Bank of America Corp. fell$. 13 or 1.0 percent, to $13.31. Citigroup Inc. fell$. 66 or 1.3 percent, to $51.00. Goldman Sachs fell $1.39 or. 9 percent, to $159.34.
NEW YORK, May 22- U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday with the S&P 500 posting its biggest decline in three weeks, after minutes from the latest U.S. The minutes followed comments from Chairman Ben Bernanke, who said the Fed could decide to scale back the pace of bond purchases at one of the "next few meetings" if the economic recovery looked set to maintain forward momentum.
*Bernanke touts benefits of Fed easing, but hints could act.
NEW YORK-- A look at New York Stock Exchange 10 most-active stocks at 1 p.m.:. Bank of America Corp. rose 1.4 percent to $13.63 with 88,111,200 shares traded. Barrick Gold Corp. rose 1.8 percent to $19.71 with 16,112,200 shares traded.
Bank of America Corp. rose$. 19 or 1.4 percent, to $13.63. Citigroup Inc. rose $1.03 or 2.0 percent, to $52.69. Goldman Sachs rose $2.71 or 1.7 percent, to $163.44.
MONTPELIER, Vt.-- Vermont's attorney general says Vermont homeowners have gotten $14.7 million in foreclosure relief benefits as part of a state-federal settlement with the country's five largest mortgages servicers.
May 22- Zale Corp said on Wednesday its new chairman would be the former chief executive of its biggest rival, and shares of the mid-tier jeweler jumped 30 percent. Terry Burman, who was CEO of Kay Jewelers parent Signet Jewelers Ltd from 2000 to 2011 and oversaw large U.S. market share gains, will take up the chairmanship post next Friday, Zale said.
*Saks rallies on report it could sell itself. NEW YORK, May 22- U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, giving up some gains after an initial rally, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank needed to see further signs of traction in the economy before it tapered its economic stimulus efforts.
Bank of America Corp. rose$. 15 or 1.1 percent, to $13.59. Citigroup Inc. rose$. 58 or 1.1 percent, to $52.24. Goldman Sachs rose $1.67 or 1.0 percent, to $162.40.
Bristol-Myers Squibb could be a big winner with a portfolio of cancer treatments under development that use a patient's own immune system to attack the disease, according to a Citi, which raised its rating on the drugmaker.
*Potential sales of $35 bln a year over next 10 years- Citigroup. That bullish sales forecast by analysts at U.S. bank Citigroup highlights the growing excitement surrounding so-called immunotherapy after positive results from clinical trials conducted by companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb and Roche Holding.
*China power producers slump again, hit by Citi downgrade. HONG KONG, May 22- Hong Kong shares fell further from 3-1/ 2- month highs on Wednesday and mainland China markets were mixed as Chinese power producers extended losses after a broker downgrade added to fears of lower profit margins.
HONG KONG, May 22- Hong Kong shares fell further from a 3-1/ 2- month high on Wednesday, with Chinese power producers extending losses, hit by a Citi downgrade on fears that a possible tariff cut could hurt profit margins.
May 22- Foreign banks that once treated Russia as an undiscovered country where easy money could be made are now finding it a cut-throat market tougher than some bargained for.
MOSCOW, May 22- Foreign banks that once treated Russia as virgin land where easy money could be made are now finding it a cut-throat market tougher than some bargained for.
Bank of America Corp. fell$. 07 or. 5 percent, to $13.44. Citigroup Inc. rose$. 06 or. 1 percent, to $51.66. Goldman Sachs rose $1.83 or 1.2 percent, to $160.73.
Bank of America Corp. fell$. 05 or. 4 percent, to $13.46. Citigroup Inc. rose$. 22 or. 4 percent, to $51.82. Goldman Sachs rose $2.07 or 1.3 percent, to $160.97.
NEW YORK-- A look at New York Stock Exchange 10 most-active stocks at 1 p.m.:. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. fell. 9 percent to $4.07 with 23,047,800 shares traded. Bank of America Corp. fell. 4 percent to $13.46 with 65,492,500 shares traded.
LONDON, May 21- Copper dipped on Tuesday after disappointing import numbers from top consumer China, but losses were capped by a protracted production outage in Indonesia. Copper has rebounded from 18- month lows hit earlier this month below $6,800 a tonne on growing confidence that the U.S. recovery is on track, but the metal is still down some 7 percent this year.