PacWest's Rebound Leads Regional Bank Stocks.

PacWest Bancorp led a rebound across US regional banking stocks following a bruising week of losses, amid escalating worries over the health of the industry following the recent collapse of several lenders. The investor panic around regional banks started in March with fears about a few lenders that had big unrealized losses on bond investments or large proportions of uninsured depositors. The government’s seizure and sale of First Republic Bank earlier this week and a report that PacWest was exploring strategic options revived market nervousness, sending peers tumbling. In what could come as a relief for smaller lenders, Bloomberg News reported Thursday that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is poised to exempt them from kicking in extra money to replenish the deposit insurance fund.