Cantor Fitzgerald, the inter-dealer broker, is understood to be offering upfront payments of up to £100,000 (&euro160,000) to poach staff away from rival broking firms, such as Prebon Yamani, as it rebuilds its London business in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in New York.

The broker, which lost 700 of its staff in the World Trade Center devastation, is said to be considering whether it should revive takeover talks with Tullett & Tokyo, one of its rivals in the broking market.