Lunchtime Links: BofA Merrill Lynch plans big hiring - in Australia

As we noted yesterday, BofA Merrill is busy building up its FICC presence in London. However, the really dramatic hiring may well be taking place in Sydney.

The bank isn't giving any hiring targets, nor does it purport to have a blank cheque (unfortunately), but it is planning to hire everyone from equity researchers and M&A bankers, to capital markets bankers for its Australian business.

The enthusiasm for Aus hiring follows the arrival of Craig Drummond from Goldman Sachs JBWere as head of the Australian business last October. It also follows the poaching of 10 RBS traders in January, and the addition of 35 new people between July and August last year.

If you want to work in Aus, but you don't fancy BofA Merrill, you may be interested to know that Nomura's hiring in Sydney too.

Singapore's plan to lure hedge funds from London and NY. (Bloomberg)

Swiss UBS bankers are peeved at being overlooked for bonuses. (Swissinfo)

Michael Geoghegan got a 300k living cost allowance to ease his relocation to HK. (The Times)

That 300k doesn't include the cost of housing and 'other benefits in kind.' (Guardian)

US Democratic Senators want a 50% bonus tax too. (Financial Times)

Proposed US bonus tax would only kick in above $400k. (Wall Street Journal)

Citi owes a large debt of gratitude to American taxpayers. (Financial Times)

I started this post hoping to find something nice to say about Vikram Pandit. I couldn't find anything. (BaselineScenario)

Robert Walters says people are leaving state banks and that everyone wants to work overseas. (Evening Standard)

Michael Page full year profit down a mere 87%. (Bloomberg)

Ex wife seeks cash after 30 years. (Financial Times)

"Lunch: Filet of baby seal, asparagus. Back on my low-carb diet." (Fake Lucas Van Praag, via Huffington Post)

Hank Paulson's wife is an environmentalist who wears clothes from the early '70s. (Clusterstock)

How to trade in style from your garden shed. (Lifehacker)