The scale of this failure is staggering,

We continue to believe that Level 3's valuation looks unattractive relative to its peers.

With three major U.S. telecoms under Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, we thought little more could happen to dampen already miserable investor sentiment in the space. Now events at WorldCom leave us virtually lost for words.

We were looking for consolidated revenue growth of 10.2 percent for the fourth quarter and 11.1 percent for 2001. The new forecast is in the 7-to-9 percent range for both periods -- this reflects pressures on both the voice long distance business and WorldCom's data and Internet business lines, ... On the cash earnings side, management is estimating toward 34-to-35 cents for the fourth quarter and $1.60 for 2001. We were looking for 57 cents per share for the fourth quarter and $2.42 for 2001.

With three major U.S. telecoms under Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, we thought little more could happen to dampen already miserable investor sentiment in the space, ... Now events at WorldCom leave us virtually lost for words.

This only adds to investor wariness.