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U.S. stocks fell on Friday as bank shares slid following news of a tepid debut of a key U.S. Federal Reserve measure to revive lending.

Stocks were little changed on Friday as financial shares fell after the tepid debut of a Federal Reserve measure to revive lending, offsetting investors' bets that mergers could heat up after reports IBM was in talks to buy rival Sun Microsystems.

Bank of America Corp was involved in accounting for fourth-quarter writedowns at Merrill Lynch & Co before it acquired the brokerage firm, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Bank of America Corp was involved in accounting for fourth-quarter writedowns at Merrill Lynch & Co before it acquired the brokerage firm, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

By Grant McCool

Stocks headed for a higher open on Thursday as resurgent oil prices lifted energy shares and sentiment was underpinned by optimism about the Federal Reserve's push to lower borrowing costs.

Stock futures signaled Wall Street would rise at the open on Thursday as rising oil prices boosted energy shares and sentiment was underpinned by optimism about the Federal Reserve's bid to lower borrowing costs.

The names of 200 highest bonus earners at Merrill Lynch & Co last year are not a trade secret and can be made public in an investigation by New York's top legal officer, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

Shares of Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc powered to multiweek highs on Wednesday on optimism over government efforts to stimulate lending.

Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc shares have roughly tripled from the multi-decade lows of less than a month ago and powered higher on Wednesday on optimism government efforts to stimulate lending might boost stocks after punishing recent declines.

Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc shares have roughly tripled from multi-decade lows set less than a month ago, and powered higher on Wednesday on speculation their recent punishing declines might have been too severe.

Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc shares have roughly tripled from multi-decade lows set less than a month ago, and powered higher on Wednesday on speculation their recent punishing declines might have been too severe.

Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc shares have roughly tripled from multi-decade lows set less than a month ago, and powered higher on Wednesday on speculation their recent punishing declines might have been too severe.

Stocks pared losses on Wednesday as oil prices trimmed earlier losses and bank stocks advanced following reassuring comments from Bank of America chief executive.

U.S. stocks pared losses on Wednesday as oil prices trimmed earlier losses and bank stocks advanced following reassuring comments from Bank of America chief executive.

Bank of America Corp Chairman and Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis said the largest U.S. bank could repay the $45 billion of government capital it has taken by late 2009 or early 2010, depending on the economy, according to an interview published in the Charlotte Observer.

Merrill Lynch & Co has taken full control of its Indian unit DSP Merrill Lynch after Hemendra Kothari, the subsidiary's founder and chairman, said he had sold his 10 percent stake to the firm ahead of his retirement.

The chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has asked for records on the $3.62 billion of year-end bonuses at Merrill Lynch, to see if the panel was misled about the payments, the Wall Street Journal said.

Asian stocks jumped to a one-month high on Tuesday, with banks extending gains on hopes the struggling global financial system is stabilizing, despite reports showing the U.S. economy is deteriorating further.

Asian stocks climbed on Tuesday, with banks extending gains on hopes the struggling global financial system is stabilizing, despite reports showing the U.S. economy is deteriorating further.

U.S. bank stocks, which had their best week on record last week, powered higher amid optimism they can soon return to profitability, only to give back their gains after American Express Co said more credit card customers are missing payments.

Stocks fell on Monday after American Express Co said the number of people struggling to make credit card payments grew, erasing earlier optimism that banks could return to profit in the downturn.

U.S. bank stocks, which had their best week on record last week, powered higher again on Monday amid optimism that banks are succeeding in efforts to restore profitability, and that a change to accounting rules might alleviate feared capital shortfalls.

Wells Fargo & Co's chairman lambasted the U.S. government for imposing new curbs on lenders that receive federal bailout money, and called the federal plan to subject big banks to stress tests asinine.

Stocks rose for a fifth day in a row on Monday after Barclays joined other major banks in saying it had a strong start for 2009, fueling hopes that the beaten-down sector may be stabilizing.

Citigroup Inc awarded Chief Executive Vikram Pandit $10.82 million of compensation in 2008, a year when the government propped up the bank with $45 billion of capital.

The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 climbed on Monday as Barclays said it had a strong start for 2009, joining other major banks, and added it discussed selling one of its units.

British bank Barclays Plc said it is considering selling iShares, part of its fund management arm, and said it was trading strongly, sending its stock up by more than a fifth.

Bank stocks rose Monday on optimism that efforts to revive economies worldwide will bolster results.