Loads of money: mergers and acquisitions top a record $2.8trn in 2026

This article appeared as part of the Daily Sensemaker newsletter – one story a day to make sense of the world. To receive it in your inbox, featuring content exclusive to the newsletter, sign up for free here.

Global mergers and acquisitions reached a record $2.8trn in the first half of 2026, a 49% increase from last year, according to the London Stock Exchange. It recorded 47 deals worth more than $10bn, which is also a record. There are several factors behind this trend. One is Donald Trump’s decision to loosen antitrust measures to encourage growth, which has spurred a wave of dealmaking in the US. Another is geopolitical volatility, with companies buying rivals to guard against shocks. AI is also playing a part. Earlier this year, US firm NextEra Energy agreed to acquire Dominion Energy, a merger that would create the world’s largest utility at a time of booming demand for electricity from data centres. Meanwhile, SpaceX bought coding startup Cursor for $60bn, as part of Elon Musk’s pivot from rockets to AI.