The financial hub of Wall Street is bracing itself for a significant blow as annual bonuses for its denizens are expected to plummet by as much as 25% this year.

The root cause of this impending financial gloom is the drying up of dealmaking activities in the heart of the financial world.

The city’s financiers and investment bankers have long relied on substantial year-end bonuses as a substantial portion of their compensation packages.

However, the year 2023 paints a bleak picture for these professionals, as the once lucrative landscape for mergers, acquisitions, and IPOs has taken a sharp downturn.

Market volatility, economic uncertainty, and regulatory changes have all contributed to the slowdown in dealmaking.

The repercussions of these reduced bonuses are not limited to the financial elite.

This decline is expected to have a ripple effect throughout the city’s economy, impacting businesses, restaurants, and luxury retailers that rely heavily on the patronage of Wall Street’s high earners.