Trading

Stock trading boom sees Wall Street banks stretch lead over European rivals

Are European investment banks conceding defeat in equities trading, as a surge in revenue has seen them fall further behind Wall Street firms?

European banks are falling further behind US rivals as trading volumes have increased
European banks are falling further behind US rivals as trading volumes have increased Photo: Alex Kraus/Getty Images

When Donald Trump secured a second term as US president in November, wild swings in global equity markets provided a major boost for the world’s biggest investment banks.

Fourth-quarter earnings were buoyed by stock trading divisions, which act as intermediaries on transactions and thrive on volatility — handing a final push to an already stellar year for equities teams.

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