Movers roundup: Lennar, Bank of America

Among the stock activity stories for Monday, May 18, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) _ Homebuilder Lennar Corp.'s $400 million bond sale has strengthened its capital base and will get it through the housing slump, an analyst said, upgrading the stock.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Bank of America Corp. shares surged as Goldman Sachs analyst Richard Ramsden upgraded his rating on the bank to "Buy" and added it to a special list of top picks.

NEW YORK (AP) _ An upgrade by JPMorgan and the purchase of about 14.3 million shares by majority shareholder Kirk Kerkorian sent MGM Mirage stock surging.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Chico's FAS Inc. shares rose after a Sterne Agee analyst upgraded them to "Buy" from "Neutral," saying momentum in its sales continues to build.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Quicksilver Resources Inc., a natural gas and oil producer, said it agreed to sell for $280 million development rights for shale, coal bed methane and other gas on 13,000 acres in Texas, sending its shares soaring.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. fell as several analysts expressed concern over study results from the company's developing gastrointestinal infection drug, Fidaxomicin.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Cost control efforts and signs of growing stability in the casual dining sector led an analyst to boost Brinker International Inc.'s rating.