Global Equity Market Activity At Seven-Year High In 2014 Despite Lukewarm Q4

Companies across the globe raised just under $200 billion through IPOs and follow-on offerings in the last quarter. This is 9% below the $219-billion figure for Q3 2014 and a good 24% lower than the $264 billion raised in Q4 2013. Exceptionally strong performance in Q2 2014 ($282 billion) helped equity underwriting deals worth more than $890 billion go through in 2014, making this the best year since 2007 in terms of global equity underwriting volumes.