of rising costs from asbestos lawsuits.

A federal bankruptcy judge in September approved Owens Corning's plan for emerging from bankruptcy.

The plan shifts the company's $7 billion in asbestos liabilities off company books and into a trust that will be established for the plaintiffs.

As part of the plan, Owens Corning will pay more than $5 billion to asbestos claimants and as much as $2.27 billion to holders of bank debt.

Owens Corning made asbestos products decades ago. When inhaled, asbestos particles can cause lung scarring, breathing problems, cancer or heart failure.