No one likes to be the worst — and financials have been at the bottom of the barrel since the economy collapsed in 2008. Here is the news that weighed on the worst-performing stocks in the Financial sector in 2011.

Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC): The stock has been hammered on concerns that the value of the assets the bank holds on its books are not and cannot be accurately valued, and so will have to be written off at some future point.  Ongoing economic malaise in its home country of the United States has also caused the stock to decline. The company’s shares have returned -58.70 percent over the past year. The shares recently traded at $5.45.

Bank of America topped lists as the Dow’s worst performer. Its average annual share-price loss over the past decade is 5.4 percent and from its 2008 Countrywide Mortgage acquisition, it has resulted in large write-offs and negative publicity.

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Also affecting the stock is the company’s possible legal liabilities from investor lawsuits resulting from the acquisition. This could come as high as tens of billions of dollars. Bank of America also faced economic challenges along with other U.S. banks globally, weak new loan growth and a low, flat yield curve.

The Bank of Ireland (NYSE:IRE): The company has suffered from the collapse of the Irish property and labor markets, as well as concern about the bank’s exposure to the proximate European Union. The company’s shares have returned -83.87% over the past year. The shares recently traded at $4.30.

Lloyds Banking Group (NYSE:LYG): The bank has suffered from the global economic slowdown, as well as concern about how the European Union’s fiscal problems will affect it. The company’s shares have returned -62.71% over the past year. The shares recently traded at $1.55.

It’s also worth noting, SAC Advisor’s Steven purchased stock for the quarter ending September 30, 2011 between $1.84 and $3.08, with an estimated average price of $2.37. Since these activity, prices of Lloyds Banking Group PLC ADS shares have dropped by -33 percent  from the estimated average. As of September 30, 2011, Cohen owned 11,212 shares.

Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (NYSEARCA:FAS): Since these financial companies have generally not performed well over the past year, neither has this ETF. The company’s shares have returned -52.47% over the past year. The shares recently traded at $65.42. The Fund’s objective is daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of 300% of the price performance of the Russell 1000 Financial Services Index.

Nomura Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:NMR): The company has been affected both by the global economic slowdown and the large earthquake in the spring of 2011 which devastated Japan’s industry and nuclear power stations. The company’s shares have returned -52.38% over the past year. The shares recently traded at $2.98.

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