One of the areas of the market hardest hit by reduced volatility in 2013 and 2014 is seeing a sustained rebound, leading to an increase in hiring activity.

Trading of government bonds and interest rate swaps has increased sharply through the first half of the year, with several US banks last week citing stronger second-quarter revenues for the business, following similar performances in the first three months of 2015. That pick-up in activity has led to increased hiring, with several banks making moves in the space in recent weeks.