U.S. considering criminal charges in Libor case: NY Times

Numerous people have asked me to comment on the LIBOR rate-rigging scandal. I have not done so previously because I had little to add. Zerohedge has done a fine job breaking every story. So have others.  I prefer to comment when I have an edge of some kind: a different angle, a different source, or if I can offer a more comprehensive analysis than other writers. As pertains to LIBOR, I still have no earth-shattering reports or breaking news. Rather, I am commenting because of repeated questions as to where I stand on the story.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group saw 1.3-billion pounds (US$2.1-billion) wiped off its value on Tuesday following a report that it could face criminal charges as part of an impending settlement over its role in a global interest rate rigging scandal. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. authorities were pushing RBS to accept criminal charges as part of a settlement which will see it fined up to 500-million pounds for the attempted manipulation of the London interbank lending rate (Libor) and other benchmark interest rates.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Now that a $4 billion plea deal has resolved BP's criminal liability for the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill nearly three years ago, the company will turn its focus to a trial that could potentially cost it billions of dollars more in civil penalties.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s biggest retailer, said it’s investigating how it got a license for a store in Mexico as the New York Times reported its local unit bribed an official to change a zoning map.

Once again the question raises itself: what is the point of filing criminal charges against a bank — not a bank’s executives or employees, but the bank itself? The WSJ today says that the US wants RBS to plead guilty to such charges, in addition to paying the inevitable fine over Libor fixing.