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Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprising drop in retail sales dented hopes the recession was abating and financial shares slid on fears that Goldman Sachs' share offering could prompt others to follow suit.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold $5 billion of stock to help fulfill what it called its duty to repay a federal bailout, but the government fears a quick return of the funds would put other banks in a bad light.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc may succeed in its bid to pay back U.S. taxpayer money with the help of a $5 billion common share sale, but it may still not get the freedom it wants from intense public scrutiny.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing if Bank of America Corp violated federal securities law by failing to disclose to shareholders Merrill Lynch's plan to pay $3.62 billion in bonuses before they voted for the merger of the banks, the Financial Times said.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing if Bank of America Corp violated federal securities law by failing to disclose to shareholders Merrill Lynch's plan to pay $3.62 billion in bonuses before they voted for the merger of the banks, the Financial Times said.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing if Bank of America Corp violated federal securities law by failing to disclose to shareholders Merrill Lynch's plan to pay $3.62 billion in bonuses before they voted for the merger of the banks, the Financial Times said.

On Monday Goldman Sachs showed yet another sign proving the recovery of banks after it beat Wall Street expectations with its $1.66 billion profit for the first quarter of 2009.

On Monday Citigroup Inc's and Bank of America Corp's shares saw a very positive rise and both banks expect to report first quarter profits in the same line as what was forecast last week by Wells Fargo & Co.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose on Monday as bets that major banks will post reassuring quarterly results fueled a run-up in financials, offsetting uneasiness about the fate of General Motors .

Citigroup Inc's and Bank of America Corp's shares rose Monday on hopes that the two banks will post the same sort of first-quarter profits that Wells Fargo & Co forecast late last week.

Citigroup Inc's and Bank of America Corp's shares rose Monday on hopes that the two banks will post the same sort of first-quarter profits that Wells Fargo & Co forecast late last week.

Stocks cut losses on Monday and the benchmark S&P 500 briefly turned positive, as investors snapped up financials shares on hopes that quarterly results of major banks will show stabilization returning to the financial sector.

Wells Fargo & Co said it expects to post a record $3 billion first-quarter profit, causing its shares to soar 31.7 percent and providing a welcome jolt to the stock market and a still-troubled banking sector.

Stocks rallied on Thursday as Wells Fargo gave preliminary first-quarter results that were stronger than expected, providing a ray of hope in the struggling financial sector.

Stocks jumped on Thursday as Wells Fargo gave preliminary first-quarter results that were stronger than expected, providing relief to the troubled financial sector.

Wells Fargo & Co said it expects to post a $3 billion first-quarter profit, sending its shares soaring, lifting a wide range of stocks, and providing a welcome jolt to the troubled banking sector.

Bank of America, the U.S Largest Bank, may need a big capital boost in equity to bolster its capital ratios, analysts at Oppenheimer & Co said Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.

A banking analyst at Oppenheimer & Co said that when big banks proclaim that they are performing well, they better be right.

U.S. banks' first-quarter results will show that losses from credit cards and commercial and real estate loans have not yet peaked, and perhaps dash hopes that the worst of the banking crisis has passed.

U.S. banks' first-quarter results will show that losses from credit cards and commercial and real estate loans have not yet peaked, and perhaps dash hopes that the worst of the banking crisis has passed.

Brian Moynihan, who heads Bank of America's (BAC.N) investment banking and wealth management divisions, is emerging as a potential successor to Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis, the Wall Street Journal said.

The U.S. government has launched an unprecedented array of actions to salvage the economy and stabilize the financial sector that could put up to $10.903 trillion of taxpayers' money at risk.

Stock futures pointed to a lower open on Tuesday after it was reported the International Monetary Fund was set to forecast toxic assets on the balance sheets of financial sheets could reach $4 trillion.

Bank of America's Merrill Lynch has recently closed the Tokyo office of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity , a major international investment arm of the U.S. bank.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Tuesday as investors braced for aluminum producer Alcoa's quarterly results that will kick-start a keenly awaited U.S. earnings season.

Dell said Monday it has agreed to sell $500 million in notes due in 2014 with the largest bank in America serving as underwriters as shares gained 1 cent to close at $10.33 after analyst raise his share to a buy from neutral with price target of $11.40.

Shares of Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo declines Shares of the largest banks in United States tumbled on Wall Street after Calyon analyst Mike Mayo downgraded the stocks with an underperform rating.

Merrill Lynch & Co, now owned by Bank of America Corp , agreed to pay $75 million to settle a class-action lawsuit by employees who lost money investing in Merrill stock through their retirement plans.

U.S. stocks slid on Monday, as a prominent analyst warned the bank sector's problems still have further to run and the potential collapse of a takeover of Sun Microsystems hurt sentiment in the technology sector.