Why did BAC share price fall on recent news?

This may sound naive, but I had a question about the recent BofA news concerning the Company's request for more bailout funds. It is my understanding that when the government bailout was announced and individual banks received bailout funds, the market values of investment banks increased. Now that BofA is requesting more for the Merrill merger, why would their share price fall? Wouldn't receiving more funds improve their balance sheets resulting in an increase in share price?

My best guess would be that asking for additional bailout money worries shareholders about the overall strength of the company. Is this correct?

8 Comments
 

There's also the prospect of dilution for existing shareholders, which I imagine is a major concern.

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Additionally, JPM's surprise profit in the face of the losses that BAC and C have/will have also weighed on them. As has speculation after Citi's breakup that BAC is following Citi's path of becoming overbloated and unmanageable as a 'money supermarket'.

 

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