**Bank Stocks Soar on Hopes of Softer Regulations Amid Trump Election Win**

Major U.S. bank stocks experienced a significant boost on Wednesday following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election. This surge is largely attributed to investor optimism regarding potential regulatory changes under Trump's administration.

Stocks of prominent banks, such as JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., and Wells Fargo & Co., saw notable gains. Investors are anticipating a more lenient regulatory environment under the GOP leadership, which could benefit the banking sector. The SPDR S&P Bank ETF jumped over 11%, while the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF, which includes smaller banks, surged more than 13%, hitting new 52-week highs.

Analysts have been quick to highlight the potential benefits of a Trump presidency for the banking industry. Ebrahim Poonawala, an analyst at Bank of America, labeled the election outcome as positive for bank stocks and predicted a more balanced regulatory landscape. Similarly, Jaret Seiberg of TD Cowen suggested that Trump's administration might lead to reduced oversight from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and a reassessment of capital requirements for large banks.

Seiberg also noted that reduced capital requirements, consistent credit card fee policies, and more favorable cryptocurrency regulations could be advantageous for banks. However, he cautioned that Trump's policies on tariffs and immigration might introduce inflationary challenges.

In terms of stock performance, JPMorgan Chase shares ended Wednesday up 11.5% at $247.06, Bank of America shares rose by 8.38% to $45.39, and Wells Fargo shares increased by 13.2% to $72.54, according to Benzinga Pro. Investors remain hopeful that Trump's presidency will bring about a friendlier regulatory backdrop for the banking industry.