Downgrade for B of A Stock; Thumbs Up For Capital One

BankAmerica Corp.'s stock slipped Wednesday after Dean Witter downgraded the company to "buy" and removed it from the "recommended" list.

Its shares closed at $75.125, down 87.5 cents.

Analyst Anthony Lombardi said he reduced the company's rating because Dean Witter anticipates higher interest rates.

Separately, Bear, Stearns & Co. upgraded Capital One Financial Corp. to "attractive," from "neutral, " based on the rising profitability of the company's credit card portfolio.

Capital One's stock closed at $25.875, down 75 cents.

The company's first-quarter earnings per share rose 50% from the 38 cents earned in the same period of 1995, which was in line with Bear Stearns' published estimate, according to analyst Susan Roth. She set a six-to-12 month target price of $30-$32.

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