Financial Updates – Page 41 – Financial Updates

Q3 2025 Sees Investment Banking Rebound & Trading Surge—Cautious Optimism Ahead

Executive Summary The last two quarters of 2025 have ushered in a sharp rebound in investment banking (IB) activity in the U.S., led by major banks which reported double‐digit year-over-year fee growth in advisory, underwriting, and equity/debt markets. Trading revenue has also surged, helping to lift net profits, while analysts and bank leaders project continued …

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Regulators Lift Caps on Leveraged Lending — What It Means for Banks and Risk

Americas Policy & Regulation Banking

Executive Summary NYSE regulators FDIC and OCC have withdrawn the 2013 leveraged-lending guidance, ending formal caps (notably a 6× debt/EBITDA limit) and restrictive venture lending standards, citing competitive disadvantage and excessive rigidity in past years. These changes are already effective and accompany additional easing of capital rules (e.g., community bank leverage ratios), but criticism warns …

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How Scott Galloway’s Harsh Investment Banking Start Fueled His Path to Entrepreneurship

Americas Context/FYI Banking

Executive Summary Scott Galloway’s first job out of college was with Morgan Stanley in investment banking—a role he says he hated and was terrible at. Though he disliked nearly all aspects of it, he still credits the experience with teaching him foundational skills in discipline, attention to detail, and developing resilience. He later came to …

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Paramount’s $108B Hostile Bid for Warner Bros Discovery Beats Netflix — Big Risks Ahead

Americas M&A Media

Executive Summary Paramount Skydance has initiated a hostile all-cash tender offer of US$108.4 billion (US$30 per share) to acquire *Warner Bros. Discovery* (WBD), seeking to supersede Netflix’s earlier agreed proposal valued at US$82.7 billion (US$27.75 per share) for WBD’s studios and streaming assets, excluding cable networks. Paramount claims its bid offers greater regulatory certainty and …

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Netflix $59B Bridge Loan Signals Surge in AI-Driven Financing & M&A Trends

Americas M&A Banking

Executive Summary Netflix is arranging a landmark financing package of $59 billion in short-term debt (a bridge loan) to help fund its $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (“WBD”), with Wells Fargo leading the deal and BNP Paribas and HSBC among other major lenders. The transaction reflects renewed strength in large-scale corporate finance, with …

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National Security, Media Giants & Mining Megadeals: What’s Sparking Big M&A in 2025

Americas Firms Media

Gist JPMorgan Chase has hired Todd Combs from Berkshire Hathaway to head its $10+ billion initiative targeting U.S. strategic sectors—defense, rare earths, tech, medicine—with a direct report to CEO Jamie Dimon. [1] Lazard CEO Peter Orszag warned that Washington clearance (White House/Cabinet-level) has become essential to closing large, cross-border and politically sensitive transactions. [2] Paramount …

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Banks Ride M&A Momentum in Late 2025: Gains, Costs, and Talent in Focus

Americas Firms Banking

Gist The investment banking landscape in Q4 2025 shows diverging trends: while Citigroup anticipates ~25% y-o-y growth in its investment banking fees driven by M&A momentum [1], Bank of America expects flat investment banking fees but a high-single-digit increase in markets revenue [2]. Regulatory changes easing constraints on high-risk and leveraged lending are enabling banks …

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Fed Cuts Rates to 3.50%–3.75% Amid Inflation, Cooling Labor Market & Fed Dissent

Americas M&A Banking

Gist The U.S. Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.50%–3.75% on December 10, 2025, marking its third consecutive rate cut. [1][2] The FOMC vote was 9–3, with three members dissenting—one pushing for a larger cut and two opposing any cut. [3][4] Economic signals are mixed: inflation remains above target, …

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Morgan Stanley’s New Global Power & Energy Group: Strategy & Risks Explained

Americas Firms Energy

Key Changes Announced On September 17, 2025, Morgan Stanley issued an internal memo combining its Global Energy and Global Power & Utilities investment banking groups into a single entity: the Global Power and Energy Group. Leadership structure: the group will be co-headed by Jon Fouts (formerly global head of Power & Utilities since 2022) and …

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Goldman’s Q3 2025 Surge: Investment Banking Fees & Trading Boost Lead Wall Street Rebound

Americas Markets Banking

Gist Goldman Sachs posted standout Q3 2025 results, with ~20% revenue and ~37% net income growth fueled by a 42% surge in investment banking fees. Peers including Citi, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America also delivered strong double-digit gains in investment banking and markets revenues, confirming a broad rebound in dealmaking. Despite top-line strength, Goldman …

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