M&A hits 20-year low after Trump's 'Liberation Day'

BANKERS AND CEOs hit the brakes on mergers and acquisitions after US President Donald Trump launched a global trade war on April 2, with fewer deals getting signed than during the bleakest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 global financial crisis.

- SABRINA VALLE

The number of M&A contracts signed across the world—an indicator of global economic health—fell in April to the lowest level in 20 years—or since February 2005—according to data compiled by Dealogic for Reuters.

In the US, the world's largest M&A market, just 555 deals were signed last month, the fewest for any month since May 2009.

Trump's self-styled "Liberation Day," when he announced tariffs against all countries, caused global markets to slide, CEOs from Chime to StubHub to yank planned IPOs and retaliatory measures from other nations.