Green Christmas For Bankers; Asset Managers Expecting Coal

According to compensation firm Johnson Associates, overall investment banking bonuses will rise 40 percent this year (but still come in below the boom years of 2006 and 2007). Fixed income and equities traders are expected to hit it out of the park (picking up 40 to 60 percent higher bonus checks), with underwriting groups smacking a solid double to left center (15 to 20 percent higher). However, M&A groups are still struggling at the plate (they’re expecting 10 to 15 percent smaller checks than last year), and other sectors are even worse off. Asset management and hedge fund professionals’ bonuses will fall 15 to 20 percent, and private equity employees’ checks will dip 20 to 25 percent.