Trading rebounds, and Wall Street investment banks' bonuses are expected to surge.

Wall Street bankers are expected to reap substantial rewards once again from the market's intense fluctuations. According to forecasts by compensation consulting firm Johnson Associates, bonuses for investment banking and commercial banking professionals are expected to increase by 10% to 15%, or even higher, due to performance that outshines other segments of the financial industry. The bonus increase is anticipated to be even greater for stock traders and investment bankers involved in mergers and acquisitions. This prediction comes just after major U.S. banks reported record second-quarter results, driven primarily by robust stock trading, financial advisory, and underwriting business. Alan Johnson, managing director of Johnson Associates, stated in an interview, "The overall performance of the banks has been good, but we initially expected that trading and M&A activities would cool off, and it turns out they haven't. These businesses remain strong and continue to perform well."