Some of Europe's biggest banks increased corporate and investment banking staff numbers by 11.5%, or more than 8,000, last year through aggressive hiring and acquisitions.

ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale and UBS employed 77,505 investment banking staff globally at the end of 2006, 8,035 more than on December 31, 2005, according to their company reports.