Three former ICAP brokers have US Libor charges dropped July 7, 2016 The US Department of Justice has dropped charges against three former ICAP brokers charged with Libor manipulation offences after they were acquitted in the UK. Darrell Read, Daniel Wilkinson and Colin Goodman, who were acquitted in the UK in January, had their charges dropped in a filing in the Manhattan federal court made public on Wednesday. [...]
Switzerland’s banks looking to build ties with Britain ahead of EU negotiations July 7, 2016 Switzerland's banking sector hopes to build a coalition with other international financial centres, including Britain, in order to help with negotiations around access to European Union markets. Banks based in Britain have been able to sell financial services freely across the EU under the bloc's "passporting" system, but this access could be lost after the vote to [...]
Barclays, Clydesdale, HSBC, Lloyds, Santander and Nationwide Building Society all downgraded by Standard & Poor’s over Brexit fears July 7, 2016 Six UK banks have been downgraded by Standard & Poor's (S&P) over concerns about risks arising out of the recent vote to leave the EU. Barclays, Clydesdale, HSBC, Lloyds, Santander UK and Nationwide Building Society have all seen their outlooks revised to negative by the ratings agency. S&P also revised its outlook on the Royal Bank of Scotland [...]
Four ex-Barclays bankers sentenced for roles in Libor rate-rigging scandal July 7, 2016 Four ex-Barclays bankers have today been given prison sentences totalling 17 years between them for their roles in the Libor-rigging scandal. Former bankers Jay Merchant, 45, Alex Pabon, 38, and Jonathan Mathew, 35, were sentenced to six and a half years, two years and nine months and four years respectively after having been found guilty of conspiracy to defraud. [...]
French government woos London bankers with tax proposals July 6, 2016 French may well be the language of love for London’s worried bankers, after France's Prime Minister yesterday promised more favourable tax terms for expats. Many in the financial sector have been concerned that London could lose its passporting rights – and, with them, rights to do business with the EU member states – as part of [...]
New European financial services commissioner reminds everybody that Italian banks’ woes pre-date Brexit vote July 6, 2016 The issues with Italy's banking industry do not stem solely from the Brexit vote, the new European financial services commissioner said today. Speaking in front of the European Parliament's committee on economic and monetary affairs, Valdis Dombrovskis remarked that many of the problems that Italy's banks were currently struggling with were in place long before the UK's decision to leave [...]
Royal Bank of Scotland chair hints Brexit turmoil will delay government sale July 6, 2016 The boss of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has predicted it will be some time before the government can start to sell off its shares in the bank. Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the lender, which is 73 per cent taxpayer-owned, told the BBC it was “realistic” to think the government will have delayed its plans [...]
Henderson becomes fourth firm to close commercial property fund July 6, 2016 Henderson Global Investors has suspended trading in its commercial property funds, the latest in a series of closures as companies combat investor panic. The company said it has temporarily suspended all trading in the Henderson UK Property PAIF and the Henderson UK Property PAIF Feeder Fund to "safeguard the interests of all investors". "Despite a strong underlying portfolio, the [...]
Fraud squad calls for retrial for two ex-Barclays traders for Libor-rigging offences July 6, 2016 The fraud squad has today announced it is seeking a retrial for two ex-Barclays traders accused of Libor-rigging offences. Stylianos Contogoulas, 44, and Ryan Reich, 34, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud in relation to manipulating US-dollar linked Libor between June 2005 and September 2007. The pair previously stood trial for the offence, but [...]
Sterling falls to a 31-year low while gold jumps amid ongoing Brexit concerns July 6, 2016 The British pound fell to fresh 31-year lows against the dollar and multi-year lows against a host of other currencies this morning. After closing two per cent lower at $1.3022 yesterday, it hurtled to break through the $1.30 barrier again this morning for the first time since 1985. It hit a new low of $1.2798, though [...]