Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Bank of America Bailout Bounce

BB2: After receiving a $25 billion bailout, Bank of America is expecting to only make $3 to $6 billion in profits for the fourth quarter. So, in other words, $19 to $22 billion was PURE LOSS!

Bank of America May Receive More Bailout Money

The U.S. Treasury Department is moving to provide Bank of America billions of dollars in additional aid as the bank struggles with mounting losses at Merrill Lynch, which it recently acquired, a person briefed on the talks said Wednesday.
It would be the second bank after Citigroup to receive an additional lifeline from the government.
U.S. regulators and executives at Bank of America, which has already received $25 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, have grown increasingly concerned at greater-than-expected losses in the fourth quarter at Merrill, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information. The move to help shore up Bank of America comes on the heels of greater U.S. government intervention in Citigroup. After pumping more than $45 billion in Treasury money onto its balance sheet, the government has put pressure on the bank to dismantle the troubled empire in an effort to stem losses and curb capital injections.
While Bank of America was viewed not that long ago as a pillar of strength in the banking sector, it has seen its stock plummet as investors worry that it has acquired companies with their own set of financial baggage.
Besides the Merrill acquisition, which closed at the beginning of 2009, Bank of America also acquired troubled mortgage lender Countrywide last year.
...

No comments: