Monday's Financial Winners & Losers

Mountains of positive analyst research helped to lift financial stocks higher on Monday, though Barclays (BCS Quote) had a quick rise on M&A news.

The Britain-based bank jumped 2.7% after sweetening its takeout bid for ABN Amro (ABN Quote) against a rival offer from a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland worth about $98 billion (71.1 billion euros) and consisting of 93% cash.

Barclays, which previously offered stock worth $50.04 (36.25 euros) per share, is now proposing a stock-and-cash blend worth some $93 billion (67.5 billion euros), with cash constituting about 37%. In connection with the proposed bid, China Development Bank and Temasek Holdings will invest in significant amounts of new Barclays shares, and have committed to buying substantially more contingent on merger completion.

Barclays was up $1.72 to $60.35, while ABN shares lost 6 cents to $50.72, both are components of the NYSE Financial Sector Index. The tracker added 0.2% to 9,555.59.

In analyst-propelled action, Stifel Nicolaus upped auto insurer Progressive (PGR Quote) to hold from sell, citing valuation. Shares traded 2.4% higher to $22. The broker also upgraded Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB Quote), which traded actively and was lately up 6 cents to $38.75.

MBIA (MBI Quote) gained 2% after a Fox-Pitt Kelton analyst said subprime-mortgage-related concerns regarding the insurer are greatly exaggerated. He raised the Armonk, N.Y., firm's rating to market outperform. And HSBC (HBC Quote) added 1% to $93.08 on a Lehman Brothers upgrade to overweight.