Lunchtime links: Tentative optimism returns to recruitment

Whisper it quietly, and preferably using slightly non-committal language that won't come back to bite you, but there are signs that recruitment is on the up within the UK banking sector.

The Financial Times today features an article based on interviews with large contingency recruiters - such as SThree, Hays, Michael Page and Robert Walters - who all suggest that most banks have lifted their hiring freezes over the last six weeks or so.

Sadly, though, few seem willing to stick their necks out and say a recovery is underway (understandably) and are suggesting that a genuine uptick in recruitment will not be evident until September at the earliest.

"Banks are hiring but it could be a dead cat bounce," says Robert Walters, chief executive of Robert Walters, who also suggests that people unhappy in their jobs will start to move once things really start to look better.

Similarly, figures from Morgan McKinley show that the number of City vacancies has risen gradually since the low point of December last year, even if they are still 59% down on 2008.

'Vanilla' traders' bonuses are being bid up (Telegraph)

"I can't find any similarity between Nomura and Lehman except the fact that we take the elevators to the office." (Financial Times)

$7m for man tasked with turning AIG around (Bloomberg)

Are guaranteed bonuses good or bad? (The Deal)

Nomura hires ex-Dresdner star trader (Financial News)

Goldman Sachs doesn't care about negative press (Deal Book)

Feinberg has the authority to claw back executive pay (Deal Journal)

Lombard Odier poaches UBS private banker for London team (Wealth Briefing)

ABI wants an end to guarantees (Guardian)

MF Global has hired 29 people since April (Financial News)

Reuters blogger speaks out against guaranteed bonuses (Business News Network)