Bank of America said on Wednesday it expects investment banking fees in the third quarter to fall by more than 10 percent, a softer outlook that pushed the bank's shares lower in trading.
The bank, the second-largest in the United States by assets, did not elaborate on specific drivers of the decline but the announcement sparked investor concern about a broader slowdown in advisory and underwriting activity across the industry.
Market observers noted the warning could be an early indication that the recent wave of dealmaking tied to artificial intelligence and other technology-driven themes may be losing momentum. Wall Street firms had benefited from heightened corporate activity around AI-related investments and transactions, and a pullback in fees could signal a cooling of that boom.
The outlook also underscores the sensitivity of investment banking revenues to shifts in market sentiment and deal pipelines. For an industry that relies heavily on periodic large transactions, a decline in fee income can have an outsized effect on quarterly results and investor expectations.
Bank of America’s update follows a period of strong performance across parts of the financial sector driven by technology-focused deals, but the bank’s guidance highlights the potential for volatility as markets reassess growth prospects and deal flow going forward.