Banks rally on M&A speculation

Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:01:11 -0500

BANKS RALLY ON M&A SPECULATION
U.S. bank stocks march higher, led by Zions Bancorp, Regions Financial
Corp. and SunTrust Banks Inc., amid speculation about mergers and
acquisitions in the industry.

OIL FUTURES JUMP ON SUPPLIES DATA, OPEC FORECAST
Investors cheer news of a smaller-than-expected increase in U.S. crude
supplies and a big drop in gasoline supplies.

U.S.'S GASOLINE GULP FUELS ENERGY SECTOR GAINS
Energy stocks embellish early gains, playing off bullish U.S.
inventories data as well as a revised Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries outlook forecasting higher world oil demand for
2010.

STOCKS GET LIFT FROM INVENTORIES; FINANCIALS LEAD
U.S. stocks open slightly higher Wednesday as the financial sector
climbs, along with technology and telecommunications stocks.
Commodities slip.