Barclays shares dip as latest probe hits bank

Shares in Barclays fell in early trading as investors were once again forced to deal with another potential scandal at the bank, following confirmation the SFO is investigating deals it made during the credit crisis.

Barclays confirmed this morning that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is now investigating the Middle East fundraising it carried out in 2008, and shares fell in response. Barclays secured £4.5bn from Qatar's Sovereign Wealth fund as part of an effort to shore up its capital base in 2008, and a further £7.1bn from Qatar, Abu Dhabi and others followed later that year. The bank's shares were down 1.6%, or 3.05p, in early trading at 183.3p, before regaining ground to stand 0.9% down at 184.7p by mid-morning. The paring of losses mirrored the performance of the FTSE 100, which stood down...