Bank of America Merrill Lynch has made more than 20 hires in equity sales and trading in the US and Europe in recent weeks, as it joins a number of rivals in looking to either consolidate or grow their market share in the business.

The bank has brought in staff from the likes of Barclays, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley, according to people familiar with the situation. The hires follow a number of high-profile exits from its equities business this year, including its head of equities for the Americas, head of Americas cash equity sales and trading, and one top-ranked salesman in London.