STEVE INSKEEP, host: NPR's business news begins with an eye on Merrill Lynch.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Financial markets will be watching closely today when one of the country's biggest brokers releases its latest earnings report. Merrill Lynch, which is known for advising people on how to invest, is struggling with its own bad investments. They've lost nearly $30 billion in value. Merrill was one of the hardest hit by the subprime mortgage crisis. Analysts expect Merrill to announce billions more in write-downs. And to raise money the company is being forced to sell a prized asset: its stake in the financial news company Bloomberg.
Steve Inskeep has this morning's business news.