A number of other coinciding economic factors likely ensure that 2017 will be another strong year for dealmaking.
The unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in January and wages increased by only 0.1%, dampening hopes for a March interest rate hike.
The CFTC orders the investment bank to pay up in response to charges that traders deliberately influenced a U.S. global dollar benchmark.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen calls the first rate increase in a year “a vote of confidence in the economy.”
The Fed chair says signs of a weakening jobs growth are "concerning" but she is still optimistic about the labor market and inflation.
U.S. regulators allege Citi manipulated key swaps and interest rate benchmark to benefits its own trading positions.
“We continue to be on track for very slow progress,” an economist says of the small increase in wages despite a strengthening labor market.
The credit ratings agency forecast that the junk default rate will be 4% this year, up from 3.5% in 2015.
Spare economic capacity and very low inflation justify keeping monetary policy loose in most major advanced economies, IMF staff said.
The flurry of deals came after issuance virtually halted for nearly two weeks.
A modest gain in jobs last month, along with a further decline in unemployment, sends mixed signals to the Fed ahead of its September meeting.
Latest "Beige Book" survey may fuel confidence in the economy as the central bank considers interest-rate policy later this month.
