Stocks increased for the second straight day today, as the KBW Banking Index rose 5.40% and the KBW Regional Banking Index rose 3.64%. The broader S&P 500 Index was up 2.58%.

The Bank Index was led by Bank of New York Mellon, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, and PNC Financial Services Group, which were up 9.03%, 8.97%, and 8.60%, respectively. Lagging on the day were Fifth Third Bancorp, State Street Corporation, and M&I, which had losses of 7.60%, 0.89%, and 0.76%.

Leading the Regional Banking Index were Eggemeyer Advisory Corp., Cathay General Bancorp, and Citizens Republic Bancorp, which were up 7.00%, 6.18%, and 6.09%, respectively. Offsetting these were Corus Bankshares, Colonial Bancgroup, and South Financial Group, which had losses of 7.27%, 4.87%, and 2.49%.