1.   Although the deal was a surprise -- even to members of the banking community -- it fits into a broad merger trend nationwide.

2.   Analysts and investment bankers expect the merger trend to continue this year, as a weak dollar and relatively strong stock market make deals attractive.

3.   Analysts said the merger trend in the New York market was in its early stages.

4.   And the merger trend is expected to continue.

5.   But consumer groups, too, are watching the merger trend.

6.   But they are vulnerable if the merger trend abates.

7.   Chemical Banking Corp. and Chase Manhattan Corp. today put an exclamation point on the U.S. bank merger trend.

8.   Few analysts or financial executives think that the merger trend is over, but some say that they expect fewer marriages of convenience and more strategically focused transactions.

9.   Hard as it may seem, say critics of the merger trend, television and movies are sure to become even more generic pap.

10.   Huge cash resources and low debt levels are also likely to keep the merger trend in the world pharmaceutical industry going for some time after that, analysts believe.