Lunchtime Links: Fret not, banks are happy to buyout bonuses

With ongoing talk of hiring freezes and redundancies (Man Group is planning 200 job cuts, Macquarie is being urged to make more), the financial sector could do with some news to lift the gloom.

So, first there's the fact that Deutsche's investment bank now appears to be paying more than Goldman, as it reaps the benefits of being a FICC flow monster.

Now, it appears banks are offering to buyout both cash and deferred stock components of this year's bonuses as they look to get the best people on board before Christmas, according to the Guardian.

The assertion comes from research by recruiter Astbury Marsden, which says buyouts are four times more likely than at this point last year. New recruits are paid cash upfront (typically 40% of total comp) and then offered the remainder in the form of new shares and options, it says.

Jonathan Nicholson, managing director at Astbury Marsden, said: "Banks are now prepared to buy out 100% of a potential employee's shares or options they have locked up with their current employer."

Admittedly, this all seems a little unlikely with costs at some banks already appearing unsustainably high and redundancy announcements becoming increasingly frequent. And, if true, it's not particularly responsible considering the ongoing governmental calls for banks to show restraint on bonus payments.

Still, at least it also demonstrates that banks have an appetite to hire going into 2011.

Those prop trader redundancies were just sacrificial lambs as banks find ways to exploit Volcker loopholes (Dealbook)

The City's changing skyline (Financial Times)

Todd Combs' bedtime reading (Deal Journal)

Google staff now have servants (Business Insider)

ANZ expanding in Asia (Financial Times)

BlueCrest to shut down Ucits fund (Financial Times)

AIB turns to ex-HSBC man Hodgkinson (Times)

Banks need to reduce their reliance on credit rating agencies ( NY Times)

Interning with passionless, cig-smoking RBS employees inspired student to pursue waffle dream...( Dealbreaker)