New York—M&A volume and value in the media, information, marketing, healthcare and technology sectors fell in the first half of this year compared with the year-earlier period, according to Jordan, Edmiston Group's “First Half M&A Report.” The year got off to a slow start, as expected, following a rush of deal closings at the end of 2012 ahead of impending tax law changes, according to the report. This year's first half has seen 708 transactions announced, a 2% dip from 723 deals in the first half of 2012. Deal value in the five sectors totaled $27.8 billion, down 19% from $34.3 billion in the first half of 2012, according to data from the JEGI Transaction Database. Jordan, Edmiston's report noted that one deal—Alibaba Group's buy-back of 20% of its shares from Yahoo for $7.1 billion in 2012—skewed the figures. If that transaction is excluded, deal value in this year's first half is up 2%