COMING THIS WEEK

Monday: Cisco Systems, the dominant player in computer-networking technologies, now hopes to conquer the telecommunications industry. The Cutting Edge.

Tuesday: Stock Exchange’s James Peltz and Michael Hiltzik debate the merits of Merrill Lynch and Broadcom. Wall Street, California.

Wednesday: December is a good time to plan for next year--and you’ll get a leg up on the task if you start by taking a look at two key financial ratios business owners often ignore. Small Business.