Lunchtime Links: The new Lib Dems love in

It was hardly Nixon vs. JFK, but last night's televised debate between the UK's main political party leaders could prove significant for the banking sector - Nick Clegg is now officially more popular.

The Lib Dem leader is enjoying his moment in the limelight, as various polls voted him the overwhelming winner of the clash.

This will create a few mildly sweaty palms in the City. Clegg has already laid out his populist hardline on "obscene" banker bonuses, while the Aberdeen Press & Journal (our essential morning reading) points out that, if they gain power, the Lib Dems could fire UK banking chiefs if strict lending criteria are not met.

Of course, it remains highly unlikely that the Lib Dems will win, but Lord Ashdown's (admittedly biased) view is that the election is now a "three-horsed race".

As the Telegraph points out, bankers are very concerned about this general election - political interference in the financial sector is their chief dread now bonus season is out of the way.

It's not all about Clegg, though - CityAM's panel of financiers and businessmen believes that David Cameron came out on top. No one is championing Gordon Brown, though.

BarCap has poached another Rothschild FIG banker (Reuters)

Deutsche Bank taps BNP Paribas for new rates sales head (Business Week)

Standard Chartered planning China fixed income hiring spree (Bloomberg)

Whoop - RBS could turn a profit! (Bloomberg)

Banks loan losses will peak in 2012 (Alphaville)

FSA punishes aggressive salesmen (Times)

Five banks chosen for mammoth Chinese IPO deal (Financial Times)

Amundi asset managers quit to go it alone (Financial News)

Credit Suisse poaches JP Morgan's Indian i-banking head (Dealbook)

Is Bank of America Merrill Lynch coming good? (Economist)