Lunchtime Links: "I can promise you that everyone is looking at volumes very nervously"

A little bit more gloom to match this delightful British summer's day, courtesy of the Financial Times, which suggests paranoia over job security has returned to banks' trading desks.

It's a rather evident conclusion that, having beefed up trading desks in the first quarter of this year when volumes unexpectedly recovered at the end of 2009, reduced activity and muted revenues in Q2 2010 means many banks are re-considering the wisdom of this aggressive hiring spree.

One head of European equities in London has said: "I can promise you that everyone is looking at volumes very nervously."

Mike Hammond, global co-head of markets at Unicredit, is a little less circumspect about a possible need to pare back staff numbers: "I'd agree that some institutions did over-hire and inevitably as the volumes have slowed it is natural that some will rethink their strategy."

On the plus side, banks are still recruiting for risk roles, suggests the article.

Gartmore looks to hire banks' prop traders for hedge fund unit (Wall Street Journal)

How Goldman traders wind down for the weekend (Clusterstock)

Deutsche hires head of new Asia strategy team (Bloomberg)

Blackstone chief apologises for Nazi comments (Guardian)

Lloyds Banking Group has a new head of resourcing (Recruiter)

Cargill has recruited a team as it looks to re-enter base metal trading (Financial Times)

"He has a size 14 foot. He steps down on her breast hard, and then he pumped his fists in the air as if to say, 'Look, I'm the man.'" (Gothamist)

Bank of England's Andrew Haldane outlines need for radical regulatory approach (Financial News)

RBS move hints at return to securitisation techniques (Financial Times)

Barclays Wealth has hired three senior private bankers (and other people moves from Reuters)