MARKET watchers are optimistic that merger and acquisition (M&A) activity will pick up this year, as the economic environment stabilises after the whirlwind of volatility in 2023.

For one thing, interest rates are starting to show signs of normalising and could come down earlier than expected, after the US Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate steady at its last Federal Open Market Committee meeting in December and hinted at three rate cuts in 2024.

After more than a year of leaning back and sheltering from the storm, market watchers believe investors could be on the active lookout for opportunities again.