We asked a bunch of top bankers what to expect for Wall Street in 2017

2016 has been one for the history books. 

On Wall Street, the year started off with record low levels of activity — in fact, the first quarter was the worst for equity, debt, loan, and advisory revenues since 2009— and took months to get back on track.

Now the year is capping off with bank stocks on a tear since the November 8 election of Donald Trump as president.

So where will we go from here?

Business Insider spoke with a number of dealmakers, including both equity capital markets and mergers and acquisitions bankers, about the biggest trends to expect in 2017.

Much of their responses centered around the incoming Trump administration and what his presidency will mean for the markets. They all said next year is sure to be more active than 2016 has been (of course, it's hard to come by a banker who isn't bullish on his or her own industry).

On the IPO side, especially tech IPOs, bankers anticipate an opening up of the window, provided equity markets remain emboldened. Both the S&P and Dow have hit all-time highs multiple times since the election.

In M&A, bankers are anticipating that regulatory changes and the possibility of new tax and other policies will boost activity in 2017.

Below, in one or two sentences each, is what some of Wall Street's top dealmakers had to say.

SEE ALSO: Wall Street banks are having a great time in trading

Anu Aiyengar — head of North American M&A at JPMorgan

"We expect fundamental drivers for M&A to remain in place and potential pro-business policy changes to further enhance it. US Companies will continue to need M&A to grow and drive shareholder value. Access to capital for acquisitions will continue to boost M&A, in addition to low interest rates and robust equity markets. Additionally, expected cash repatriation, corporate tax reform and deregulation could spur M&A activity in 2017."

Dan Dees — global head of tech, media, and telecommunications banking, Goldman Sachs

"Expect to see significant Tech IPO activity and continuation of healthy M&A market."

Rich Handler — CEO of Jefferies Group

"I am looking for the beginning of the slow, but inevitable rise of interest rates that will contribute to the also slow return of true stock pickers/investors ability to add value.  This will slowly replace the market movements that have been dominated by macro trends forcing the mass buying and selling of baskets of securities."