And the top equity research sales force is...

Bear Stearns could use some good news. Here is a little bit: It has been named the top equity research sales team by Institutional Investor. This is according to a poll of big investors and portfolio managers. I'm not sure exactly what this means. They're nice guys? They've been able to keep the freebies coming despite reform? Still, it's an honor. It unseated Lehman Brothers from the top spot. Citigroup and Merrill Lynch came in third and fourth. JP Morgan Securities came in fifth.   

For more:
- here's the list

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