If consummated, the deal would fit better than other deals that have been proposed.

Schwab is clearly the more likely to survive.

I've always thought that Merrill had a lot of fat to trim. This is a fulfillment of those promises they made.

Merrill Lynch is still quite profitable in a very tough year.

If the Europeans do buy, it won't be now. A lot of the time they prefer to wait until the coast is clear instead of bottom tick the market.

Mutual funds continue to be the most cost-effective means of investing.