Daily Dispatches: CBA raids the i-banks for equities talent

CBA today said it had beefed up its institutional equities team, appointing 16 senior research and sales staff in Melbourne and Sydney. (The Australian)

Westpac chief executive Gail Kelly has defended the bank's supercharged mortgage rate rise, saying that pressure to increase prices across all forms of lending will remain while global credit markets are ravaged by the financial crisis. (The Age)

The Australian employment market appears to have turned a corner, but there is still caution being exhibited in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors, according to the latest data released by Manpower Employment. (Money Management)

ANZ Bank has acquired the Landmark Financial Services loan and deposit books from AWB in a deal that will absorb about $160 million in capital. The $2.4bn Landmark loan book and $300m deposit book were acquired at net book value, after provisions, lifting ANZ from its previous number three ranking in agricultural financial services to a clear number two, behind market leader National Australia Bank. (The Australian)