Proof at last that life has returned to the recruitment markets and that second-tier players are back doing what they do best: paying exorbitant sums for second-tier players to make second-tier money.

The word on the trading floor at Crédit Agricole is that a junior to middling derivatives trader in Paris was recently offered a job in London by a North American bank. The offer immediately tripled his package. The trader checked with his wife, who has a well-established career in Paris, about moving to London. Obviously, she said no. He went back and politely rejected the offer. The bank came back the following day with an increase: perhaps we could pay your wife's salary as well.