Bank Tech Stocks Rise Along with General Market

Bank technology stocks were up for the week, in step with the broader market's rise.

Midday Friday the Dow Jones industrial average had risen 207 points, to 7,829. Meanwhile, Goldman, Sachs & Co.'s index of U.S.-traded technology firms, which lists many bank technology vendors, had risen 5.3 points, to 162.9.

American Management Systems Inc. was a notable exception to the generally positive movement.

The Fairfax, Va.-based company, which sells software and systems integration services to banks and telecommunications firms, cut its expected annual earnings per share figure by 22 cents.

The reduction comes as a result of Swiss Telecom's cancellation of a project with AMS. AMS stock was trading at $19 late Friday, down $6.125 from last week's close.

In other bank technology news, BA Merchant Services said it will buy a card processing portfolio from First Data Corp. for an undisclosed sum.

The deal, which would bring 4,200 new accounts and $850 million in annual transaction values to BA Merchant, is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

According to Gregory Gould, analyst at Goldman Sachs, the acquisition could boost by a penny the company's expected earnings of 99 cents per share.

BA Merchant Services shares were trading at $18.625 late Friday, up 0.8125 cents from a week earlier.

First Data's shares were trading $1.25 lower for the week, at $40.25.

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