Financial Stocks Gain as BofA, Regionals Questions Lurk

Stocks opened higher Wednesday and continue to climb mid-morning — despite a glum GDP report — amid glimmers of health in financials.

Citigroup is reportedly asking for permission to pay out executive bonuses.

Bank of America shareholders are meeting today; CEO Ken Lewis will likely draw a lot of fire — and fight for his job — over issues like Merrill Lynch executive compensation.

As everyone waits for the results of the banks' stress tests, analyst chatter is focusing on the regionals: names including Fifth Third Bancorp, SunTrust Banks and Regions Financial are gaining today.

What would BofA's conversion-to-common look like — if it does convert? Will the regionals be able to raise capital?
David Faber has more. Watch his video report, above.

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