The Bank of America building is seen in Washington,DC on September 18, 2008. US officials pressured Bank of America to complete a takeover of troubled investment firm Merrill Lynch last year after the banking giant wanted to back out, documents from a probe showed on April 23, 2009. The documents released by New York state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo indicated that the US Treasury and Federal Reserve threatened to push out management and board members if the takeover were not completed. The documents also showed regulators cautioned Bank of America chief Kenneth Lewis not to disclose the extent of Merrill's losses because of fears of a "disaster in the financial markets." Getty Images logo Getty Images 6 months ago

The Bank of America building is seen in Washington,DC on September 18, 2008. US officials pressured Bank of America to complete a takeover of troubled investment firm Merrill Lynch last year after the banking giant wanted to back out, documents from a probe showed on April 23, 2009. The documents released by New York state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo indicated that the US Treasury and Federal Reserve threatened to push out management and board members if the takeover were not completed. The documents also showed regulators cautioned Bank of America chief Kenneth Lewis not to disclose the extent of Merrill's losses because of fears of a "disaster in the financial markets."

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  1. A memorial flag is being flown on top of Seattle's Space Needle as the city mourns the loss of veteran Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton, who was murdered while on duty last weekend by an unknown assailant. The flag depicts the Seattle Police Department's shields with the officer's serial number underneath. Donations may be made to a fund established for the family of Officer Brenton at any Bank of America branch under the "Brenton Family Assistance Fund. " Britt W. Toalson, CFPH.
  2. CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: Jake Delhomme #17 of the Carolina Panthers drops back to pass against the Buffalo Bills at Bank of America Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  3. CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: Terrell Owens #81 of the Buffalo Bills looks for running room against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Buffalo won 20-9.
  4. CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: Josh Reed #82 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled by Richard Marshall #31 of the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Buffalo won 20-9.
  5. CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: Marshawn Lynch #23 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled by Chris Harris #43, Landon Johnson #59 and Captain Munnerlyn #41 of the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Buffalo won 20-9.
  6. CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: The Carolina Panthers defense tackles Fred Jackson #22 of the Buffalo Bills in the end zone for a safety at Bank of America Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  7. James Gorman, head of Merrill Lynch's brokerage business, speaks to reporters during the second annual Reuters Finance Summit in New York in this November 13, 2003 file photo. Morgan Stanley announced September 10, 2009 that Gorman, now one of the investment bank's co-presidents, will replace Morgan Stanley Chief Executive John Mack, who is stepping down.
  8. James Gorman, head of Merrill Lynch's brokerage business, speaks to reporters during the second annual Reuters Finance Summit in New York in this November 13, 2003 file photo. Morgan Stanley announced September 10, 2009 that Gorman, now one of the investment bank's co-presidents, will replace Morgan Stanley Chief Executive John Mack, who is stepping down.
  9. James Gorman, head of Merrill Lynch's brokerage business, speaks to reporters during the second annual Reuters Finance Summit in New York in this November 13, 2003 file photo. Morgan Stanley announced September 10, 2009 that Gorman, now one of the investment bank's co-presidents, will replace Morgan Stanley Chief Executive John Mack, who is stepping down.
  10. U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (R) and former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson testify at the House Financial Services Committee hearing on "Oversight of Implementation of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and of Government Lending and Insurance Facilities; Impact on Economy and Credit Availability" on Capitol Hill in Washington in this November 18, 2008 file photo. In September 2008, a turbulent month that saw the fall or near-death experience of industry giants like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers, Paulson met with Bernanke numerous times. At the time, Bernanke eagerly backed a proposal by Paulson that was widely criticized for being way too thin on details, weighing in at a mere three pages -- and with nary a mention of Wall Street pay.
  11. A customer uses a First Republic Bank ATM in Palo Alto, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. Bank of America Corp. has agreed to sell First Republic Bank, a private bank it inherited from Merrill Lynch & Co., to a group of investors for more than $1 billion, according to a report Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal.
  12. A First Republic Bank in Palo Alto, Calif. is shown Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. Bank of America Corp. has agreed to sell First Republic Bank, a private bank it inherited from Merrill Lynch & Co., to a group of investors for more than $1 billion, according to a report Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal.
  13. Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke speaks at the Federal Reserve Conference on Key Developments in Monetary Policy in Washington October 8, 2009. Bernanke said on Thursday that while the U.S. central bank's vast support for the economy will likely be needed for a while, the Fed will have to remove those measures as the economy heals to ward off inflation.
  14. Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke speaks at the Federal Reserve Conference on Key Developments in Monetary Policy in Washington October 8, 2009. Bernanke said on Thursday that while the U.S. central bank's vast support for the economy will likely be needed for a while, the Fed will have to remove those measures as the economy heals to ward off inflation.
  15. Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke speaks at the Federal Reserve Conference on Key Developments in Monetary Policy in Washington October 8, 2009. Bernanke said on Thursday that while the U.S. central bank's vast support for the economy will likely be needed for a while, the Fed will have to remove those measures as the economy heals to ward off inflation.
  16. Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke speaks at the Federal Reserve Conference on Key Developments in Monetary Policy in Washington October 8, 2009. Bernanke said on Thursday that while the U.S. central bank's vast support for the economy will likely be needed for a while, the Fed will have to remove those measures as the economy heals to ward off inflation.

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  1. A South Korean soldier stands guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  2. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Raffaele Morra performs the Dying Swan during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  3. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba performs on stage during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  4. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  5. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  6. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Raffaele Morra performs the Dying Swan during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  7. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: A performer prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  8. A North Korean soldier, left, stands guard as a South Korean soldier looks at the Truce Village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  9. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk meets Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang (L) during a meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Singapore November 10, 2009.
  10. Actor John Travolta (L) poses with co-star Seth Green (R) and Travolta's daughter Ella Bleu Travolta at the premiere of their new film "Old Dogs" in Hollywood, California November 9, 2009. All three star in the film with Robin Williams.
  11. A North Korean soldier (R) and a South Korean soldier stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul, November 10, 2009. The two Koreas had a brief naval skirmish in Yellow Sea waters on Tuesday, but there were no casualties in the incident that came just ahead of a visit to Asia by U.S. President Barack Obama, Yonhap news agency reported.
  12. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk meets Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang (R) during a meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Singapore November 10, 2009.
  13. A North Korean soldier looks at the south side using binoculars at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  14. A Chinese boy runs past Tiananmen Square, covered in snow, in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.
  15. A North Korean soldier, left, and South Korean soldier stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  16. A street photographer waiting for customers is reflected on a pool of water after the snow melted on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.