61.   Costa Crociere SpA shares halted a three-day rally and slumped after the Italian cruise ship operator said it is not in merger talks with an overseas rival.

62.   CS Holding, the parent of Credit Suisse and CS First Boston, said today it asked Union Bank of Switzerland to begin merger talks.

63.   Cullen insisted he could not comment on widespread news reports about merger talks with Nynex, but offered a broad hint.

64.   Despite these and other potential hang-ups, shares of both companies rose Tuesday after the news of the merger talks was first reported in The Wall Street Journal.

65.   Discovery and the Nature Company started merger talks a year ago.

66.   DIFFERENT VIEWS ON DEAL FOR LUCENT As Alcatel and Lucent intensify merger talks, investors and analysts have divergent views about the merits of a combination.

67.   DLJ and Equitable declined to comment on whether the firm is in merger talks, though executives at DLJ say no discussions are going on at the moment.

68.   Despite all the merger talk, only one Wall Street analyst is now recommending the stock.

69.   Drugmaker SmithKline Beecham Plc, said to be in merger talks with American Home Products Corp., led gainers.

70.   Early bets are that Lycos will renew merger talks with a media partner.