As financial firms rebounded last year, Wall Street bonuses for employees in the New York City securities industry went back up by 17% to $20.3bn (€15bn) in 2009, according to a report released today by the New York State comptroller.

That is compared to $17.4bn paid in bonuses in 2008 due to a record $42.6bn loss in the securities industry. The 2008 figure reflected a 47% drop from what was paid in 2007, when securities industry employees received $32.9 bn.