Finance

‘We Are Back’: Equity Trading Crushes Estimates for Big US Banks

  • Big banks say client bets in rising US markets drive windfall
  • ‘You see now the potential for that to broaden,’ Ted Pick says
Morgan Stanley Traders Tops Estimates, Wealth Unit Lags
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Equities traders across Wall Street’s biggest banks pulled off a clean sweep of higher-than-expected quarterly gains — by a startling margin.

The 18% jump in combined revenue from helping clients bet on stocks was more than triple the increase analysts estimated. On conference calls, industry leaders pointed to a combination of swelling balances and a flurry of dealings, particularly in derivatives, led by their largest customers.