Shares of Star Bancorp., Cincinnati, jumped $3, to 37, and led the gainers among bank stocks Thursday on the report that its rival and suitor, Fifth Third Bancorp, had sweetened its bid for the company. Shares of Fifths Third were unchanged at $42.50.
Other major gainers were Huntington Bancshares Inc., Columbus, Ohio, up $1.875, to $26; Old Kent Financial Corp., Grand Rapids, Mich., up $1.125, to $41.125; AmSouth Bancorp., Birmingham, Ala., up $1.125, to $29.75; Meridian Bancorp, Reading, Pa., up $1, to $27.125; and KeyCorp, Albany, N.Y., up 87.5 cents to $30.625.
Market sources said KeyCorp rose after Oppenheimer & Co. added the company to its recommended list and deleted Fleet Financial Group Inc., Providence, R.I. Fleet was off 37.5 cents, to $28.50.
The biggest decliner was Boatmen's Bancshares Inc., St. Louis, which was off $1.25, to $49, after announcing it would buy for cash Security Bank, Tulsa, Okla., and First Bank of Catoosa, which together have assets of $140 million. Terms were not disclosed.
