RNS Number:4666R
Merrill Lynch & Co Inc
29 October 2003

                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 28, 2003

                                       Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
                         (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

             Delaware                            1-7182                           13-2740599
         (State or Other                      (Commission                      (I.R.S. Employer
         Jurisdiction of                      File Number)                   Identification No.)
          Incorporation)

4 World Financial Center, New York, New York                                             10080
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                                               (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:                             (212) 449-1000

                     (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)



Item 5.  Other Events and Required FD Disclosure

Filed herewith is the Preliminary Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of
September 26, 2003 for Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries ("Merrill
Lynch").  Also filed herewith is a statement setting forth the computation of
certain financial ratios for the periods presented.



Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

            (c)        Exhibits

12        Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed
Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.

99.1    Preliminary Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet of Merrill Lynch as of
September 26, 2003.



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.




                                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
                                                     (Registrant)






By:         /s/ Ahmass L. Fakahany
            Ahmass L. Fakahany

            Executive Vice President and

            Chief Financial Officer












By:         /s/ John J. Fosina
            John J. Fosina
            Controller
            Principal Accounting Officer




Date:   October 28, 2003


                                 Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.             Description                                                                    Page
          12            Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed           5
                        Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
         99.1           Preliminary Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet of Merrill Lynch as of        6-7
                        September 26, 2003.



                                                                 

                                                                                                     EXHIBIT 12

                                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                        COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
                                         COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
                                                        (dollars in millions)

                          For the Three Months Ended         For the Nine Months Ended                             
                                                                   
                          September 26,   September 27,     September 26,   September 27,
                               2003            2002              2003             2002 
                                                                              
      Pre-tax                  $ 1,509         $ 1,054           $ 3,997         $ 3,014  
      earnings                                                                
                                                                              
      Add: Fixed                                                              
      charges                                                                 
      (excluding                                                              
      capitalized                                                             
      interest and                                                            
      preferred                                                               
      security                                                                
      dividend                                                                
      requirements of            
      subsidiaries)              1,839           2,534             5,971           7,499                                
      Pre-tax                      
      earnings before                                                         
      fixed charges              3,348           3,588             9,968          10,513                                
                                                                              
      Fixed charges:                                                          
      Interest                   1,790           2,484             5,825           7,342  
      Other (a)                     96              98               289             302  

      Total fixed charges        1,886           2,582             6,114           7,644  
                                                                              
      Preferred stock                 
      dividend                                                                
      requirements                  14              14                40              41                                
      Total combined           
      fixed charges and                                                       
      preferred stock                                                         
      dividends                $ 1,900         $ 2,596           $ 6,154         $ 7,685                                
                                                                              
      Ratio of                      
      earnings to                                                             
      fixed charges               1.78            1.39              1.63            1.38                                
                                                                              
      Ratio of                                                                
      earnings to                                                             
      combined fixed                                                          
      charges                                                                 
      and preferred                
      stock dividends             1.76            1.38              1.62            1.37                                
            
                                                                              
      (a) Other fixed charges consist of the interest factor in rentals, 
          amortization of debt issuance costs, and preferred security dividend                                          
          requirements of subsidiaries.                                           
 
                                                                                                     EXHIBIT 99.1


                       Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries 
                    Preliminary Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet 
 
      

                                                                              
                                                                    Sept. 26, 
  (dollars in millions)                                                 2003  
                                                                              
  ASSETS                                                                      
                                                                              
  Cash and cash equivalents                                          $ 15,532 
                                                                              
  Cash and securities segregated for regulatory purposes or                   
  deposited with clearing organizations                                 6,371 
                                                                              
  Securities financing transactions                                           
  Receivables under resale agreements                                  79,116 
  Receivables under securities borrowed transactions                   45,556 
                                                                      124,672 
                                                                              
  Trading assets, at fair value (includes securities pledged as               
  collateral of $18,081)                                                      
  Contractual agreements                                               39,343 
  Corporate debt and preferred stock                                   22,169 
  Equities and convertible debentures                                  17,938 
  Non-U.S. governments and agencies                                    17,407 
  Mortgages, mortgage-backed, and asset-backed                         16,552 
  U.S. Government and agencies                                         13,414 
  Municipals and money markets                                          4,730 
                                                                      131,553 
                                                                              
  Investment securities                                                79,558 
                                                                              
  Securities received as collateral                                     5,148 
                                                                              
  Other receivables                                                           
  Customers (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $60)            41,913 
  Brokers and dealers                                                   3,454 
  Interest and other                                                   10,195 
                                                                       55,562 
                                                                              
  Loans, notes, and mortgages (net of allowance of $274)               40,370 
                                                                              
  Separate accounts assets                                             15,513 
                                                                              
  Equipment and facilities (net of accumulated depreciation and               
  amortization of $4,984)                                               2,606 
                                                                              
  Goodwill (net of accumulated amortization of $1,011)                  4,596 
                                                                              
  Other assets                                                          4,286 
                                                                              
  Total Assets                                                       $485,767 
                                                                              
 
 
 
                                             6                                                       EXHIBIT 99.1 


                       Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries 
                    Preliminary Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet 
 
 

                                                                              
                                                                    Sept. 26, 
  (dollars in millions, except per share amount)                         2003 
                                                                              
  LIABILITIES                                                                 
                                                                              
  Securities financing transactions                                           
  Payables under repurchase agreements                               $ 95,939 
  Payables under securities loaned transactions                         7,391 
                                                                      103,330 
                                                                              
  Commercial paper and other short-term borrowings                      3,015 
                                                                              
  Deposits                                                             79,312 
                                                                              
  Trading liabilities, at fair value                                          
  Contractual agreements                                               45,198 
  U.S. Government and agencies                                         17,119 
  Non-U.S. governments and agencies                                    12,257 
  Corporate debt, municipals and preferred stock                        8,894 
  Equities and convertible debentures                                   8,084                                           
                                                                       91,552 
                                                                              
  Obligation to return securities received as collateral                5,148 
                                                                              
  Other payables                                                              
  Customers                                                            34,525 
  Brokers and dealers                                                  16,509 
  Interest and other                                                   24,017 
                                                                       75,051 
                                                                              
  Liabilities of insurance subsidiaries                                 3,397 
                                                                              
  Separate accounts liabilities                                        15,513  
  Long-term borrowings                                                 80,706 
                                                                              
  Total Liabilities                                                   457,024 
                                                                              
  PREFERRED SECURITIES ISSUED BY SUBSIDIARIES                           2,666 
                                                                              
  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                        
                                                                              
  Preferred Stockholders' Equity (42,500 shares issued and                 
  outstanding, liquidation preference $10,000 per share)                  425    
                                                                              
  Common Stockholders' Equity                                                 
  Shares exchangeable into common stock                                    43 
  Common stock, par value $1.33 1/3 per share; authorized:               
  3,000,000,000 shares; issued: 1,056,070,197 shares                    1,408      
  Paid-in capital                                                       6,385 
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax)                      (511) 
  Retained earnings                                                    20,344 
                                                                       27,669 
  Less: Treasury stock, at cost: 117,516,610 shares                     1,207 
  Unamortized employee stock grants                                       810 
                                                                              
  Total Common Stockholders' Equity                                    25,652 
                                                                              
  Total Stockholders' Equity                                           26,077 
                                                                              
  Total Liabilities, Preferred Securities Issued by                           
  Subsidiaries,                                                               
  and Stockholders' Equity                                           $485,767 
                                                                              

                                       7




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