Stocks were mixed today due to uncertainty concerning the possible government plan to relieve banks and its impact on current bank shareholders.  The KBW Banking Index fell 1.48% while the KBW Regional Banking Index was up 0.07%. The S&P 500 Index was down 0.75%.

The Bank Index was led lower by Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, Fifth Third Bancorp, and Bank of America, which were down 20.44%, 13.97%, and 11.32%, respectively. The best performers of the day were KeyCorp, M&T Bank, and BB&T Corporation, which had gains of 2.97%, 2.74%, and 2.29%.

Declining components of  the Regional Banking Index were South Financial Group, Boston Private Financial Holdings, and Synovus Financial, which were down 8.20%, 6.26%, and 4.83%, respectively. The best performers of the day were Sterling Bancshares, First Horizon National Corporation, and Hudson City Savings Bank, which had gains of 4.35%, 2.91%, and 2.45%.