Bank of Nova Scotia kept the title of busiest arranger of stock sales in Canada in the first half of 2012. In the first six months of the year, it was a lead bank on deals that raised roughly $3.01-billion for companies. However, more than half of that came in one big deal for its parent bank in early February.

Behind Scotiabank, the race is neck-and-neck between RBC Dominion Securities and TD Securities. RBC has done the most equity deals of all the banks so far this year at 31, according to an industry review completed by Thomson Reuters. But TD was boosted by big gets such as the $600-million Fortis Inc. equity offering, which raised money for the purchase of U.S. utility company CH Energy Group.

That pushed BMO Nesbitt Burns, which held the silver medal after the first quarter, off the podium to fourth position.

When it comes to debt, RBC claims the top spot in the bond business with more underwriting deals and higher proceeds than competitors. It had a hand in the three largest debt deals done so far this year - all of which have been for Canada Housing Trust No. 1 - and helped raise $20.73-billion for clients.

National Bank rose from third rank to second in this period with $16.54-billion - up from $6.47-billion in the first quarter. The bank has now been credited for three of the years top five deals so far. That pushed TD into third rank for its $11.74-billion.

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STOCK SALES LEADERS

STOCK SALES LEADERS