led the way lower,own more than 1%, followed closely behd byhe energy a telecommunications sector downine-tenthof a percent each. bank of america was the biggest loser in the financial sector, as well as the dow industrial index. shares shed more than 3%. today's sell-off came as investment firm baird cautioned the stock rally this year can't continue for bank of america. baird voiced worries over the bank's earnings power. one area of strength in finance today-- private equity firm kkr. it announced the hiring of a former wall street c.e.o. john mack headed up investment bank morgan stanley during the credit crisis, leaving last year. he is now a senior advisor to private equity firm kkr. shares of kkr fought the weak tape for the financial sector, rising more than 1% to a six week high. we mentioned homebuilders earlier. they also fought the weak tone in the market, even though the latest national home price data continue showing weaker prices. homebuilder lennar helped its stock sector by reporting earnings twice as much as wall street anticipated. a key sign of strength, new orders for homes,