"My clients have assets held away from me, as well, " said Bob Waldele, a 30-year Merrill Lynch veteran based in New York.

WSJ: FUND TRACK: Merrill Is Launching

"The fact that retail is out of favor is a theory that has been trumpeted across the Street for the last six months, and therefore has already been worked into the stock price, " says Bob Napoli, brokerage analyst at ABN Amro, pointing out that Merrill's shares are the most attractive relative to its historical trading range.

FORBES: Magazine Article

It had been rumored that Barclays Chief Executive John Varley and Barclays Capital boss Bob Diamond were poised to quit the group, following in the footsteps of other recent high profile departures at Merrill Lynch and Citigroup.

CNN: Barclays sub-prime losses revealed