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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Say this for John Thain, he's making history at Merrill Lynch & Co. He's presided over the darkest era at the nation's biggest brokerage.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- BankAtlantic said Monday that it filed a lawsuit alleging that Richard Bove, a veteran equity analyst, and his firm Ladenburg Thalmann, defamed the company in a recent research note examining which banks are likely to fail.

INSURANCE group Aegon yesterday raised £250 million from institutional investors.

Investors soured on Apple after the iPhone maker offered a tepid profit forecast.

If you're having a tax issue, you've probably spoken to several companies about getting help. Maybe some of them sounded good, some sounded not so good. But there's a good chance some of these companies have mentioned the word "Retainer Fee" over the phone. It sounds a little strange and it probably wasn't explained very well. All you want to know: what is it and how does that affect you?

Benjamin Franklin said that the only two things we can be sure of are death and taxes. Each day, Taxpayers all across America are discovering just how true that statement is. If you're behind on your taxes, it's only a matter of time before the IRS catches up to you. And if you think the debt is the most of your worries, you probably haven't even thought about the penalties and interest.

Traders would be wise to focus on these five for near-term gains.

A dearth of buybacks suggests that the sharp rally following the nauseating tumble is just temporary.

So you've finally decided that it's time to solve your IRS problems once and for all? That's wonderful. But unfortunately, the IRS isn't your only concern. Now you have to find someone who can give you the help you need. But how do you know who to choose? With so many people out there promising so many things, choosing a reputable company can be a pain. So how can you be sure you're picking a good one?

These five growers show potential for delivering double-digit 12-month gains.