Wall Street executive bonuses could hit a record high this year if current trends hold, as big banks reap huge profits from rising stocks and the return of mergers and acquisitions activity after a prolonged period of stagnation, Bloomberg notes. The profits of the 130 member companies of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) reached $30.4 billion in the first half of the year, and will reach the highest level in history if the current pace is maintained, Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, said in his annual report on Thursday. Payroll spending rose nearly 10% in the first half of 2025 from the same period last year, suggesting bonuses could explode after already hitting a record last year, when the average annual bonus was $244,700. DiNapoli stated that the profits of the banks will contribute to the increase of tax revenues, necessary for the financing of essential investments in public services. «Although there are still uncertainties related to interest rates, inflation and the general evolution of the economy, it appears that Wall Street is heading for another strong year,» he said in a statement. Wall Street trading desks have benefited this year both from market volatility caused by tariffs and from the rise of technology stocks linked to artificial intelligence. In the third quarter, the big banks, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co, reported trading revenue of $15.4 billion, the highest level for this period in at least five years.
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