UPDATE 1-Bank of America CEO sees losses peaking in 3rd qtr
ju4 wa4i dia4n zo1ng he2 ba4o da4o :\n  (New throughout; adds NEW YORK to dateline)\nNEW YORK, June 11 (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp <BAC.N>Chief Executive Ken Lewis on Wednesday said while the crisis in\nfinancial markets is in its later stages, loan losses and\nwrite-offs will continue to rise.\n"We have a ways to go. We see the end of that peaking in\nthe third quarter, in terms of charge-offs and delinquencies.\nSo it's going to play out over several more quarters," Lewis\nsaid at a Wall Street Journal conference.\nLewis also reaffirmed his commitment to the Countrywide\nFinancial Corp <CFC.N> acquisition, saying it was an important\nstrategic move and would remain financially attractive even\nafter deducting legal and credit costs. And while criticism of\nthe deal has been strong, Lewis said it has not been enough to\nprompt him to walk away.\nThe big bank is also enjoying one of its best investment-\nbanking quarters ever, Lewis said, noting he regrets an earlier\ncomment that suggested he was tired of the capital markets\nbusiness and the losses it has generated. Lewis expressed his\nsupport for a slimmer, more focused investment-banking unit.\n(Editing by Maureen Bavdek)\n((joseph.giannone@thomsonreuters.com; 1 646 242 6184; Reuters\nMessaging: joseph.giannone.reuters.com@reuters.net))\nKeywords: BANKOFAMERICA/