Selling information -- Informed intermediaries -- Independent financial advice -- Mergers & Acquisitions advisory -- Securities underwriting -- Biased analyst recommendations -- Analyst reputation -- Regulation of financial analysts -- Financial innovation -- Asset management -- Brokerage services -- Market making -- Proprietary trading -- Employment policies -- Partnerships -- The decision-making process -- Relationship banking -- Optimal investment banks.

Banking, and investment banking in particular, is to a large extent investigated empirically in the academic literature. The theory of investment banking behaviour and the relationship between investment banks and their clients is not widely known and applied to analyse developments in this industry. This book provides readers with a comprehensive and state-of-the-art overview of the theories of investment banking. It presents theories in all areas that investment banks are active, using a consistent and coherent framework, that allows combining different theories to develop more comprehensive analysis of developments in this important industry. Going beyond the activities of investment banks, this book also includes an analysis of some of the employment practices and strategies found in investment banks. The book is intended for students. However, it will also benefit practitioners working in the field and professionals who aspire to such professional activities in the financial industry.