Firms start doling out Wall Street bonuses

`Tis the week that Wall Street bonuses start dropping on investment bankers. The Securities Industry Association estimates that mergers this year should help generate pretax profits among Wall Street firms of $21 billion, ensuring a healthy bonus season. (The state Comptroller’s office is expected by the end of this week to release its annual snapshot of Wall Street bonuses.) Many real estate brokers hope these healthy bonuses translate into a buying spree this winter and spring. more [Washington Post] and more [Matrix]