JPMorgan Chase expects a strong increase in investment banking fees and market revenue for the first quarter, helping to ease concerns that a recent stock market sell-off would negatively impact trading activity. In recent weeks, investors have grown increasingly worried that a downturn in software and technology company stocks, driven by fears over artificial intelligence disruption, could harm merger and acquisition activity as well as initial public offering plans for high-growth tech startups. To address some of these concerns, JPMorgan indicated it now projects investment banking fees to rise by a percentage in the teens, potentially reaching the high end of that range in the first quarter. Doug Petno, Co-CEO of JPMorgan’s Commercial & Investment Bank, stated, "We've had a strong start to the year. The pipeline is very good and broadly based. On M&A, I would say there are strong strategic drivers. I think a lot of deals are going to survive the volatility and get done." JPMorgan also forecasts that market revenue will increase by a percentage in the teens this quarter.