Stocks are clinging to slim gains this afternoon, with tame inflation data working to offset mostly disappointing earnings results for the banking sector this morning along with upbeat data on initial unemployment claims. But despite Bank of America ( BAC ) and Wells Fargo ( WFC ) both reporting lower profits in Q1 compared with last year, the financial sector was outperforming most of its peers, with Dow component stocks Goldman Sachs ( GS ) and JP Morgan ( JPM ) leading the blue chip index higher. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.