Merrill Lynch in ARS settlement with Virginia

The Virginia State Corporation Commission says Merrill Lynch is paying nearly $1.37 million to settle allegations that investors were misled about the safety of the auction-rate securities market. The SCC finalized Virginia's participation in a global settlement involving the firm. Merrill Lynch was required to confirm that it has repurchased auction-rate securities from its clients as part of the settlement. Officials say that auction-rate securities were marketed and sold to investors as safe, liquid, and cash-like investments. But they say the securities were actually long-term investments subject to a complex auction process that failed in early 2008. The settlement stems from a multistate task force of state regulators.