Wall Street Roundup: Bank reform fight. Good economic numbers

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JPMorgan profits up. JPMorgan Chase & Co., the first of the large banks to report first-quarter profits, announced increased profits thanks to its investment bank and an improving picture for consumers.

Retail sales rise. Retail sales rose 1.6% from February to March based in large part on strong car sales, the Commerce Department announced. The rise was greater than analysts expected.

Bank reform fight intensifies. Republican members of Congress have joined bank lobbyists in waging a last-ditch battle against bank reforms that are looking more likely by the day.

Morgan Stanley’s big problem. The investment bank Morgan Stanley may take a record $5.4-billion loss on a real estate investment fund, according to the Wall Street Journal.

-- Nathaniel Popper