investment banks

Banks are ignoring the risk of fraud committed by their own employees despite investment in anti-fraud systems, accountancy firm BDO has warned.

Reckless bank chiefs who damage the economy could face jail sentences under new measures under consideration by the government.

Spanish banks will be required to find another €50bn in provisions to make up for ‘bad property assets' as the government carries out further reforms on the financial sector.

UniCredit has seen its shares suspended for the second time after they plunged almost 10% as it unveiled the price of a €7.5bn (£6.3bn) rights issue.

Actions taken by the European Central Bank this week, combined with the EU's efforts to sign a new treaty, have made it too risky to be underweight bank bonds in Europe, Kames Capital's fixed income team has said.

Leading fund managers, including L&G and Jupiter, have stepped up their attack against huge pay rises at the UK's biggest banks.

Negative market sentiment should not deter investors in US banks, said Ryan Brist, head of US investment grade credit at Legg Mason subsidiary Western Asset Management.

George Osborne's Autumn Statement today has revealed a further increase to the levy on bank borrowing in the UK while he ruled out plans for a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT).

Neptune's Rob Burnett is eyeing European banks for his equity portfolio as he believes the sector will be supported by full fiscal union - an option he thinks is becoming increasingly likely to rescue Europe from its debt crisis.

Shares in HSBC were down over 5% mid-morning after a trading update revealed underlying pre-tax profits fell from $4.6bn (£2.86bn) in Q3 2010 to $3bn for the same period this year.