Investment banking

At the banks' annual meetings, shareholders at both companies struck down proposals that would have split the board chair and CEO roles. Two other proposals also failed to win shareholder support, one concerning energy financing and another on pay gap analysis.

After several quarters of slumping investment banking and trading fees, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company reported a big uptick from that division, which helped compensate for a large decline in net interest income.

Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick downplayed the importance of government investigations into potential money laundering issues involving wealth management clients. "We've been focused on our client on-boarding and monitoring processes for a good while," he said.

The New York megabank is working to deploy artificial intelligence as it seeks to make its own operations more efficient. Solomon also sees an "unprecedented" opportunity in financing clients' needs as they invest in AI.

First-quarter results at the companies were promising for other banks looking to reel in fees from capital markets activities as deposit costs put pressure on net interest income.

Mariya Rosberg is named Americas head of banking and financial services at Marsh McLennan's Oliver Wyman unit; startup ZayZoon raised $15 million in a new funding round; and more in the weekly banking news roundup.

M&T Bank creates new chief communications officer role, Citi cuts London investment banking jobs as deal drought persists, new report by McKinsey advises banks to institute artificial intelligence from headquarters rather than by divisions, and more in our weekly news roundup.

For the second straight year, Goldman Sachs shareholders have filed a proposal calling for more details on racial and gender pay gaps. The request comes as the investment banking giant faces scrutiny over its lack of high-ranking women leaders.

BNP Paribas Asset Management says its ESG clients have been moving into money market funds in reaction to volatility in the market.

CEO Charlie Scharf has added another former JPMorgan Chase colleague to his leadership team as his shake-up of Wells Fargo continues. The hire of veteran investment banker Doug Braunstein comes as Scharf makes progress on his efforts to grow Wells' investment bank.

The Fort Lee, New Jersey, company has hired a pair of veteran investment bankers to lead an effort serving fintechs' capital market needs. It described the move as "doubling down" on its commitment to the sector.

Retail tycoon Mike Ashley says his lawsuit against Morgan Stanley is in part because the bank acted out of "snobbery."

Generative artificial intelligence could streamline numerous operations across the financial services landscape, from building investor presentations to processing regulatory and legal documents.

Jim Esposito, one of Goldman Sachs Group's most senior executives, is leaving after almost three decades with the firm.

The Wall Street giant did a lot of backtracking last year, abandoning its plans to become a bank for everyone. Now it's refocusing on growing its tried-and-true businesses of dealmaking and asset management.

Two weeks after Ted Pick rose to CEO, the company slightly revised its long-term targets for efficiency, return on tangible common equity and other metrics. Yet, Pick says, "there's not a change in strategy" after the departure of his predecessor, James Gorman.

Firms including Banco Santander and Toronto-Dominion Bank's U.S. investment banking arms have been adding to their convertible bond teams, anticipating that companies refinancing existing debt will be drawn to the asset class in the next several years.

The big China deals that lined rainmakers' pockets for decades have evaporated. Banks and law firms alike are cutting jobs. Those advisers that remain are chasing smaller deals and taking extended vacations.

Wells Fargo makes a $1.5 million investment in Black entrepreneurship; America Express promotes small businesses through augmented reality; shareholders approve the Banc of California-PacWest merger; and more in the weekly banking news roundup.

There's a reason why successful bankers with long careers look back on their time spent as vice presidents as among the best of their working years.