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JPMorgan has produced an annual holiday reading list, including bonkbusters such as, When Markets Collide: Investment Strategies for the Age of Global Economic Change. (JPMorgan)

It might be best to cancel your holiday, however. (Guardian)

Recruitment gloom is spreading (Telegraph) and agency jobs are falling at their fastest rate for five years. (Independent)

Deutsche and Lehman predict US markets will soar in the second half – “If they're accurate, I'll give them a big kiss.” (Bloomberg)

Merrill comes closer to selling its Bloomberg stake. (The Times)

RBS sinks on Caz downgrade. (FT Alphaville)

Banking losses may hit $1.6 trillion... (Infectious Greed)

…and UBS and Credit Suisse may need another $68bn. (MarketWatch)

Credit Suisse appoints new UK head of investment banking, trims management and gives local heads control over bonus pool. (Financial Times)

GLG nabs Goldman’s star prop trader. (Wall Street Journal)

“After the initial shock of ‘Holy sh*t, I don’t have a job any more,’ it’s more like ‘Okay, I have some money they paid me; I don’t have to go out and go work at McDonald’s tomorrow.” (Portfolio.com)

This is my last day in the office. Last week, the dealing room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. This week, there is no one left to drop a pin. (WhokilledtheBear.com)