May 6, 2010
By U.S. Mail & Facsimile to 703 813 6984
Ms. Linda van Doorn
Senior Assistant Chief Accountant
Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Mail Stop 4561
Washington, DC 20549
Re: | Form 10-K for Year Ended December 31, 2009 filed February 26, 2010 |
Dear Ms. van Doorn:
Morgan Stanley (the Company) is pleased to respond to your letter of April 26, 2010, concerning its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
For your convenience, we have restated your comments below.
Comment:
1. | Beginning with the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, please revise your Summary of Significant Accounting Policies footnote to include your accounting policy for repurchase agreements, which we understand from your response are all accounted for as collateralized financings. |
Response:
The Company will expand its Summary of Significant Accounting Policies footnote to include its accounting policy for repurchase agreements in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010.
* * * * *
In connection with responding to your comments, we acknowledge that:
| the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filings; |
| Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filings; and |
| the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities law of the United States. |
Please feel free to contact me at 212-761-6686 if you would like further clarification or additional information.
Sincerely, |
/s/ Paul C. Wirth |
Paul C. Wirth |
Finance Director and Controller |
cc: | Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer |
Gregory G. Weaver, Deloitte & Touche LLP
James V. Schnurr, Deloitte & Touche LLP
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