Anu Aiyengar — head of North American M&A at JPMorgan
"We expect fundamental drivers for M&A to remain in place and potential pro-business policy changes to further enhance it. US Companies will continue to need M&A to grow and drive shareholder value. Access to capital for acquisitions will continue to boost M&A, in addition to low interest rates and robust equity markets. Additionally, expected cash repatriation, corporate tax reform and deregulation could spur M&A activity in 2017."
Dan Dees — global head of tech, media, and telecommunications banking, Goldman Sachs
"Expect to see significant Tech IPO activity and continuation of healthy M&A market."
Rich Handler — CEO of Jefferies Group
"I am looking for the beginning of the slow, but inevitable rise of interest rates that will contribute to the also slow return of true stock pickers/investors ability to add value. This will slowly replace the market movements that have been dominated by macro trends forcing the mass buying and selling of baskets of securities."
Anthony Kontoleon — global head of syndicate in equity capital markets, Credit Suisse
"I'm excited for the return of a vibrant IPO market in 2017 — everyone loves a great new story — and hopefully looking forward to a more sensible regulatory environment in which to operate!"
Riaz Ladhabhoy — cohead of internet investment banking, Deutsche Bank
"A few big tech IPOs could kick off strong IPO activity. Smart economic stimulus (repatriation holiday, corporate tax cuts, a smart infrastructure bill) could also result in strong markets."
Frank Maturo — vice chairman, equity capital markets in the Americas, UBS
"The one thing I am looking out for (and hoping for) in 2017 is the dual track process with private companies leading to more IPOs than sales of those companies, given the rally in the Russell 2000 with small and mid-size companies."
John Humphreys — head of North American investment banking, advisory & solutions, Mizuho Americas
"With the equity market at 10-year highs and debt markets still liquid, I am expecting an uptick in stock buy backs as well as M&A into next year once the new administration's tax policies become a bit clearer."