The SEC said the new agreement will enable retail investors, small businesses and charities who purchased the securities from Merrill "to restore their losses and liquidity."

Reed's average class size is, to be sure, very small (just below fourteen), reflecting agreement with the educational philosophy implicit in the U.S. News formula.

The IMF's resource base was too small to make much of a difference on the world stage, it's resources were only around $100-200bn and the infusion of new funds that is part of the agreement will help.