At first glance, this morning's favorable housing data would seem to be good news for B of A, especially given its emphasis on increasing its mortgage lending as part of a broader strategy to accelerate growth. But investors may be responding to a statement in which B of A agreed to sell 20 of its New York branches to Berkshire Hills Bancorp and eight of its Pennsylvania branches to Community Bank System ; the sales may be seen as evidence that the megabank still feels the need to make asset sales in order to bolster its capital position. Alcoa ( AA ) is also among today's losers, falling about 1%. The controversy regarding the role that Goldman Sachs ( GS 0.13% ) and other warehouse owners may have played in supporting aluminum prices through Goldman's network of warehouses has drawn attention to the industry, but Goldman recently responded with the obvious retort: Aluminum prices have plunged in the years since its alleged actions took place.