UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                       ----------------------------------



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):          October 18, 2005
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                            Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

    Delaware                     1-7182                 13-2740599
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 (State or Other               (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
 Jurisdiction of               File Number)          Identification No.)
 Incorporation)

4 World Financial Center, New York, New York                         10080
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:             (212) 449-1000
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

|_|  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
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On October 18, 2005, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (Merrill Lynch) announced its
results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30,
2005. A copy of the related press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form
8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. A Preliminary Unaudited Earnings
Summary and Segment Data for the three- and nine-month periods ended September
30, 2005 and supplemental quarterly data for Merrill Lynch are filed as Exhibit
99.2 to this Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

This information furnished under this Item 2.02, including Exhibits 99.1 and
99.2, shall be considered "filed" for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.



Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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         (d)      Exhibits
                  --------

         99.1     Press release dated October 18, 2005 issued by Merrill Lynch
                  & Co., Inc.

         99.2     Preliminary Unaudited Earnings Summary and Segment Data for
                  the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and
                  supplemental quarterly data.



                                      * * *


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                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                            MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                                 (Registrant)



                                     By:     /s/ Jeffrey N. Edwards
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Jeffrey N. Edwards
                                             Senior Vice President and Chief
                                             Financial Officer






                                     By:     /s/ Laurence A. Tosi
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Laurence A. Tosi
                                             Vice President and Finance Director
                                             Principal Accounting Officer









Date:    October 18, 2005




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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------



Exhibit No.    Description                                                  Page
- -----------    -----------                                                  ----
99.1           Press release dated October 18, 2005 issued by Merrill
               Lynch & Co., Inc.                                            5-11
99.2           Preliminary Unaudited Earnings Summary and Segment Data
               for the three- and nine-month periods ended September
               30, 2005 and supplemental quarterly data.                   12-17



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