Exhibit 23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries (“Merrill Lynch”) of our reports dated March 1, 2004 (May 4, 2004 as to the effects of the restatement related to stock-based compensation described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) (February 3, 2005 as to the effects of the restatement related to the accounting for certain retail account fees described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) (which express unqualified opinions and which report on the consolidated financial statements includes explanatory paragraphs for the change in accounting method in 2002 for goodwill amortization to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for the change in accounting method in 2004 for stock-based compensation to conform to SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, as amended by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, by retroactively restating its 2003, 2002 and 2001 consolidated financial statements, and for the restatement to correct the accounting for certain retail account fees), appearing in and incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 3, 2005 of Merrill Lynch containing restated consolidated financial statements as of December 26, 2003 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 26, 2003.

Filed on Form S-8:

     
   
Registration Statement No. 33-41942 (1986 Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-17908 (Incentive Equity Purchase Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-33336 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-51831 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-51829 (401(k) Savings and Investment Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-54154 (Non-Employee Directors’ Equity Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-54572 (401(k) Savings and Investment Plan (Puerto Rico))
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-56427 (Amended and Restated 1994 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-55155 (1995 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)

 

 

     
   
Registration Statement No. 33-60989 (1996 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-00863 (401(k) Savings & Investment Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-09779 (1997 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-13367 (Restricted Stock Plan for Former Employees of Hotchkis and Wiley)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-15009 (1997 KECALP Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-17099 (Deferred Unit and Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-18915 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-32209 (1998 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-33125 (Employee Stock Purchase Plan for Employees of Merrill Lynch Partnerships)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-41425 (401(k) Savings & Investment Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-56291 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-60211 (1999 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-62311 (Replacement Options; Midland Walwyn Inc.)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-85421 (401(k) Savings and Investment Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-85423 (2000 Deferred Compensation Plan For a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-92663 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-44912 (2001 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-64676 (1986 Employee Stock Purchase Plan)

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Registration Statement No. 333-64674 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-68330 (2002 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-99105 (2003 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-108296 (2004 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-109236 (Employee Stock Compensation Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-118615 (2005 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees)

Filed on Form S-3:

     
   
Debt Securities, Warrants, Common Stock, Preferred Securities, and/or Depository Shares:
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-54218
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 2-78338
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 2-89519
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 2-83477
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-03602
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-17965
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-27512
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-33335
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-35456
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-42041
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-45327
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-45777
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-49947
   
 

3

 

     
   
Registration Statement No. 33-51489
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-52647
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-55363
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-60413
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-61559
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-65135
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-13649
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-16603
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-20137
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-25255
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-28537
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-42859
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-44173
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-59997
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-68747
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-38792
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-52822
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-83374
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-97937
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-105098
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-109802
   
 
   
Medium Term Notes:
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 2-96315
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-03079

4

 

     
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-05125
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-09910
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-16165
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-19820
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-23605
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-27549
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 33-38879
   
 
   
Other Securities:
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-02275 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-24889 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, and Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-36651 (Hotchkis and Wiley Resale)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-59263 (Exchangeable Shares of Merrill Lynch & Co., Canada Ltd. re: Midland Walwyn Inc.)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-67903 (Howard Johnson & Company Resale)
   
 
   
Registration Statement No. 333-45880 (Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc. Resale)

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

New York, New York
February 3, 2005

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