SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                       ----------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):               January 27, 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

   Delaware                         1-7182                       13-2740599
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other                   (Commission                 (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of                   File Number)               Identification No.)
 Incorporation)

World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York               10281-1332
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:               (212) 449-1000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)


<PAGE>

Item 5. Other Events
        ------------

Filed herewith are the Preliminary Unaudited Earnings Summaries, as contained in
a press release dated January 27, 1997 for Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML &
Co.") for the three months and the year ended December 27, 1996. The results of
operations set forth therein for such periods are unaudited. All adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring accruals, that are in the opinion of
management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for
the periods presented have been included. The nature of ML & Co.'s business is
such that the results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of
the results for a full year.

For the three months and the year ended December 27, 1996, ML & Co. repurchased
in the open market 3.4 million and 18.6 million shares of its common stock,
respectively.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
        ------------------------------------------------------------------

      (c) Exhibits
          --------

            (99) Additional Exhibits

                  (i)   Preliminary Unaudited Earnings Summaries for the three
                        months and the year ended December 27, 1996.


                                       2
<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                            MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.   
                                          ----------------------------- 
                                                  (Registrant)          
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                      By:   /s/ Joseph T. Willett       
                                          ----------------------------- 
                                                Joseph T. Willett       
                                              Senior Vice President,    
                                             Chief Financial Officer    
                                                                        
Date:  January 27, 1997                                                 
                                      
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

Exhibit No.       Description                                               Page
-----------       -----------                                               ----

(99)              Additional Exhibits

                  (i)  Preliminary Unaudited Earnings Summaries for the 
                       three months and the year ended December 27, 1996     5
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                       ----------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):               January 27, 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

   Delaware                         1-7182                       13-2740599
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other                   (Commission                 (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of                   File Number)               Identification No.)
 Incorporation)

World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York               10281-1332
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:               (212) 449-1000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)
Item 5. Other Events
        ------------

Filed herewith are the Preliminary Unaudited Earnings Summaries, as contained in
a press release dated January 27, 1997 for Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML &
Co.") for the three months and the year ended December 27, 1996. The results of
operations set forth therein for such periods are unaudited. All adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring accruals, that are in the opinion of
management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for
the periods presented have been included. The nature of ML & Co.'s business is
such that the results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of
the results for a full year.

For the three months and the year ended December 27, 1996, ML & Co. repurchased
in the open market 3.4 million and 18.6 million shares of its common stock,
respectively.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
        ------------------------------------------------------------------

      (c) Exhibits
          --------

            (99) Additional Exhibits

                  (i)   Preliminary Unaudited Earnings Summaries for the three
                        months and the year ended December 27, 1996.

                                       2
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                            MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.   
                                          ----------------------------- 
                                                  (Registrant)          
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                      By:   /s/ Joseph T. Willett       
                                          ----------------------------- 
                                                Joseph T. Willett       
                                              Senior Vice President,    
                                             Chief Financial Officer    
                                                                        
Date:  January 27, 1997
EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

Exhibit No.       Description                                               Page
-----------       -----------                                               ----

(99)              Additional Exhibits

                  (i)  Preliminary Unaudited Earnings Summaries for the 
                       three months and the year ended December 27, 1996     5