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Stocks Recoup After Nasty Dive

Merrill Lynch quarterly loss report wallops the market

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 24, 2007 3:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – Stocks did their best to battle back today after taking a hit from Merrill Lynch's dismal quarterly report, Bloomberg reports. Most of the losses were made up by the bell thanks to growing hopes of an October 31 rate cut from the Fed. The Nasdaq fell 24.5 to 2,774.76, the S&P 500 was down 3.71 to 1,515.88, and the Dow ended down 0.98 at 13,675.25.

Merrill's loss—it had $8.4 billiion in writedowns—was the biggest in company history, notes Bloomberg. Third-quarter profits for financial companies in the S&P have dipped by an average of 25%, thanks to the housing slump. "Today is really setting up to be very symbolic of what's going to trouble the market," said an investment manager. "We may see more pain before we see gain."

A man leaves a Merrill Lynch office, Tuesday, July 17, 2007 in New York. Merrill Lynch & Co., the nation's largest retail brokerage, on Tuesday said stronger investment banking results and fees from stock... (Associated Press)

Markets were bearish throughout the day. ((c) Shellie Raney)

Jason Harper of Stephen M. Ferretti looks at an overhead monitor on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, in New York. Wall Street pulled back today, sending the Dow Jones... (Associated Press)

Stanley O'Neal, Chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co., is seen in New York in this Nov. 1, 2006 file photo. Merrill Lynch & Co., the world's biggest brokerage, on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007 said the... (Associated Press)

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Stocks Recoup After Nasty Dive

Merrill Lynch quarterly loss report wallops the market

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