Shares of some top commercial banks companies were up at the close of trading:

Shares of some top commercial banks companies are mixed at noon:

Shares of some top commercial banks companies are mixed at 10 a.m.:

Shares of regional banks were mixed Wednesday, as falling oil prices were partially offset by lingering concerns over the health of the sector.

Investors interested in buying and selling U.S. bank stocks based on the performance of the underlying businesses might well have gone on holiday this week  --  and might stay there next week.

Now that the federal government has thrown a lifeline to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, taxpayers could be on the hook for billions more if the crisis of confidence spreads.

Stocks finished lower, led by financials, as investors worried that the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac might not be enough to prevent further turmoil in financial markets.

Shares of National City and Washington Mutual plummeted more than 25 percent, leading financial stocks lower Monday, amid fears about bank stability and the future of the mortgage market.

Fifth Third Bancorp, a large U.S. regional bank, said it planned to raise at least $2 billion in capital and would slash its dividend by 66 percent to cope with mounting credit losses.

U.S. banks may need to raise $65 billion of additional capital to cope with mounting losses from a global credit crisis that will not peak until 2009, Goldman Sachs & Co analysts said on Tuesday.

Stocks tumbled Wednesday as oil's resurgence lit the fuse of inflation fears, pushing the Dow to a three-month low.  Oil jumped about $5 a barrel, settling at $136.38. Financials were the hardest hit.

Visa reported earnings that easily outstripped expectations in its first ever results as a publicly traded company, but the company's shares declined in extended trading.

Stocks close mixed as quarterly results from Bank of America and National City fueled worries about bank earnings, while energy and tech gained.

National City, a large U.S. Midwest regional bank, posted a first-quarter loss Monday after a large loan loss provision, reduced its dividend and said it would raise $7 billion of equity capital, sending its shares down nearly 19 percent.

Stocks started the week lower, hurt by more uncertainty in the banking industry and earnings report that left investors wary after coming off a strong rally last week.