Ameriprise Financial was given to 'green light' to increase market repurchases of its common stock.  The board of directors just authorized management to spend up to $2 billion to buyback shares - in addition to its previous authorization of $1.5B in buybacks.  Under the current program, Ameriprise had spent $969 million through Q1 of 2011;  the firm has until the 2012 annual shareholder meeting to spend the remaining $531 .  The new, additional $2 billion authorization may be spent through 6/28/13;   [theflyonthewall.com, 6/15/11]