UBS has hired almost 1,000 bankers and traders this year, more than doubling its hiring from a year ago. [Financial News] Deal flow and investment in emerging markets are causing compensation to rise in countries such as Brazil. [FT] Wall Street hopes that last week's General Motors stock offering boosts the IPO market as the year comes to a close. [WSJ] MBA career counselors are increasingly resembling headhunters, as graduate schools increase their... Read more

Fixed income trading isn’t necessarily seen as the sexier side of trading. For the most part, fixed income guys and gals haven’t seen bonuses on par with those on the equity side of the game. But right now, as stock market volume and inflows stagnate and money pours into bonds, the market for fixed-income traders is looking up. A number of the smaller shops, as well as many of the... Read more

Wall Street firms are miffed at potential bonus limits imposed by the U.K.'s chief regulator. [Bloomberg] The rebound in mergers and acquisitions is expected to strengthen next year,with global deal activity rising an estimated 36 percent, to $3.04 trillion. [Dealbook Broker dealer BTIG continues to expand in high yield and distressed debt. [Businesswire] M&A activity in Canada could surge due to deal flow in renewable energy. [Canada Newswire] Brok... Read more

Hedge fund bonuses could rise 5 percent this year, according to a new report. [HedgeFund.net] Wells Fargo has launched a hedge fund and private equity administration service, and is adding staff in accounting and portfolio servicing. [Marketwatch] Standard Chartered could increase headcount in derivatives and sales by 10 percent next year to manage opportunities in commodities. [Bloomberg] MBA talent is once again in demand, with placement rates bouncing back from recession lows. But... Read more

Wall Street compensation is holding steady, despite the impact of lower trading volumes and new regulations on profits. [NYT Dealbook] Still, Goldman Sachs has cut average compensation by more than 25 percent this year, a bell weather for Wall Street trader pay. [Bloomberg] Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China's largest lender, has entered the brokerage business in the U.S., a sign that Chinese financial institutions are expanding globally. [Financial News] Bank of... Read more

While the once hot market for fixed income jobs has lost its spark, high yield trading is on the uptick. But is it a good time to flock to this side of the business? Given its boom and bust nature, it's hard to say how long the ride will last. There’s certainly a whiff of desperation to start up desks, but don’t move from a choice spot on the lure... Read more

Regional Chinese Banks Expand Into First-Tier Cities Foreign banks are eager to set up branches in second and third-tier cities, but Chinese regional banks are doing the opposite: expanding into larger cities, such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou - creating job opportunities at all levels. [Singapore] Private Banking: Demand rises, Talent-Supply Doesn't Private banking is a growth area in Asia, and the view is that the Japanese market is there for the taking,... Read more

We've all been there; having found the key person in the business to speak to about a possible job in your area of expertise, you fire up for a cold call in an attempt to sell yourself. Unfortunately, rather than the man himself, you end up having to try and persuade his assistant you're worthy of his attentions. For obvious reasons, both senior figures in recruitment and within the business are... Read more

Despite a slew of bad news on bonuses and hiring, pay on Wall Street could reach an all-time high for the second straight year. [WSJ] Citigroup plans to hire 7,500 staff in China over the next three years and add commodities traders and private bankers in North America. [Bloomberg] Morgan Stanley fired a software developer after he allegedly violated the firm's code of conduct when a subway conversation led to an ill-advised... Read more

M&A activity among U.S. banks could spike next year as the financial crisis and continued bank failures bring more consolidation to the industry. [Reuters via International Business Times] Bankers in Europe could see their compensation curtailed by regulators, with bonuses capped based on links between performance and risk. [FT] Hiring in London’s financial services industry may soon come to a halt, according to a report by the Centre for Economics and Business... Read more

Bank of America Corp is eliminating 20-30 prop trading jobs to meet Volcker rule limits. [Businessweek] Business students are shifting gears, relocating to new countries and chasing new sectors.[CNN] Financial services hiring is expected to rise in Australia based on a survey of recruiters. [International Business Times] Executive M.B.A. programs are hiring career coaches to meet increasingly complex needs of students. [WSJ] Law firm diversity hiring is do... Read more

Prop traders at JPMorgan Chase are moving into a new alternative investments unit in the firm's asset management business. [Finalternatives via Dealbreaker] Avenue Capital joined several other firms in courting Goldman Sachs' prop traders. [Bloomberg] D.E. Shaw has laid off 150 employees, or 10 percent of its workforce, amidst increasing client redemptions. [Bloomberg] JPMorgan Chase will triple private banking assets in Asia, and increase the number of financial advisors it has in the... Read more

Morgan Stanley is freezing hiring in investment banking for the rest of the year. [Bloomberg] Boutique bank Moelis & Co is expanding in asset management after acquiring Gracie Credit. [WSJ] Credit Suisse is launching a new loan product in India as it grows its wealth management business there. [The Financial] Ernst & Young is using social media to attract new people and plans to fill 6,000 intern and entry-level positions this year. [<a... Read more

The $30 million package given to ex-UBS energy banker Stephen Tauber by Citigroup is a sign the bank is distancing from government aid. [Dealbook via WSJ] Commerzbank plan to cut 1,650 more investment banking jobs as part of consolidation following its acquisition of Dresdner Bank. [Bloomberg] B-school graduates in India will soon be subject to testing as part of the job application process at many large firms. [Businessweek] British private equity firm 3i... Read more

Ivy league athletes at schools are leveraging their alumni networks to land Wall Street jobs. See? networking's not just theory. [Bloomberg] HSBC chief executive Michael Geoghegan is threatening to resign if he isn't named chairman at the bank. [Reuters] Pension funds are criticizing the pay package given to new Barclay's chief Bob Diamond [Daily Mail] The UK's Financial Services Authority must hire more than 100 people a month in order to hit recruiting... Read more

Morgan Stanley hired four financial advisers, overseeing $443 million in assets, in its New York office. [Reuters] Barclays named David Lewis as head of its Americas banking unit, where he'll oversee expansion of the bank's regional banking products and services over 14 offices. [PR Newswire] Merrill Lynch Wealth Management hired David Barnett, a financial adviser managing $180 million in assets, from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. [WSJ] Credit Suisse's Canadian unit hired Scott Fromson... Read more

Bank of America is eliminating several hundred positions in global banking and markets. The cuts equal less than 5 percent of the unit's workforce, and those affected will be informed later this week. [Charlotte Observer] The FDIC said pay at U.S. banks may be scrutinized sooner than at foreign ones as new capital requirements are imposed. [Reuters] Twenty percent of hedge funds globally may close during the first quarter, accoring to Merrill... Read more

Poor third quarter forecasts at the largest U.S. banks have renewed fears that job losses are looming. [FT] Dexia plans to eliminate nearly 700 jobs as part of a cost cutting move. [WSJ] Broker Securities America Financial Corp. will take on 45 reps managing $500 million in assets from defunct broker-dealer Equitas Financial Advisors Inc. [Investment News] Lawyers for Morgan Stanley say that the bank should not be liable for damages as a... Read more

Private equity executives admit they face lower fees and consolidation as the tough fundraising environment leads to better terms for investors in their battle for more power over private equity firms. [Financial News] Credit Suisse acquired a stake in hedge fund York Capital Management, strengthening its position in alternative investments. [WSJ] Man Group is building its North American institutional and private client businesses in the U.S., hiring four people for its sales... Read more

Bank of America appointed former hedge-fund manager Mike Lyons to a corporate strategy and planning post to help it decide which businesses to sell. [Bloomberg] Citigroup hired London hedge fund manager Roger Bacon to lead Asia-Pacific operations for its private bank. [Finalternatives] UBS Wealth Management named Alexander Kobler to Asia-Pacific head of investment products and services. [FinanceAsia] Goldman Sachs named Brett Olsher as a partner / managing director and co-head of the natural... Read more