11.   Despite selling its major brokerage and investment banking units several years ago, American Express still provides tax and investment advice to consumers and small businesses.

12.   Earlier this month, a former Japanese securities inspector pleaded guilty to charges he was illegally entertained by major brokerage firms, including Nikko.

13.   Even so, a handful of major brokerages -- most notably Morgan Stanley -- have become optimistic about the prospects of a Japanese recovery.

14.   Every major brokerage firm and many large banks have a handful of traders who specialize in such financial rescue.

15.   Gary Cheng, vice president of Virtual Stock Exchange, said that trainees at several major brokerages also use it.

16.   In general, he suggested sticking with major brokerages.

17.   Intel Corp. leapt after the company told analysts it expects consumer demand to soar as computers get cheaper and a major brokerage house urged investors to buy the stock.

18.   It does, however, request recommended coupon levels from major brokerages the day before the auction.

19.   It is the only major brokerage firm that pays its salesmen higher commissions to push its own mutual funds than those of competitors.

20.   It is the third major Chinese brokerage client to sue Lehman.