SEC investigate Credit Suisse stocks

Credit Suisse First Boston and Goldman Sachs Group are in talks with the Securities and Exchange Commission in an attempt to resolve investigations into whether their stock research was compromised by conflicts of interest.

Citigroup's Salomon Smith Barney has sought to close out a similar probe by offering to pay a fine and separate investment banking from stock research and allotment of initial public offering shares, according to some reports.

Salomon proposed a fine of more $100m, according to one report.

The SEC's ongoing investigations cover a dozen firms including Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley.

Investigations are also underway by the NASD, New York Stock Exchange and state securities regulators.