Investment Banks 

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Latest news on Investment Banking, covering M&A deals, IPOs, capital markets and dealmakers at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, UBS and beyond.

Investment banks sit at the heart of global finance, advising companies and governments on mergers and acquisitions, raising capital through IPOs and bond issues, and underwriting securities. In strong years the industry generates advisory and underwriting fees exceeding 100 billion dollars worldwide. Bulge bracket firms such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Bank of America and Barclays compete alongside elite boutiques including Lazard, Evercore, Centerview Partners, PJT Partners, Moelis and Rothschild & Co.

Dealmaking activity moves in cycles, shaped by interest rates, market confidence and regulation. Megadeals worth billions can dominate headlines, while equity capital markets track waves of stock market flotations and secondary offerings. Artificial intelligence, energy, healthcare and technology have become recurring themes in M&A, with private equity firms and private credit funds playing an ever larger role in financing transactions.

The industry faces persistent challenges and controversies. Antitrust scrutiny and national security reviews can delay or derail major transactions. Banker bonuses attract political and public criticism, particularly after taxpayer bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis. The demanding hours expected of junior bankers have drawn repeated scrutiny, prompting some firms to cap working weeks and protect weekends.

Investment banking remains one of the most sought-after and lucrative careers in finance. Analysts, associates, vice presidents and managing directors follow a well-defined ladder, with compensation heavily weighted towards year-end bonuses. Wall Street in New York and the City of London are the industry's traditional centres, while Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai have grown into major hubs. Many junior bankers eventually move into private equity, hedge funds or corporate development roles.

The sector traces its roots to the merchant banks of eighteenth and nineteenth century Europe, including the houses of Rothschild and Barings. In the United States, the Glass-Steagall Act separated commercial and investment banking for decades until its repeal in 1999. The collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 reshaped the industry, as did the emergency takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS in 2023, which ended 167 years of independence for one of Switzerland's oldest banks.

Our NewsNow feed on Investment Banking brings together the latest headlines on deals, appointments, results, regulation and market trends from reliable sources worldwide, updated around the clock. Whether you work in finance, follow the markets or are exploring a banking career, this feed keeps you informed on everything that matters in the world of investment banking.