Stocks

As the economy strengthens, more banks are facing pressure to pay up for the best lenders and tech specialists.

The private equity firms plan to sell a total of 3 million shares in the Houston company in coming weeks.

The bank said it plans to use proceeds from the placement to expand its operations.

Farmer Mac has terminated President and CEO Timothy Buzby for violating company policies not related to its financial and business performance.

Bank of America set aside $100 million in its reserves for representation and warranty claims ahead of a pending settlement to resolve legacy mortgage issues.

The Dutch government sold a third stake in ABN Amro Group NV, taking advantage of a rally in the shares of the nationalized lender.

Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group has agreed to buy a majority stake in Virginia Community Bank in a rare instance of a nondepository mortgage company buying a bank, rather than the reverse.

In an echo of the rescue deals of 2007 and 2008, New Residential's CEO framed the transaction as something undertaken to benefit the entire industry.

Growth outside of its residential mortgage business contributed to Flagstar Bank beating first-quarter earnings estimates, company executives said.

Bankers, directors and other large investors are unloading millions of shares as bank stocks stay close to all-time highs.