Merrill Lynch has leapt to the top of the bookrunner league tables for European equity issues from fifth place at the end of June. The US bank led 15 deals raising €10.43bn ($9.1bn), a 14.49% market share, according to Dealogic CapitalData.

Its position in equity capital markets contrasts with debt where Merrill is unlikely to finish in its traditional place at the top of the bond league tables at the end of the year.