EXCLUSIVE Morgan Stanley to award bonus rises of over 20% on Thursday to top performers -sources

Morgan Stanley (MS.N) will raise its annual bonus for top-performing staff on Thursday by more than 20%, people with direct knowledge of the matter said, with a dealmaking boom set to usher in bumper payouts by banks this year.
Private equity behemoth TPG aims for over $9 bln valuation in U.S. IPO

TPG is aiming for a valuation of as much as $9.3 billion in its U.S. initial public offering, as the private equity powerhouse finally moves closer to a stock market flotation after toying with the idea of going public for several years.
Global economy: Asian factories take Omicron risks in stride, for now

Asia’s factory activity grew in December as companies took rising global cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant in stride, though persistent supply constraints and rising input costs clouded the outlook for some economies.
Factbox: U.S. banks tighten COVID-19 precautions as Omicron variant spreads

U.S. banks have been more proactive than other industries in encouraging employees back to the office, but those plans have come under renewed scrutiny due to the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
China’s Didi plans Hong Kong ‘listing by introduction’, picks banks -sources

China’s ride-hailing giant Didi Global (DIDI.N) plans to use a mechanism that will allow it to list shares in Hong Kong without raising capital or issuing new stock as it seeks to delist from New York, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
EXCLUSIVE Qatar targets $10 billion of investments in U.S. ports -sources

Qatar plans to invest at least $10 billion in U.S. ports and has approached international banks for financing help, three finance sources say, in an infrastructure spree that reflects the Gulf country’s deepening ties with Washington.
Global M&A activity smashes all-time records to top $5 trillion in 2021

Dec 20 (Reuters) – Global merger and acquisition (M&A) activity shattered all-time records in 2021, comfortably erasing the high-water mark that was set nearly 15 years ago, as an abundance of capital and sky-high valuations fuelled frenetic levels of dealmaking.
Beijing rule changes to revive China’s IPO prospects in 2022, bankers say

Greater China’s flagging initial public offerings (IPOs) are set to get a fillip in 2022 from the expected unveiling of new rules by Beijing for Chinese firms’ offshore listings, giving clarity to jittery investors, investment bankers and analysts said.
Wall Street firms retreat from office, holiday parties as virus spreads

Wall Street banks and investment firms are retrenching from their push to get staff back to the office, with Citigroup Inc (C.N), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), Carlyle Group Inc (CG.O), Blackstone (BX.N) and MetLife (MET.N) among the latest to adjust plans as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.
Grab’s $40 bln Nasdaq debut to set tone for Southeast Asian tech listings

Grab, Southeast Asia’s biggest ride-hailing and delivery firm, makes its market debut on Thursday after a record $40 billion merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), in a listing that will set the tone for other regional offerings.