Excerpt: With assets in corporate pension plans decimated this year, some of America's largest companies may need to funnel additional money into sponsored retirement plans, potentially trimming next year's profits -- despite relief approved by Congress last week. Companies in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index collectively face a pension deficit of at least $200 billion, according to a Credit Suisse analysis. If the bill is signed by President George W. Bush, it would reduce firms' near-term pension requirements. But that wouldn't reduce the earnings impact, says Credit Suisse analyst David Zion; the firm says 128 S&P companies could face a pension-related hit to earnings in 2009.

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