Most US dealmakers expect the red-hot North American M&A market to cool this year, according to Brunswick Group's annual survey.

Seventy percent of US M&A players see a slowdown after two straight years of record-breaking activity.
US senior partner Steve Lipin said US dealmakers "are concerned the M&A party may be over" and instead see a steady flow of smaller deals driving transactions, rather than blockbusters of last year.

Optimism remains on a global scale, however, as Brunswick found 66% see M&A activity maintaining its torrid pace from 2015. Only 21% forecast a decrease.

Brunswick queried 140 professionals in and around M&A in Asia, Europe and North America.

The firm found a slight edge for Donald Trump in the US presidential race as 22% in North America said the real estate mogul would represent the best outcome for "deal-making and corporate interests." Hillary Clinton drew 21% support, followed by 19% for John Kasich, 11% for the recently scuttled Marco Rubio, and 3% for Ted Cruz. Internationally, Clinton drew the most support at nearly one-third of respondents.

Brunswick also queried M&A pros on inversion deals, activist investors and other issues. Full results are at brunswickgroup.com.