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newell rubbermaid, lowe's sherwin-williams these are names that hitting multiyear highs. if that doesn't sell people. do you think they should go for individual names? >> i do. it is terrible some of these stocks would get a bounce when you know there's going to be a short-term blip in demand because you have to repair homes in new jersey or long island, the reality is you're talking about multiyear high. this market sold of and bottomed in 06. we have a long way to go. liz: let's talk about the funds you manage, legg mason clear bridge mid cap core and mid cap growth. the performances for both of these look pretty healthy to me. for at least the mid cap core, you've got a year to date up nearly 13%. three year, up 11%. the growth is year to date up 14%. one year up 18%. the names that are in here, for example, what is it that you do when you're picking a mid cap name, what does mid cap really mean to you? >> well, it's the kind of the goldilocks of the asset allocation model; right? not too big, not too small. not a super megacap that's having trouble growing but then yo

that are related to sandy and including legget and platte when you talk about office furniture, newell rubbermaidwhirlpool, generac which hit another new high for generators, how many depot with -- home depot with an up arrow, and how about lumbar ehrlich by day to haves, right? you need lumber to build flooring and cabinets and such, so the aftermath of hurricane sandy still moving a lot of stocks on wall street. liz: thank you, nicole. david: well, steeple financial corporation is making another acquisition, announcing plans to buy kbw in a deal valued at $575 million. liz: what's the motive behind today's major investment banking deal? let's ask the two gentlemen in charge. joining us now, steeple financial's chairman, ceo and president and thomas michaud kbw's ceo and president. i find this so interesting, ron, because, you know, you both have been around a long time, you both have held on to your companies and really worked your way up through them, but what was it about kbw -- which is a little bit smaller than steeple -- where you said now's the time to make this move? >> well, it is the,