New York - Massive US insurance firm AIG is beginning to consider the sell-off of its assets following the Federal Reserve's 85-billion-dollar rescue loan, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

The Federal Reserve moved dramatically on Wednesday to rescue American International Group, taking on 80 per cent of the firm's shares in return for the loan. AIG is the world's largest insurance group.

The firm has received the loan in order to buy time for an orderly sale of assets, rather than dump them at fire sale prices, the newspaper said.

Amongst firms signalling interest in AIG assets are the competing German giants Allianz and Munich Re, France's AXA, the Netherlands' ING Group as well as the Swiss Zurich Financial Services (ZFS), according to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday.

In the US, multi-billionaire Warren Buffett's firm Berkshire Hathaway is also seen as a candidate. (dpa)