External finance activity in financial services stocks

External finance activity in financial services stocks rose 6% in the last two weeks, driven by M&A funding. Analysts believe sustained deal-making could push the sector’s P/E expansion near historical averages. “For one person, $2.5 million might be more than enough. For another, even $5 million may not cover their lifestyle and healthcare needs,” he said. “And for others, $500,000 plus Social Security might be plenty. In the end, it’s about your desired lifestyle, your expenses and your income.” Base: All firms. The figures refer to round 35 of the survey (April-June 2025). Notes: The chart shows the distribution and the survey-weighted averages of the relevance of trade tensions on firms, measured from 1 to 10 (highest) across types of firms. The data included in the chart refer to Question QA2_2025Q2.