morning call... 04 23 2007

BOA agreed to buy LaSalle Bank for $21 billion from ABN Ambro -strategy point view: *BOA lack major presence in Chicago, 3rd largest U.S banking market *For Barclays $80 bil hard to digest *competing bid from a contortium -regulatory limit concern *approach 10% total nation's bank deposits limit *sell some assets -A consortium of three banks will meet ABN on Monday Technology -According to TPI, Global outsourcing market is slowing down in the 1QT by 1/3 to $17.6 billion. *the drop of the number of companies outsourcing their IT. *outsourcing activity is up 2/3 compared to 2006 -In line with droping U.S capital spending