AT THE START of the 12 months dealmakers across the globe had been sharpening their pencils. Donald Trump’s incoming administration was promising to slash company taxes and tear up purple tape on the earth’s mightiest economic system. Political leaders in different massive markets ultimately appeared to understand that with a view to sustain with America, that they had higher put innovation and financial progress forward of warning (in risk-averse Europe) or widespread prosperity (in Xi Jinping’s China).