Depends where you are talking about M&A (company mergers, IPOs etc) is notorious for the long hours that they make associates work, mainly to knock up powerpoin

Depends where you are talking about M&A (company mergers, IPOs etc) is notorious for the long hours that they make associates work, mainly to knock up powerpoints and excel cashflow models. Trading/Sales is normally 6.30am start to 5pm-ish in the evening, which possibly drinks/client entertaining some nights after that. You probably have to spend a few years as desk gopher - coffees, doing the trade reporting admin no-one else wants to do etc. I don't think trading or sales typically work weekends. I think some may trade out of hours as well, but I think (in large IBs in the UK) that they are in the minority.