Financial Winners and Losers: Citigroup

Updated from 1:38 p.m. EDT

Financial stocks were rallying Tuesday, after embattled Citigroup (C Quote) said it was having its best quarter in more than a year.

Citi CEO Vikram Pandit said in an internal memo late Monday that the company has been "profitable" through the first two months of the year and is having the "best quarter-to-date" since the third quarter of 2007.

Also giving a lift to stocks was news that Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.) said the uptick rule, which prevents investors from selling stocks short while the price is declining, could be reinstated soon.

Citi shares were rising 36.2% to $1.43. Bank of America (BAC Quote) shares were up 26.1% to $4.73. JPMorgan Chase (JPM Quote) shares were rising 20% to $19.08. Wells Fargo (WFC Quote) shares were lifting 15.4% to $11.69.

The NYSE Financial Sector Index was rising 14.2% to 2,409.81.

MGIC (MTG Quote) was one of the few losers among financial stocks. The mortgage insurer was falling 20.1% to $1 after smaller rival Radian Group (RDN Quote) said in a regulatory filing that some mortgage borrowers may intentionally default on loan payments to take advantage of certain government programs.

Radian shares were up 24.1% to $1.39, as it said it was exploring capital raising options, including selling its share in asset and servicing firm Sherman Financial.