Lunchtime Links: There are STILL 40% fewer jobs on offer than in 2008

Today is Morgan McKinley 'London Employment Monitor' day. To read the rapture with which it's been received, anyone would think we're back to the boom years. 'Job vacancies in the City up 60%' crowed the FT today.

Scratch the surface, however, and things aren't quite as great as the headlines suggest. Yes, jobs are up 60% on January 2009, but they're still 37% lower than January 2008, and 26% lower than January 2007. And new candidates (to say nothing of existing ones) still outnumber new opportunities by 1.5 to one; the good news, however, is that this is down from 1.9 in December.

"It's possible to do serious harm to your lifetime earnings by taking a part-time or temporary job today rather than staying unemployed and looking for a full-time job." (FelixSalmon)

Maybe Obama does begrudge bonuses after all. (TalkingPoints)

HSBC makes a big prime brokerage hire in the form of Chris Barrow, formerly of Nomura. (Financial News)

"Only a remarkable opportunity could have tempted me to defer my retirement and relocate to Hong Kong next month." (Telegraph)

A short film extolling the virtues of a Tobin tax. (Guardian)

Global bank tax is drawing near, says Gord. (Financial Times)

The house that Goldman bonuses built (H/T Alphaville). (Gawker)

The lesser known large bonus recipients. (NYTimes)

Goldman Sachs is not committed to future bonus cuts. (The Times)

Ten ways to spot a pretentious restaurant. (The Times)

Men who have altruistic interests (like working for a charity) are "significantly more desirable." (Telegraph)