Regional banks closed higher on Thursday with chatter growing about which names may be in play.
Earlier in the week published reports suggested Barclays was looking to increase its footprint in North America and the Street assumed a regional bank would be a natural acquisition.
Then later in the week Northern Trust said outright they were interested in buying a fund administrator or asset manager.
Considering these developments, how should you be trading?
I’d watch Suntrust , says RBC Capital Markets analyst Gerard Cassidy. I think it could become available. And it could go out for something north of $50 a share.
Boston Private Financial may also be in play, he adds, with Northern Trust as the buyer.
You might also want to watch Huntington and Regions , adds Pete Najarian. Options action in these names have been hot.
I would not step into regionals, counters Joe Terranova. They're all still at the mercy of commercial real estate woes.
-----
AFTER HOURS ACTION: AEROPOSTALE
Teen retailer Aeropostale on Thursday posted a sharply higher quarterly net profit that beat Wall Street estimates on strong holiday sales, sending its shares up 5 percent in the after market.
The company has been on a tear during the economic downturn, attracting teens on a budget who reject the higher prices of rivals such as Abercrombie & Fitch .
What must you know about the retail trade?
I think the economy in general and the consumer specifically is doing much better than most people think, says Bob Barbera, ITG Chief Economist. We’re likely in a period when things look good for a while, he adds.
-----
BREAKING NEWS: PFIZER
After hours on Thursday, Pfizer announced it had stopped a study in Figitumumab in patients with lung cancer.
How do you play this?
I’d get long the IBB because I think the biotech have the hot drugs, says Brian Kelly. And maybe short PFE against it.
I like playing generics with Mylan and Teva , says Pete Najarian.
I’m bullish Abbott Labs, adds Joe Terranova
______________________________________________________
Got something to to say? Send us an e-mail at fastmoney-web@cnbc.com and your comment might be posted on the Rapid Recap. If you'd prefer to make a comment but not have it published on our website send those e-mails to fastmoney@cnbc.com.
Trader disclosure: On March 11th, 2010, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders; Adami Owns (INTC), (GS), (AGU), (BTU), (MSFT), (C), (NUE); Grasso Owns (TSO), (AAPL), (ABK), (ASTM), (BA), (BAC), (BGP), (C), (COST), (CSCO), (PFE), (PRST), (V), (WMT), (FAZ); Terranova Owns (GOOG), (AAPL), (EMC), (MSFT), (DELL), (XLE); Terranova Owns (CAL) April Puts; Terranova Is Short (XLY); Terranova Works For (VRTS); Najarian Owns (AES) Calls; Najarian Owns (BAC) Call Spread; Najarian Owns (BP); Najarian Owns (C) Calls; Najarian Owns (HOLX) Calls; Najarian Owns (MCD) Call Spread; Najarian Owns (RSH) Call Spread; Najarian Owns (YHOO) Calls; Najarian Owns (CAT) Call Spread; Finerman's Firm Is Short (IYR), (IJR), (MDY), (SPY), (USO); Finerman's Firm Is Long S&P Puts; Finerman Owns (AAPL); Finemran's Firm Owns (BAC), (BAC) Leap; Finerman Owns (BAC), (BAC) Preferred; Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (GOOG), (GGP), (JPM), (WFC); Finerman's Firm Owns (MCD), (OSIP), (XBI); Kellly Owns (ELC) Call; Kelly Owns (GMT) Calls; Kelly Owns (AMZN) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (AIG), Is Short (AIG) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (BAC), Is Short (BAC) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (C), Is Short (C) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (GME), Is Short (GME) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (GS), Is Short (GS) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (JPM), Is Short (JPM) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (MS), Is Short (MS) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns (WFC), Is Short (WFC) Calls; Jon Najarian Owns Seats On CBOE, CME, NYSE; Edwards Owns (ARO); Edwards Owns (BAC) For Clients; Edwards Owns (GS) For Clients; Edwards Owns (BKE) For Clients; Edwards Owns (JPM) For Clients; Edwards Owns (WFC) For Clients; Karabell Owns (C), (FXI), (JPM), (UYG); Funds Managed By Dennis Gartman Own (F), (CMG), (CGM), (DRI), (PNRA), (AGU), (PNR), (JOYG), (GOOG), (GMCR), (EWZ), (FAX), (PGH); Funds Managed By Dennis Gartman Are Short S&P Futures, (BBD), (AMX), (SPLS), (TM); Funds Managed By Dennis Gartman Are Long Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Gold Futures; Funds Managed By Dennis Gartman Are Short EUR, CHF, British Pound Sterling, Yen
For Joe Terranova
Terranova Is Chief Market Strategist Of Virtus Investment Partners, Ltd.
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (EXR)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (GOK)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (IGE)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (XLY)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (DBV)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (XLP)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (XLB)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (XLV)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (XLI)
For Steve Grasso
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (ABK)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (CUBA)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (GERN)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (GLG)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (HSPO)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (NWS.A)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (NXST)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (NYX)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (PDE)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (PRST)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (RDC)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (TLM)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (TOL)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (XRX)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (SDS)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Are Short (QQQQ)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Are Short (CL)
For Brian Kelly
Kanundrum Capital Owns (C)
Kanundrum Capital Owns (JPM)
Kanundrum Capital Owns (GE)
Kanundrum Capital Is Long U.S. Dollar
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (FCX)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short Copper
Kanundrum Capital Is Short Treasuries
Kanundrum Capital Is Short Euro
Kanundrum Capital Is Short Yen
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (KRE)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (RKH)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (SLX)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (X)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (AA)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (ACH)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (EWH)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (EWY)
Kanundrum Capital Is Short (AA)
For Brian Stutland
Stutland Equities Is A Market Maker In VIX Futures And Options
Stutland Equities Is A Market Maker In SPX Options
For Gerard Cassidy
RBC Capital Markets Is Providing Fulton Financial Corp. With Non-Investment Banking Securities-Related Services
RBC Capital Markets Has Provided Fulton Financial Corp. With Non-Investment Banking Securities-Related Services In The Past 12 Months
RBC Capital Markets Has Provided KeyCorp With Non-Securities Services In The Past 12 Months
RBC Capital Markets Has Provided Webster Financial Corp. With Non-Securities Services In The Past 12 Months
Royal Bank of Canada And Affiliates Owns 1% Or More Of Regions Financial Corp.
RBC Capital Markets Has Provided Huntington Bancshares With Non-Securities Services In Past 12 Months
CNBC.com with wires
