Financial stocks slipped lower than the rest of the market Monday as Goldman Sachs dispersed negative research that knocked down several names. NYSE Euronext ( NYX) was cut to sell while commodities exchange Chicago Board of Trade ( BOT) and broker GFI Group ( GFIG) were each downgraded to neutral from buy. NYSE was hardest hit, recently losing 5.3% to $87.45; CBOT eased by 2% to $193.32; and GFI gave up 3.1% to $67.54 in unusually high trading volume. The NYSE Financial sector index, which counts among its components CBOT and the NYSE itself, lately fell 0.5% to $52.82. Bank of America ( BAC), another NYSE Financial component, helped weigh down that index along with the KBW Bank tracker after confirming it will buy ABN Amro's ( ABN) LaSalle Bank unit for $21 billion. BofA retreated 1.1% to $50.48 as the KBW index slid 0.7% at 116.36. Dutch-based ABN also announced today that it will sell itself to Britain-based Barclays ( BCS) for $91 billion. Both banks traded lower on the NYSE today: Barclays was off by 2% to $58.79, and ABN fell 1.7% to $48.46. Asset manager Fortress ( FIG) lost 3% at $30.64 on word it's leading a group to buy transportation-equipment lessor Interpool ( IPX) for $27.10 a share. The deal, valued at $2.4 billion including debt assumption, should close in the third quarter. Interpool shares were lately up 4.2% to $26.66. As for earnings news, Missouri's Independent Bank ( IBCP) logged one of the sector's biggest percentage losses today after first-quarter profits took a nosedive to 19 cents a share from last year's 53 cents. 2007 guidance was also cut by at least 30 cents to range between $1.20 and $1.40 a share. Its stock plunged 14% to $16.54. Synovus' ( SNV) first-quarter profits rose from last year, but they missed average targets by a penny, according to Thomson Financial. Shares were down 1.7% at $32.73. On the other hand, Illinois-based Wintrust Financial ( WTFC) and Western Alliance Bancorp ( WAL) of Las Vegas both jumped after squaring with first-quarter estimates. Wintrust gained 5.2% at $45.34; Western Alliance rose 2.2% to $32.40. Elsewhere, Merrill Lynch upped Goldman Sachs ( GS) to buy along with a few other big brokers, citing Goldman as the strongest of the lot. Shares lifted by 0.8% to $221.76. Goldman, meanwhile, raised Nasdaq Stock Market ( NDAQ) to buy from neutral, boosting the exchange's shares by 3.6% to $33.28. Among other financial winners today, Encore Capital ( ECPG) jumped more than 8% after J.C. Flowers and FPK Capital agreed to buy a quarter of the loan purchaser's shares for the largest single stake; Red Mountain Capital has already bought a 15% stake. Shares were up 89 cents to $11.65 in recent trading.
Get the Investing Edge.
Join Jim Cramer's Members-Only Investing Club
Become an Action Alerts PLUS member to learn from the pros how to invest wisely
and build a customized portolio of blue chip stocks.
Uncover New Investment Opportunities With Our Team of Experts
Jim Cramer and his army of Wall Street pros serve up new trading ideas and in-depth market analysis every day.
More from Investing

Kraft Heinz Stock's Massive Selloff Could Make It a Buy
Kraft Heinz cut its dividend, missed earnings and revenue estimates and disclosed a federal subpoena. What should investors do now?

Chart of the Day: Kraft Heinz Credit Outlook Is Troubling
KHC has a big problem on its balance sheet.

Trump Is Willing to Extend March 1 Deadline for China Trade Deal
Negotiations seem cautiously optimistic as Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu talk trade.

ESG Investors Ask Questions of Kraft Heinz Oversight
Kraft Heinz needs to cope with problems at the top.

Infinera Looks to Have Formed a 'Bullish Reversal Pattern'
The price of INFN is spiking again today in response to positive quarterly earnings from the communications equipment maker.