After mergers by Exxon Mobile and Berkshire Hathaway this past month, it seems that M&A transactions could be recovering as the economy regains strength.

If you own, want to own, or have heard of a smartphone, and are interested in seeing where the world of mobile web might be headed, the research arm of Morgan Stanley has released a massive 424 page report on the mobile internet

As financial corporations expand beyond national borders and cross-border economic relationships make national boundaries more permeable, there are some that believe that an international economic regulatory body is necessary.  

Full service brokerages such as Merrill Lynch (owned by Bank Of America Corp.), UBS and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney may have to up their efforts if they want to retain their clients.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced today that 10 of the largest U.S. financial institutions participating in the Capital Purchase Program (CPP) have met the requirements for repayment established by the primary federal banking supervisors. Treasury has notified the institutions that they are now eligible to complete the repayment process. If these firms choose to do so, Treasury will receive $68 billion in repayment proceeds.

Top talents of the banking industry, mostly in the investment banking divisions, are starting an exodus out of the country's big banks into smaller investment firms. These departures come in the wake of the US government's plans for tighter restrictions and amidst calls for limits on executive compensation for banks that received more than $5 billion in government assistance

The high-paying, king-making Wall Street that everyone was once in awe of practically vanished after JP Morgan's purchase of Bear Stearns in March, Lehman Brothers' closure in September, and Bank of America’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch that same time. When the dust had settled, only two were left standing: Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

Under the program, Treasury will purchase up to $250 billion of senior preferred shares on standardized terms as described in the program's term sheet. The program will be available to qualifying U.S. controlled banks, savings associations, and certain bank and savings and loan holding companies engaged only in financial activities that elect to participate before 5:00 pm (EDT) on November 14, 2008. Treasury will determine eligibility and allocations for interested parties after consultation with the appropriate federal banking agency. "Today we are taking decisive actions to protect the US economy. We regret having to take these actions. Today's actions are not what we ever wanted to do – but today's actions are what we must do to restore confidence to our financial system." - said Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr.