Global merger volume has reached $3 trillion so far this year, the highest since 2000 and a 37 percent increase from the same stage of last year, new data shows.
Europe has been the busiest region for deals, with $1.2 trillion of mergers and 41 percent of the volume, up 50 percent compared with the same period last year, according to data released by research firm Dealogic Thursday.
Deal volume in the United States has reached $1.1 trillion so far this year, accounting for 36 percent of global volume. That's up 21 percent from the same stage of 2005.
The finance sector is the most targeted industry for global mergers, with volume of $458.4 billion, followed by telecommunications with $328.5 billion of deals, and utilities and energy with $285.6 billion, Dealogic said.