According to research by THOMSON FINANCIAL, the number of mergers and acquisitions in Europe has fallen by a third in the first nine months of 2002, standing at 6600 as against 9700 for the same period in 2001. The value of the deals has fallen from $432 bn to $337 bn. The study points out that this fall is in line with global trends. Mergers and acquisitions activity fell off in all the big areas of the world over the same period, it adds.