Wall Street on track for record profits

Data: NYSE/Intercontinental Exchange via the New York State Comptroller; Chart Emily Peck/Axios; Note: 2026 projected by the comptroller if first-half growth continues at current pace. First-half 2026 profits were $45.9 billion. Profits are for broker-dealer operations of NYSE member firms and are not adjusted for inflation.Wall Street profits are blowing past expectations this year, the New York State Comptroller's office finds in a new report.Why it matters: Profits are on track for an all-time record, a sign of how the AI boom is fueling dealmaking and how volatile markets are helping tradi