June 27 (Bloomberg) -- Merrill Lynch & Co. may post a second-quarter loss and write down the value of mortgage-related assets by as much as $5 billion, financial news network CNBC reported, citing unidentified people at Merrill.

The third-largest U.S. securities firm may reduce the value of its assets by $3 billion to $5 billion, CNBC on-air editor Charles Gasparino reported.

He also said New York-based Merrill may consider selling assets.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Hart in Washington at dahart@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 27, 2008 08:30 EDT