Nomura has hired 200 fixed-income staff in the US and Europe since April, with plans to add at least a further 50 by the end of the year, as the Japanese bank makes a bid to become a major player in the highly profitable market.

Nomura has taken on 90 senior bankers in Europe, including eight managing directors, according to a spokesman, while the US business has grown by 112 so far this year. Headcount for Europe, the MIddle East and Africa stands at about 450, although further hires are planned in distribution and research, potentially pushing the figure closer to 500.