CMA reaches settlement with banks in competition case related to UK gilts
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and each of four banks (Citi, HSBC, Morgan Stanley and Royal Bank of Canada) have agreed to settle cases related to UK government bonds, known as gilts. The CMA provisionally found that the four banks and Deutsche Bank, each unlawfully shared competitively sensitive information by participating in one or more series of one-to-one conversations in chatrooms at varying times between 2009 and 2013. Citi, HSBC, Morgan Stanley and Royal Bank of Canada will pay fines totalling over £100 million. Deutsche Bank has immunity for reporting its conduct during that period.