Morgan Stanley beat expectations in the first quarter, driven by a sharp rise in stock trading revenue during a period of heightened global market volatility. The bank reported higher earnings and record revenue compared to analyst estimates. Morgan Stanley reported strong equity results, fueled by heightened client activity in a more volatile trading environment. Fixed-income trading and wealth management revenue met expectations, while investment banking came in slightly below estimates. Shares have fluctuated amid growing recession fears sparked by President Trump’s trade policies.