Blankfein and Mack Becoming Close Friends - CNBC (GS, MS)

According to reports from CNBC's Charlie Gasparino, Goldman Sachs' (NYSE: GS) CEO Lloyd Blankfein and Morgan Stanley's (NYSE: MS) CEO John Mack have become best friends lately as they both deal with sagging stock prices and changing businesses.

Gasparino said the two dined together as recently as Monday. Gasparino notes that there has been speculation that the two are in merger negotiations, but he said senior execs at both firms said this is not the case. The meetings were informal strategy sessions, not merger talks.

As a side-note, Gasparino said the two dined at The Palm restaurant in Manhattan and Mack paid. Gasparino joked that Blankfein is not taking a bonus this year.

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