31.   Essentially, the bank bought the stock and resold it.

32.   In recent deals, an Ecuadorean bank bought a Colombian bank, a Colombian bank bought a Venezuelan bank, and a Chilean bank bought a Bolivian bank.

33.   In the past two years, the bank bought United Northern FSB based in Watertown, New York, and New York City-based East River Savings.

34.   Indeed, analysts and securities lawyers say the loopholes are so wide that a big bank could buy almost any brokerage firm.

35.   Investors also remain focused on which bank will buy which in this record year for bank acquisitions.

36.   It comes at a time when banks are buying each other at a record pace to help boost profits and cut costs.

37.   Investors expectat the transaction will be the first of a series in which U.S. banks buy brokerage firms.

38.   It is now routine for banks to buy their rivals, then fire employees and sell off unprofitable branches, all to boost profits for their demanding shareholders.

39.   It was the third consecutive day the bank bought rand.

40.   Its biggest San Francisco rivals already were bought by banks.