"...but these stories sound like the media is desperate for news!!" The media, in general, and the New York Times, in particular, are indeed desperate for news. Any news, that is, which reflects poorly (or can be made to reflect poorly) on capitalism.
Being ignorant, they bite the hand that feeds them...
plus the old addage.."buy on rumor sell on news"..when the news came out many sold..you can follow any on line stock discussion site to view rumors..go to a bar after work and hear a discussion...talk to managers of the stores you buy in..etc etc..How's business?.......guess that was all illegal too?