Thomson Reuters

“investment banks have raked in $16bn (£9.8bn) so far this quarter”

“There have been $872bn worth of global M&A deals this year so far – 44.5 per cent lower than the same period a year ago.”

“This was down 12.2 per cent compared to the first half of 2008.”

“According to preliminary data from Thomson Reuters, investment banks have raked in $16bn (£9.8bn) so far this quarter”

“M&A activity in the first six months of the year remained subdued, falling to its lowest first-half level since 2003, the data shows.”

“According to the report, there have been $872bn worth of global M&A deals this year so far – 44.5 per cent lower than the same period a year ago.”

“US investment banking giant Morgan Stanley currently tops the global M&A league table, according to the data, having advised on 115 deals worth $329bn.”

“In the first half of 2008 the bank ranked eighth in the world.”

“Goldman Sachs, which was the world number one in the first half of last year, is currently in second place this year having advised on deals worth $306bn.”

“The biggest global M&A deal in 2009 was the acquisition of US drugs firm Wyeth by giant rival Pfizer, a deal worth $64.5bn that involved advice from seven investment banks, said the report.”

“The fourth and fifth largest deals globally were the UK Treasury’s acquisitions of shares in Lloyds, worth $22bn, and RBS, worth $19bn.”