Dealmaking is coming back and it’s boosting results for Jefferies Financial Group. The company’s investment banking revenue was up 28% sequentially and 31% from a year earlier. CEO Richard Handler and President Brian Friedman say in a joint statement that there was “modest improvement” in the deals market, and Jefferies saw greater mergers and acquisitions and underwriting activity. The executives expect market-share gains and momentum in investment banking to continue. Jefferies shares edge down 1.3% to $45.50 after-hours.