Exhibit 23(b)




INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
- -----------------------------

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. on Form S-8 related to the 2000 Deferred Compensation
Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees of our reports dated February 22,
1999 (which express an unqualified opinion and which report on the consolidated
financial statements includes an explanatory paragraph for the change in
accounting method for certain internal-use software development costs to conform
with Statement of Position 98-1), appearing or incorporated by reference in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries for the
year ended December 25, 1998.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

New York, New York
August 17, 1999