Friday's Financial Winners & Losers

Financial stocks swung lower than the rest of the market Friday amid a number of analyst downgrades, and the sector lately slid into the red as American Home Mortage Investment (AHM Quote) got clobbered by disappointing guidance. Shares of the Melville, N.Y., firm tumbled 12.9% after saying that "substantial charges for credit-related expenses" will probably induce a second-quarter loss, though this will likely be "contained" due to a planned reclassification. As a result, AHM also withdrew its prior 2007 earnings outlook of $3.25 to $3.75 a share. Shares were down $2.70 to $18.21.

Friedman Billings cut AHM to underperform and UBS similarly downgraded insurers MGIC Investment (MTG Quote) and PMI Group (PMI Quote) to neutral from buy, predicting they'll build higher near-term reserves than those previously estimated, and that this will eat away at earnings through 2008. Shares of the firms lost 1.4% and 2.1%, respectively, as Franklin Bank (FBTX Quote) shed 6.1% at $14.95 on a new underweight rating from J.P. Morgan.

All but one of the above named stocks weighed on the NYSE Financial Sector Index as it lost 37.96 points, or 0.4%, to 9,575.39. The KBW Index also trailed by about that much, despite a leaping Commerce Bancorp (CBH Quote).

Shares of the New Jersey bank were up 8% at $36.50 on word Chief Executive Vernon Hill is departing, to be replaced by a newly formed Office of the Chairman consisting of three company executives -- Dennis DiFlorio, Robert Falese and Douglas Pauls.

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