Nomura Holdings Inc. and Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased hiring of university graduates this year as a stock market rally brightens prospects for the nation's biggest securities firms.
Nomura recruited 600 graduates for its main brokerage arm, a 20 percent increase from last year, while Daiwa boosted its intake by 24 percent to 758. SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. hired about 600, up 16 percent. The new hires are scheduled to start work on April 1, spokesmen for the companies said.
SMBC Nikko and Nomura took on more graduates than they had initially planned to secure talent as Japan's labor market tightens and the equity market reaches a 15-year high. Stockbrokers are expected to need staff to cater to individuals who are likely to follow institutional investors and buy more equities, said recruiter Katsunobu Komizo.