International Companies
Morgan Stanley Q1 profits surge amid volatile market activity
By Iain Gilbert
Date: Wednesday 15 Apr 2026
(Sharecast News) - Morgan Stanley posted a solid first quarter performance on Tuesday, with profits rising almost 30% as volatile markets boosted trading activity across the bank.
Morgan Stanley said net income came in ahead of expectations at $5.6bn, up from $4.3bn a year earlier, with the bank's trading division driving the performance as equities trading revenue rose 25% to $5.1bn, while fixed‑income trading revenue increased 29% to $3.4bn.
Investment banking fees also strengthened, rising 36% to $2.1bn and coming in slightly above the $2bn expected, while wealth management, which made up around 40% of earnings in 2025, attracted $118bn in net new assets during the quarter.
Morgan Stanley's Q1 performance marked the bank's second consecutive quarter with more than $100bn in net new assets, the first time it has achieved back‑to‑back quarters at that level in four years.
As of 1330 BST, Morgan Stanley shares were up 2.71% in pre-market trading at $188.30 each.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
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