Southpaw: Banks step up quest for top talent for Asia

Investment banking fee pools in Asia have doubled this year — good news for Western investment banks that are locked in a talent battle to gain the upper hand in a war for market share. But they had reckoned without local banks making the biggest strides in 2010, while reduced levels of deal activity following recent market volatility will prove a test of their patience. Not everyone can win, says David Rothnie.