Investment Banking & Brokerage

The directors of securities broker TD Ameritrade (NASDAQ: AMTD) are meeting Tuesday to discuss the potential acquisition of online broker E*Trade (NASDAQ: ETFC), the Wall Street Journal reported this weekend. Citing people familiar with the matter, the Journal notes that the expected talks don't...

The Board of Directors of ETRADE Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: ETFC) on July 20, 2011 received a letter from Citadel LLC requesting a special shareholder meeting to vote on a number of proposals including: the appointment of a special committee to hire an investment banker that has not previously...

The Board of Directors of E*TRADE Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: ETFC) on July 20, 2011 received a letter from Citadel LLC requesting a special shareholder meeting to vote on a number of proposals including: the appointment of a special committee to hire an investment banker that has not previously...

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) won a case that accused it of hoodwinking investors on mortgage securities that were sold during the buildup to the financial crisis. Government Sachs strikes again. Fitch Ratings said today it put a "restricted default" on Greece as a part of its bailout...

Citigroup (NYSE: C) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) each took over $2 trillion in funds from various Federal Reserve emergency facilities, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. Citigroup was far and away the largest user of the emergency facilities, with over $2.5 trillion...

Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP) unveils its next round of earnings this Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Here is Benzinga's everything-that-matters guide for this Wednesday's second quarter earnings announcement. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting an EPS reading of $1.34 per share and...

According to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Raymond James Financial (NYSE: RJF), MP rating and PT remain unchanged. KBW reports a higher net revenue than initially expected. Raymond James Financial closed yesterday at $33.99.

NeurogesX, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGSX) today announced that on July 21, 2011 it entered into a securities purchase agreement in connection with a private placement to a group of institutional accredited investors and, subject to standard closing conditions, is expected to receive approximately $20 million...

KBW reiterated its Market Perform rating on Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $28. On Thursday, MS closed the day at $24.20. In today's pre-market trading, MS lost 0.33% of its value to stand around $24.12.

Do you ever get in one of those moods where you really want to eat something in particular? You feel like you need to eat something specific and nothing else will satisfy your craving. Like, right now, I am craving a chocolate milkshake from the little ice cream shop near my home. Nothing else...

VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX Short Term ETN (NYSE: TVIX) traded sharply lower on Thursday on the news that Greece will get another bailout package. TVIX dropped 10.74%, and closed at $16.96. Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares(ETF) (NYSE: FAZ) closed the third trading session in a row lower as...

Cusick's Corner Major markets continue to be in full bull mode while the debt talks continue. The Volatility Index (VIX) is down to 17.56 (see Index Trading) because the latest earnings-reporting season has been mostly upbeat. Merger mania is on -- pharmacy benefits management company Express...

Cusick's Corner Stocks are up on earnings and Europe appears closer to a Greek bailout plan. This rally is broad-based; all sectors are in the green with Financials, XLF, and Energy, XLE, leading the pack. See you After Hours. Stocks are broadly higher with help from earnings and diminishing...

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is up 12% on upbeat earnings this morning. The company reported Q2 EPS of $(0.38) vs. $(0.62) Est and revenues $9.28B vs. $8.04B Est Morgan Stanley is currently trading at $24.32, a gain of $2.60 or 11.97%.

Shares of Lazard (NYSE: LAZ) are higher on the session by 1.75%, trading at $36.08. Overall call volume is now running at 8.18x the daily average, with 74% of all calls traded being purchases on the offer. 1,219 contracts have traded on the session so far. Lazard Limited is a financial advisory...