Fitch: Large U.S. Banks Benefit from Volatility, M&A

Volatility in currencies, commodities and equities drove a 48% quarter-over-quarter increase in capital markets revenue for the five largest U.S. banks, according to Fitch Ratings. Advisory revenues also remained strong, a precedent Fitch believes will continue for the next several quarters.

Mortgage and credit products were relatively weak in 1Q'15, leaving firms with larger macro platforms, like Goldman Sachs, with stronger results.

'J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs benefitted significantly from the volatility, allowing them to retain their solid leads in market share, while Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup remain nearly 7% behind,' says Justin Fuller, Senior Director.

The first quarter is typically the strongest for banks' fixed income, currency and commodities (FICC) revenue. By comparison, FICC activities accounted for 52% of total revenue in 1Q'14, with the slight drop this year owing to gains in financial advisory and equity markets.

Overall advisory revenues increased 22% from the prior quarter and 45% from a year ago as the M&A environment remained strong. With backlogs still robust, Fitch expects advisory will continue to a bright spot through end-2015.