Goldman Sachs Eyes Record Bonuses as Global M&A Boom Returns
Global deal-making has roared back to life in 2026, with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan leading blockbuster advisory mandates across the technology, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors. After two lean years marked by rising interest rates and regulatory caution, corporate boardrooms are back at the table with confidence. Goldman’s investment banking division posted a 68% year-on-year revenue surge in the first quarter, the strongest performance since 2021.
The resurgence is being driven by several converging forces: lower interest rates following Fed easing, a wave of AI-driven corporate consolidation, and energy transition deals as oil majors acquire clean tech assets. Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate that global M&A volumes could reach $4.5 trillion in 2026, approaching the record highs of 2021.
