While Schwab may be the largest broker to offer Internet trading to foreigners, it is not the first.

From the smallest farmer to the largest commercial broker, he said, "they are just confused enough that they don't want to do anything."

In other words, close to half of the large brokers and investment advisers the firm monitors are bearish on the overall market.

The combination would rival Merrill Lynch as the nation's largest broker.

The buyer uses various tools such as trading screens from large brokers - Bloomberg and the like.

Merrill Lynch & Company, the nation's largest broker, yesterday reported a 12.4 percent rise in its third- quarter earnings from last year.

That session will be open to institutional investors and large brokers only.

Wood Gundy will become Canada's largest broker after the acquisition is completed.

Retail customers of the largest broker, Merrill Lynch, are also not participating in this rally.

Look at figures from Charles Schwab, one of the nation's largest brokers.