Diamond turns down £20m payoff - Alert
10th Jul 2012 09:48
Barclays' former Chief Executive Bob Diamond has turned down a £20m severance package, according to the bank's Chairman. Diamond quit the bank over the LIBOR fixing scandal, which saw Barclays' traders seek to manipulate inter-bank lending rates. Chairman Marcus Agius told MPs on the Treasury Sele
Read moreFed concerned about LIBOR issues back in 2007
10th Jul 2012 09:26
The US Federal Reserve showed concerns about LIBOR issues as early as 2007 and even began a shoulder-to-shoulder analysis with Barclays in 2008 that ended in reform recommendations to UK authorities, according to a report today by Reuters. According to the news agency, a New York Fed spokesperson s
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Spain, Tucker, Pensions
10th Jul 2012 07:03
IMF chief Christine Lagarde said signs of increased protectionism amid deteriorating global economic conditions were "alarming", and warned such measures affect everyone. "The latest report by the WTO [World Trade Organization] is quite alarming because there is a rise of protectionism," she said at
Read moreTucker to face MPs
9th Jul 2012 11:00
The Bank of England's deputy governor Paul Tucker will face MPs today over his role in the LIBOR fixing scandal, which led to the resignation of Barclays' Chief Executive Bob Diamond. After Diamond escaped the Treasury Select Committee last week having revealed virtually nothing new, expectations o
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Greece, Barclays, Italy
8th Jul 2012 17:40
The new Greek Prime Minister vowed last night to get the country out of the "dead end" created by austerity policies dictated by Europe. Antonis Samaras, outlining his coalition's programme to Parliament, confirmed that the country was not on track to meet the targets set by its international credit
Read moreSFO officially launches investigation into LIBOR
6th Jul 2012 15:27
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) confirmed on Friday that it has officially launched a criminal investigation into the now infamous LIBOR scandal involving Barclays. Prior to this point the SFO had only said that it was considering whether there was a case to bring a prosecution. On June 27th the
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aviva leaps after Delta Lloyd sale plans
6th Jul 2012 13:39
Having promised on Thursday that it would raise money from disposals, insurance giant Aviva moved quickly to act on that pledge by saying it will sell more of its stake in Delta Lloyd than originally intended, prompting a sharp rise in its share price. Also providing a lift was Societe Generale whic
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall as investors shrug off central bank action
6th Jul 2012 11:37
- Markets look ahead to US jobs report - Investors shrug off central bank action - Aviva jumps on Delta Lloyds disposal The Footsie was trading within a narrow range on Friday morning as investors showed caution ahead of a pivotal employment report due out in the US in the coming hours. Stocks o
Read moreFriday broker round-up
6th Jul 2012 09:35
Aviva: SocGen upgrades to hold from sell. Aberdeen: UBS cuts target from 310p to 300p, buy rating unchanged. Associated British Foods: Nomura raises target from 1,375p to 1,400p, buy recommendation unchanged. AstraZeneca: Jefferies downgrades from buy to hold, target left at 2,975p. AVEVA: Beren
Read moreLondon open: Markets cautious ahead of US jobs report
6th Jul 2012 08:56
- Markets look ahead to US jobs report - Investors shrug off central bank action - Aviva jumps on Delta Lloyds disposal Following a subdued reaction to central bank policy decisions yesterday, European markets were lower in early trading on Friday as investors looked ahead to key employment data in
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Sinners, BP, North Sea
6th Jul 2012 07:12
A group of 172 leading economists have written an open letter to Angela Merkel warning her that her decision to agree to allow Eurozone bail-out funds to support sinner states was "wrong". The economists, who included Hans-Werner Sinn, head of Ifo, the influential think tank, argued that the German
Read moreLondon close: Stocks edge higher as markets digest central bank action
5th Jul 2012 16:38
- BoE ups QE; ECB and PBoC cut rates - Concerns over Chinese growth dampen sentiment - GKN rockets after acquisition, trading update, placing After a subdued morning, markets were choppy in afternoon trade on Thursday as investors took in major policy decisions by central banks in the UK, Europe an
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: GKN leaps into the top spot after acquisition
5th Jul 2012 13:15
Shares in GKN rocketed after the announcement of its acquisition of Volvo Aero for 633m pounds. To help fund the deal GKN aims to place £140m of new shares with institutional investors, with the rest of the money coming from new debt facilities. Investec reiterated its 'buy' recommendation for the
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks edge higher as BoE ups QE
5th Jul 2012 11:35
- BoE increases QE, maintains Bank Rate - ECB expected to cut refi rate to 0.75 per cent - GKN jumps higher after 633m-pound Volvo Aero purchase The Footsie was registering moderate gains in morning trade on Thursday as investors hoped that the Bank of England would inject more stimulus into the su
Read moreMoody's cuts Barclays rating outlook to negative
5th Jul 2012 09:17
Ratings agency Moody's has changed its outlook for Barclays's standalone bank financial strength rating (BFSR), currently at C-/baa2, to negative from stable. The A2 senior debt and deposits rating had already been lowered to a negative outlook due to expectations that the UK will reduce its supp
Read more