11.   BankAmerica Corp. said it hired MasterCard International President and Chief Executive H. Eugene Lockhart president of its global retail bank.

12.   Cigna Corp. and Banco Excel Economico SA, a Brazilian retail bank, said they will create a joint venture that will focus on selling life insurance in Brazil.

13.   Concern that U.K. interest rates are not yet at their peak and could go higher toppled retail banks from their position among the top performers in early trading.

14.   Domestically, Credit Suisse is now the largest Swiss retail bank, due to its Volksbank acquisition.

15.   Donald H. Layton, the other co-head of investment banking, will take over the retail bank.

16.   Fleet Financial Group hired L. Peter Sheehan to run its investments and insurance sales business, which are now part of the retail bank.

17.   For example, retail banks and insurance agents are still at odds over how banks should be allowed to expand their sale of insurance.

18.   Gainers were led by retail banks and SmithKline Beecham Plc, while water companies pulled the index down.

19.   High street retail banks mirrored the cut by lowering their base rates.

20.   Industry observers say niche markets exist for smaller institutions specializing in corporate banking or wealth management, but only the top five retail banks in each market will thrive.