Jul 2, 2026 – 5.00amThe Middle East conflict that sent the oil price soaring and heightened concern around inflation and the global economic outlook was the final chapter in a year that has challenged the country’s top dealmakers.However, despite the volatility, investment bankers say corporate confidence steadily improved over the past financial year as companies looked past the macroeconomic uncertainty and focused on longer-term strategic growth.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Joanne TranInvestment banking reporterJoanne Tran is The Australian Financial Review’s investment banking reporter. She covers the people, trends, companies, and transactions moving Australian investment banking and capital markets in the Sydney newsroom. Prior to that, she was a markets reporter writing about hedge funds and the asset management industry.Fetching latest articles