FT Alphaville " So who made the decision, Bob? Staring a political storm in the face, Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond writes to Andrew Tyrie MP, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee. Excuse the lengthy quoting The authorities" findings highlight two major issues, and I want, by way of context for the Committee, to set out for each what the issue was, what Barclays position is, and what we have done and are doing to put things right. It is vital to look at them separately as they are wholly unrelated. The first issue is that Barclays traders attempted to influence the bank's submissions in order to try to benefit their own desks" trading position. This is, of course, wholly inappropriate behaviour. Barclays submissions should reflect the cost of interbank borrowing rather than individual traders" positions. The interventions in question were typically on the short term one and three month rates relevant to the wholesale markets and not the longer term rates used to set, for example, retail mortgages. It is also important to note that these traders had no way of knowing whether or not their actions would ultimately benefit or detriment Barclays overall. They were operating purely for their own benefit. This inappropriate conduct was limited to a small number of people relative to the size of Barclays trading operations, and the authorities found no evidence that anyone more senior than the immediate desk supervisors was aware of the requests by traders, at the time that they were made. Nonetheless, it is clear that the control systems in place at the time were not strong enough and should have been much better. When the trader conduct was first discovered by more senior management, steps were immediately taken to stop it, and it was reported to the authorities. In addition, when the scale of the issue was understood, the bank took steps necessary to strengthen its systems and controls to prevent any repeat. The second issue relates to decisions taken in relation to the LIBOR setting process during the credit crisis. The authorities found that Barclays reduced its LIBOR submissions to protect the reputation of the bank from negative speculation during periods of acute market stress. The unwarranted speculation regarding Barclays liquidity was as a result of its LIBOR submissions being high relative to those of other banks. At the time, Barclays opinion was that those other banks" submissions were too low given market circumstances. To be clear, Barclays encountered no liquidity problems through 2007 and 2008. The inaccurate speculation about potential liquidity problems in the two periods noted created a real and material risk that the bank and its shareholders would suffer damage. It was, as you will recall, a period of extraordinary turbulence and uncertainty. This raised questions for the bank about the integrity of the LIBOR setting process, and various individuals within Barclays raised issues externally about that, including with the British Bankers" Association, Financial Services Authority, Bank of England and US Federal Reserve. Even taking account of the abnormal market conditions at the height of the financial crisis, and that the motivation was to protect the bank, not to influence the ultimate rate, I accept that the decision to lower submissions was wrong. Barclays has co-operated fully with the authorities in their investigations of both of these issues, and the authorities have extensively praised the level and speed of our co-operation. I note, again, that those investigations took place over several years. Over that period, the bank has also taken decisive action to ensure that the LIBOR submission process at Barclays is protected from inappropriate pressure so that the issues highlighted by the authorities cannot be repeated. Here's our question. If the decision was wrong, who made it? Despite having "co-operated fully with the authorities" you seem not to have told them. "The origin of these instructions is unclear," the FSA concluded. Meanwhile the FT's editorial has called for Bob Diamond to go. Click the pic: Related link: Libor affair shows banking's big conceit - Gillian Tett, FT This entry was posted by Joseph Cotterill on Thursday, June 28th, 2012 at 22:59 and is filed under Capital markets, People. Tagged with barclays, bob diamond, UK banks.