Global exchanges attracted the largest number of listings since the financial crisis this year, with a resurgence of activity in the US and a record number of Chinese deals belying concerns that companies are cooling to the idea of public ownership.

Almost 1,700 companies floated in 2017, an increase of 44 per cent over 2016 and the most initial public offerings since 2007, according to Dealogic. Proceeds rose 44 per cent to $196bn, the largest amount since 2014, which had been boosted by Alibaba’s $25bn listing.

In the US companies raised $49bn — double the $24bn of listings in 2016, which was the worst year for IPOs in more than a decade. European listings rose more than 40 per cent and China marked a record number of deals, which helped to boost the global deal count. More than 400 companies floated in 2017 on the mainland markets, comprising the Shenzhen and Shanghai stock exchanges, according to EY.