insto - Australian financial markets

While ECM activity seems to be climbing in many developed markets, year-to-date M&A volume is US$843.4 billion, representing a 43 per cent decrease from the same period in 2008, according to Thomson Reuters.  Despite the fall, healthcare sector activity has weathered the storm.  While volume in this sector is largely bolstered by the first quarter's mega-deals, other noteworthy deals have trickled in.