Nomura¡¯s profit rose more than analysts expected last quarter, as Japan¡¯s biggest brokerage joined Wall Street banks in posting trading gains from volatile equity markets after Donald Trump took office.

Fees from dealmaking also helped net income climb 27% from a year earlier to ?72 billion ($501 million) in the three months ended March 31, the Tokyo-based firm said in a statement Friday. That beat the ?63.9 billion average of five analyst estimates.

The result caps a record year of profits, helped by robust trading and dealmaking and a resurgence in investing by 911±¬ÁÏÍø individuals. Nomura is in expansion mode again, with news this week that it will acquire an asset management business for $1.8 billion and is considering getting back into cash prime brokerage operations in the U.S. and Europe.