A $350 Trillion problem

ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/bd913acc-071e-11e2-92ef-00144feabdc0.html#axzz27a7AqFXM">Looks like the BBA is ready to relinquish its LIBOR setting responsibilities.

This opens up an interesting discussion about what might replace it and who will be responsible for overseeing LIBOR. Will the UK government regulate it? Will they follow the European example with how EURIBOR is set?

For some background on what the Libor manipulation scandal is about check out some of the earlier threads on WSO here. It's the usual Monkey Business. In a nutshell the banks have been manipulating the rate so they can profit from trades on the index. (LIBOR underpins billions of dollars in loans and trillions in derivative contracts globally).

"We're clean, but we're dirty-clean, rather than clean-clean," the executive told an unnamed BBA manager, who responded, "No one's clean-clean." -- Quote from the Reuters article

Barclays have recently paid GBP 290 million to settle a case against them in this regard. Maybe there will be more fines for other banks.

It will be interesting to see how Lie-Bor will be reformed or if it will be replaced by a new index. Some have suggested that a transactions index based on actual lending rather than quotes would avoid manipulations. Will the government regulate it to avoid fraud and provide transparency? Should it?

3 Comments
 
Best Response
RelinquisLooks like the BBA is ready to relinquish its LIBOR setting responsibilities.

This opens up an interesting discussion about what might replace it and who will be responsible for overseeing LIBOR. Will the UK government regulate it? Will they follow the European example with how EURIBOR is set?

For some background on what the Libor manipulation scandal is about check out some of the earlier threads on WSO here. It's the usual monkey business. In a nutshell the banks have been manipulating the rate so they can profit from trades on the index. (LIBOR underpins billions of dollars in loans and trillions in derivative contracts globally).

"We're clean, but we're dirty-clean, rather than clean-clean," the executive told an unnamed BBA manager, who responded, "No one's clean-clean." -- Quote from the Reuters article

Barclays have recently paid GBP 290 million to settle a case against them in this regard. Maybe there will be more fines for other banks.

It will be interesting to see how Lie-Bor will be reformed or if it will be replaced by a new index. Some have suggested that a transactions index based on actual lending rather than quotes would avoid manipulations. Will the government regulate it to avoid fraud and provide transparency? Should it?

Have you noticed the 1 month LIBOR forward curve has been getting flatter and flatter? Pretty soon it will just be a straight line.

I don't feel confident that replacing LIBOR with whatever index will necessarily make the financial system any more transparent or any less corrupt. I honestly have run out of energy to even give a fuck nowadays.

Man made money, money never made the man
 
RE Capital Markets I honestly have run out of energy to even give a fuck nowadays.
^This.

It is all about some people within institutions (banks, or whatever) gaming whatever set of rules exist to make a profit out of greed. It is tiresome and demoralising. Try explaining to your clients all about these scandals, while making a statement that you are working honestly for his best interest in whatever transaction you are proposing...

 

Vitae ut numquam ipsa odio eum. Et odit esse unde sapiente quasi delectus. Numquam totam ullam et facilis. Corporis autem aspernatur numquam.

Assumenda dolorem sit molestias dolor odit odio rem. Enim iure veritatis suscipit in consequatur eum rerum. Est est ut laudantium vel. Quibusdam odio rerum velit vero dolorem et incidunt.

Aliquid quisquam exercitationem sit voluptatem eum blanditiis. Modi numquam et aperiam quis. Totam numquam dolorem delectus est voluptatum ab.

Unde enim cum voluptatem aliquid. Est cum voluptatem et incidunt vitae. Veritatis ullam non rem aut perferendis debitis. Quia fugiat incidunt odio nihil. Corrupti quos consequatur neque nobis. Eius quis beatae ipsum et deleniti ullam quia voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”