Late Lunchtime Links: Bob Diamond must consult his wife about his bonus

Among the things to emerge from this morning's Select Committee appearance by Bob Diamond, was the fact that he may not be master of his own bonus.

In response to one of the many, many questions levelled by the attendant MPs about bonuses, Diamond reportedly said that any decision to decline a bonus if when one's offered, will be taken in consultation with his family, like last year.

Diamond's immediate family reportedly comprises his wife of 24 years, Jennifer, and three children: the eponymously named Robert, Nell and Charlie. It seems likely that Jennifer will have the largest say.

The influence of Diamond's wife comes to light after it emerged that George Osborne's ostentatious and controversial skiing trip last week may have been the work of his wife, Frances.

According to Evening Standard editor Sarah Sands, writing in the Financial Times at the weekend, Frances felt she was due a big payback after being obliged to fly EasyJet for the sake of appearances last summer.

Separately, Diamond said he was committed to keeping Barclays HQ in London - even if the banking commission recommends the separation of retail and wholesale banks - but made no mention of keeping BarCap here.

Diamond said that the "period of remorse and apology" for banks needs to be over and the City should be allowed to move on. (Financial Times)

MP: "Why do you have to pay these obscene bonuses to these self-styled masters of the universe when you're paying them a very decent remuneration in the first place?"

DIAMOND: "We're competing with Goldman Sachs, with Deutsche Bank, with JP Morgan." (Financial Times)

Barclays was one of the top gainers among the FTSE 100, up 4.4%. (Guardian)

"We've made a broad statement which is about the need to see some restraint and some responsibility from the banks, but we are not going to set bonus pools for individual banks," the prime minister's spokesman said. (Guardian)

There is another round of meetings between Vince Cable, George Osborne and the bank bosses starting next week but it is focusing on transparency and lending. (Channel 4 Blogs)

We may still learn the rewards enjoyed by the top five earners in each institution. (Guardian)

Bob Crow: "My advice to any worker told they should take a pay freeze or a pay cut this year is to point to the bankers, stand firm and demand a fair deal. That is exactly what RMT will be doing." (Bloomberg)

Miliband calls for a repeat of the bonus tax. (Financial Times)

A survey last year found that 2,800 bankers received 1 million or more as a bonus. (Telegraph)

"Almost no amount [of reduction] will satisfy the public," said one source, who confirmed that the Government had all but given up trying to reduce the bonus pool of the non-nationalised banks. (The Times)

Morgan Stanley is struggling to prove its new model works. (Bloomberg)

Morgan Stanley to spin off its last big prop trading desk, despite an 'enviable track record.' (Financial Times)

Goldman Sachs to reveal how it makes its money. (Telegraph)

From now on, traders and brokers will be barred for 30 days from writing anything "expressing a view" about a deal or client for which Goldman is the underwriter. But those employees still will be allowed to communicate orally about the company's deals. (WSJ)

Credit Suisse has become the first bank to force its staff to make compulsory charitable donations, with several hundred US (only) managing directors directed to give 2.5% of their 2010 bonuses to good causes. (Financial Times)

Bank staff who were reluctant to move jobs during the financial crisis have become more willing to switch employers, according to Michael Page International. (Financial Times)

How to discern someone's personality from the words they use. (Physorg)

Wikipedia says that as a youth Bob Diamond helped Terry Gilliam cut out photographs for Monty Python animations. (Financial Times)