Merrill Lynch & Co. said it has...

Merrill Lynch & Co. said it has broken off talks with L.F. Rothschild Holdings Inc. over a possible equity investment in Rothschild by Merrill . . . Douglas Aircraft Co. received a $603.6-million Air Force contract for production of the first two C-17 transport aircraft . . . Money market fund assets rose $2.05 billion in the week ended Wednesday to $273.55 billion, the Investment Company Institute said . . . The Nevada Gaming Commission voted to license a company headed by businessman Kirk Kerkorian to operate the Desert Inn and Sands hotel-casinos in Las Vegas . . . Union Carbide Corp. was given the go-ahead to appeal a court order to pay $270 million in compensation to victims of the Bhopal, India, gas disaster.