The bank's first deal attracted relatively few bidders, at least in part because Credisuez wanted what many thought was too rich a price.

First Union is paying the richest price ever for a United States bank.

Investors, who had paid a rich price to be part of the sale, hesitated to take the stock any higher Thursday.

"So I would not look at $431 million as a terribly rich price."

The market for this furniture, however, will likely always be limited in large part because of its rich prices.

Japan's consumers are used to paying exceedingly rich prices, particularly for toys.

But this was business, and $2 billion was a rich price.

Some criticized the transaction, saying that National City was paying too rich a price.

"And at $21 a share, it looks like Monterey shareholders are getting a rich price."

"It strikes me as quite a rich price," he said.