Is there nothing that can puncture the optimism of a mergers and acquisitions banker? In spite of the biggest summer slump in European mergers and acquisitions, which we reported in Financial News last week, and the woes from the credit crisis, it seems there is no cloud big, dark or nasty enough that cannot be eclipsed by a silver lining.

According to research in the latest IntraLinks M&A Monitor survey, in association with Financial News, there has been only a slight downturn in optimism about the future compared with a year ago.