For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 18, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: PNC Financial Services (PNC), Bank of America (BAC), Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK), MasterCard (MA) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

BofA Continues CEO Hunt

Recently, William Demchak of the PNC Financial Services (PNC) was offered the position of the next CEO of the Bank of America (BAC). However, the offer was turned down by Demchak.

We suspect Demchak declined the

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Recently, William Demchak of the PNC Financial Services (PNC) was offered the position of the next CEO of the Bank of America (BAC). However, the offer was turned down by Demchak.   We suspect Demchak declined the offer as the pay package is likely to be among the least competitive in the industry, especially since the Obama administration's pay czar took the axe to seven institutions' pay plans, chopping the average high-end salary by 50%. Moreover, the bank is also operating under a memorandum of understanding with regulators, who are scrutinizing the top gun's every decision.   The present CEO of the Bank of America, Mr. Ken Lewis, is set to leave the position, stepping down at the end of the year. It may be noted that he succumbed to the pressure to resign after his company’s Merrill Lynch acquisition.   Earlier this month, Robert Kelly of the ...

Negative news flow continues for the U.S credit rating agencies, as a U.S. federal judge rejected the appeal by Morgan Stanley (MS), Moody’s Corporation (MCO) and McGraw-Hill's (MHP) Standard & Poor’s to dismiss the fraud charges brought against them for not disclosing the risks associated with an investment related to subprime mortgages. This fraud claim was brought against the defendants by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and King County in Washington State. However, U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin dismissed all claims brought against a fourth defendant, Bank of New York Mellon Corp. We believe this ruling could adversely affect the prospects of these credit rating agencies as it might strengthen other pending cases against them. Recently, the rating agencies have been in the news for providing inaccurate information about some securities to certain clients. After that, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the market watchdog, ...

Northern Trust Corp. (NTRS) on Wednesday declared that it has completed the final step to free itself from the government bailout program. The Chicago-based custody bank paid $87 million to repurchase stock warrants issued to the federal government as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

With this repurchase, Northern Trust has paid a total of nearly $1.71 billion to the Treasury under TARP. This includes repurchase of preferred stock issued to the government and preferred dividends. According to the bank, the total payments represent a 14% annualized return on investment to the US taxpayers.

The $700 billion bailout program was launched by the federal government to help revive deteriorating credit markets during the height of the financial crisis. The government provided capital to institutions in exchange of preferred stock and warrants to purchase common shares.

Most banks still have short-term debt guaranteed by the government. However,

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[Editor's Note: After more than a year of chaos and controversy, some of the leading U.S. banks saw their stock prices soar during the second quarter. As part of its mid-year forecast series, Money Morning examines the outlook for U.S. banks for the rest of this year. To see earlier stories from our mid-year forecast series, please click here.] By Martin Hutchinson Contributing Editor Money Morning

Can U.S. bank stocks continue their winning streak?

In February, I analyzed the top 12 U.S. banks to determine whether they really needed $1.5 trillion in taxpayer-provided bailout capital. I concluded that only a few of those banks seemed to be in any danger of collapse, and actually recommended several.

Policymakers and the market later came to agree with me: The Standard & Poor’s 500 Financial Index has more than doubled from its March low and several bank stocks have posted triple-digit …

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 8, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Discover Financial Services (DFS), American Express Co. (AXP), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (BK). Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog: Discover Offers $500m in Stock Discover Financial Services (DFS) announced a $500 million common stock offering late Monday. The credit card issuer plans to use a portion of the proceeds to buy back preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury under the Capital Purchase

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Discover Financial Services (DFS) announced a $500 million common stock offering late Monday.

The credit card issuer plans to use a portion of the proceeds to buy back preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury under the Capital Purchase Program. Earlier this year, Discover received $1.2 billion from the Treasury under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Discover said that the proceeds may also be utilized to boost the capital of subsidiary Discovery Bank as well as for investment in company’s businesses.

The company has granted the underwriters an option to buy up to 15% of the stock offering in case of over-allotments. Discover also stated that it plans to offer senior notes in the near future depending on market conditions.

Last month, the US treasury allowed 10 financial majors including American Express Co. (AXP), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Bank of New York

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