Japanese banks have been no more adroit (Fuji Bank and Heller Financial in the 1980s).

FORBES: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group--A Megabank View Of Japan's Economy (3)

In the financials, you can buy Allstate Corp. (38, ALL), CIT Group (31, CIT) and Heller Financial (23, HF) for around 11 times their 1999 projected earnings.

FORBES: Time to buy some also-rans

The SEC had investigated allegations that in the summer of 2001, Mack, then an executive at Credit Suisse, had informed Pequot about a pending deal between General Electric and Heller Financial.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Among them: Heller Financial, set to be acquired by GE Capital, fell 6.5% after investors got spooked by Warren Buffett's pulling back an offer to buy financial services outfit Finova's junk bonds.

FORBES: M&A for the Little Guy

Aguirre says his firing was politically motivated and came after he tried to interview current Morgan Stanley Chief Executive JohnMackJohn Mack in his investigation into insider trading by Pequot Capital in shares of Heller Financial before its acquisition by General Electric in 2001.

FORBES: Magazine Article

"They're using a broad definition of financial need, " observes Heller.

FORBES: Do-It-Yourself Aid