Late Lunchtime Links: Yes, big hiring appears to have begun

We've had suspicions for a few days. Today they are vindicated: big hiring is now ON.

Hence various banks are bulking up with all manner of senior people. First we had the UBS prime brokers going to Bank of America, now we have:

· BAML hiring Pasquale Cataldi from Deutsche Bank as its head of European government bond and swaps trading. (Financial News)

· Citigroup hiring a new chairman of its global energy business from Standard Chartered.

· Goldman Sachs hiring Alexandra Merz, formerly head of energy sales for EMEA at JP Morgan. JPMorgan.

· Lots of people leaving BAML's commodities team for destinations unknown.

Based on the principal that only a very small proportion of people moves get publicised and that that proportion mostly involves very senior people, we deduce from this that the post-bonus exodus has begun.

Apart from that, today was UK budget day. George Osborne is reducing corporation tax, but not for banks. He's also increasing charges on non doms, but promises it will be the last time he does this for a while.

Non doms who spend more than 12 years in the UK must start paying 50k a year for the privilege. (IFAOnline)

Budget 2011: time to halt the advance of the filthy rich. (Guardian)

"Many people would be very surprised to learn that the in-flight experience in a private jet is dominated by Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, not Cristal champagne and caviar." (Financial Times)

Christine Lagarde says banker bashing is futile. (Dealbook)

Jamie Dimon is paying $20bn in a quest for M&A dominance. (BusinessWeek)

Jefferies chairman says he likes people who started their career at a firm like DLJ, Salomon Brothers or the old Lehman. (Financial Times)

Jeremy Isaacs still feels, 'deep sadness' over Lehman Brothers. (The Times)

Man Group sells BlueCrest Capital to itself for $633 million. (Moneyistheway)