Bank stocks were mostly trendless as the overall market drifted in preholiday trading.
Wells Fargo & Co., the San Francisco superregional, was the biggest gainer of the day among major bank stocks, rising 1.75, to $74, in late trading. Wachovia Corp., Winston-Salem, N.C., was the biggest decliner, falling $1, to $65.87.
Among money center banks, Chemical Banking Corp. was up 87.5 cents to $36.50, but J.P. Morgan & Co. was off 25 cents, to $61.375. Citicorp was unchanged at $18.50.
Among leading regional banks, Norwest Corp., Minneapolis, was down 12.5 cents, to $50.25.