Worldwide mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity has reached $2 trillion so far this year, 75 percent higher than last year, according to Thomson Reuters weekly data, helped by a string of large-cap companies striking high value deals. Eight deals valued at more than $5 billion were announced this week, setting an all-time record for weekly deal making among companies with a large market capitalization, Thomson Reuters said on Friday. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/18/us-investment-banking-data-idUSKBN0FN16E20140718