Nomura is looking to increase headcount in the US by as much as 40% as part of its goal to become a globally competitive investment bank, said Takeo Sumino, its new US chief operating officer.

The expansion plans come as Nomura was yesterday reappointed as a US primary dealer for the Treasury market – a sector it decided to leave in 2007.

Japan’s largest investment bank closed its US residential mortgage-backed securities business and slashed its US fixed income operations after suffering huge losses in 2007.

Financial Times