SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 Current Report

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) June 15, 2004
                                                         -------------

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                         -------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



          DELAWARE                  File No. 1-8989             13-3286161
          --------                  ---------------             ----------

(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                   Identification Number)



          383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York                  10179
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         (Address of principal executive offices)               (zip code)



    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:     (212) 272-2000
                                                            --------------



                                 Not Applicable
         -----------------------------------------------------------------
           (former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Item 5.     Other Events and Required FD Disclosure
            ---------------------------------------

            Filed herewith are copies of:

            (a)   Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to certain
                  federal income tax consequences described in the Pricing
                  Supplement, dated June 15, 2004, to the Prospectus Supplement
                  and the Prospectus, each dated November 17, 2003, included in
                  the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company
                  (Registration No. 333-109793).

            (b)   Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

            (c)   Form of Medium Term Note, Series B (Bear Extendible Notes).

            (d)   Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to certain
                  federal income tax consequences described in the Pricing
                  Supplement, dated July 7, 2004, to the Prospectus Supplement
                  and the Prospectus, each dated November 17, 2003, included in
                  the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company
                  (Registration No. 333-109793).

            (e)   Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
            ------------------------------------------------------------------

            (a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired:

                  Not applicable.

            (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information:

                  Not applicable.

            (c)   Exhibits:

                  The following exhibits are incorporated by reference into the
                  Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
                  333-109793) as exhibits to such Registration Statement:

                  4(b)(16)  Form of Medium Term Note, Series B (Bear Extendible
                            Notes).

                  8(a)      Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to
                            certain federal income tax consequences described in
                            the Pricing Supplement, dated June 15, 2004, to the
                            Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus, each dated
                            November 17, 2003.

                  8(b)      Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to
                            certain federal income tax consequences described in
                            the Pricing Supplement, dated

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                            July 7, 2004, to the Prospectus Supplement and the
                            Prospectus, each dated November 17, 2003.

                  23(c)     Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
                            (Included in Exhibit 8(a)).

                  23(d)     Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
                            (Included in Exhibit 8(b)).











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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                       THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.



                                       By:  /s/ Jeffrey M. Farber
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Jeffrey M. Farber
                                          Controller
                                          (Principal Accounting Officer)

Dated:      July 15, 2004







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                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------



Exhibit No.     Description
-----------     -----------

4(b)(16)        Form of Medium Term Note, Series B (Bear Extendible Notes).

8(a)            Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to certain
                federal income tax consequences described in the Pricing
                Supplement, dated June 15, 2004, to the Prospectus Supplement
                and the Prospectus, each dated November 17, 2003.

8(b)            Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to certain
                federal income tax consequences described in the Pricing
                Supplement, dated July 7, 2004, to the Prospectus Supplement and
                the Prospectus, each dated November 17, 2003.

23(c)           Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP (Included in
                Exhibit 8(a)).

23(d)           Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP (Included in
                Exhibit 8(b)).













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