Lunchtime Links: Is Société Générale emerging as the big hirer of 2010?

The answer is, probably not, but it's certainly doing some hiring.

As we noted last week, SocGen has recruited 12 M&A bankers in recent months. Today it added another one, in the form of a head of M&A for Italy. And it reportedly wants to bring on at least six ECM bankers by this summer. It's also planning to increase its Asian fixed income team by 10%.

Unfortunately, this doesn't quite put SocGen on a par with Barclays Capital, which ingested 2,000 people last year, and is now winding its hiring spree down. A 10% increase in SocGen's Asian research team involves the addition of a mere three people.

Michael Page says banks are hiring twice as many staff as this time last year. (The Times)

ICAP may close its equity business, making 200 people redundant, unless it finds a buyer soon. (BusinessWeek)

Senior Citigroup FIG banker is joining Morgan Stanley. (Reuters)

Another Morgan Stanley trader is joining a hedge fund. (Wall Street Journal)

UBS hires new head of German private banking from Goldman Sachs. (CapitalIQ)

These four people laid off during the financial crisis haven't found new banking jobs yet. (CNBC)

Professionals based in Geneva and Frankfurt currently pay 60k and 80k more tax than someone based in London. This won't be the case after April. (Wealth Bulletin)

Nomura chairman: London's strong "soft infrastructure" of lawyers, accountants and consultants, along with its English- language advantage, will protect it from competition (if taxes aren't too high). (Financial Times)

John Hourican is getting 5.9m of shares from RBS. (Financial Times)

RBS has joined the queue for a securities licence in China. (Financial Times)

Last desperate push to tone down hedge fund rules. (Independent)

Volcker: if banks' trading activities aren't limited, they'll turn into hedge funds. (Reuters)

When the day is over, it's important to shut down the computer and not look at it. (Wall Street Journal)

Part warrior, part banker. (CNN)

Erin Callan has retired to a seaside house with a fireman. (Fortune)