Tag Archives: jp morgan

LIBOR: Too Big to Fail interest rate fixing investigation focusing on Japan’s TIBOR. EU officials been investigating quitely since last year! Bigger than first told, ever hear of EURIBOR? More proof the bad economy is the fault of the Too Big to Fails!

 “The story is quite shocking and brings us back to the banking industry’s most irresponsible behavior of the past!”– Joaquin Almunia, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Commissioner responsible for competition

14 July 2012, a top European Union official has admitted that the recent LIBOR scandal involving top British & U.S. banks, also involves top Japaneses and European banks, and government officials knew about it.

LIBOR, or London Interbank Offered Rate, is an interest rate charged to other banks, and is done on behalf of the British Bankers’ Association in London, England, U.K.

As of 2008 there were 60 international banks, including U.S. banks, beholden to the LIBOR.

Japan has their own version called TIBOR (Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate). The European Union has their version called EURIBOR (Euro Interbank Offered Rate).

EURIBOR is based in Belgium and involves at least 43 international banks.

EU Vice President, Joaquin Almunia, says his investigation into international interest rate fixing, as well as currency value fixing, began last year. It’s starting to look like the Too Big to Fails formed illegal cartels to favor a few and screw over the rest of us: “The alleged rate rigging is a major competition concern. This is why we started investigating a number of banks last year for their possible concerted manipulation of (interest rate) benchmarks such as LIBOR, EURIBOR and TIBOR, the Tokyo rate, for several currencies. The investigations have top priority because this sort of collusion can seriously harm competition worldwide and on our continent, in particular.”

In Japan the TIBOR scandal is making waves.  On 06 July 2012, it was revealed that in June the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) pulled out of TIBOR.  RBS is one of the banks under investigation.

UBS and Citigroup also withdrew from TIBOR earlier this year. They are also suspects.  As of 06 July there were three non-Japanese banks still involved with TIBOR; JP Morgan, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank.

On 13 July, it was reported in the Japanese news media that the Japanese Bankers Association began investigating how interest rates and currency manipulations are arrived at by TIBOR.

It was also revealed that Japan’s Financial Services Agency fined Citigroup and UBS for such manipulations, last year!  Japanese officials are saying that there’s no proof (so far) that Japanese banks were directly involved in illegal activities.

However, a top Japanese bank has put their London, U.K., employees on notice.  Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ has essentially put its two currency traders in London under house arrest!  The reason is that they are suspected of involvement in the British based LIBOR scandal.

Since last year, the number of Too Big to Fail banks being investigated has grown to several dozen! The scandal involves banks in North America, Europe and Japan (the regional members of the Trilateral Commission).

Check my blog for other LIBOR reports.

 

 

What Economic Recovery? Jefferson County, Alabama, makes largest bankruptcy claim in U.S. history! Thank you JP Morgan Chase.

“Despite the county’s best efforts, these negotiations have not produced a deal that fairly treats the county and its citizens, and there is no reason to believe that further out of court negotiations will lead to a fair, acceptable result.”-David Carrington, County Commission President

On November 10, Jefferson County, in Alabama, filed the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.  They can’t pay back a loan from JP Morgan Chase of U.S.$3 billion, used to upgrade the county sewer system.

Just like many business owners and individuals have tried, the county was trying to negotiate for a new loan.  At the last minute (again, small business owners, construction contractors and individuals have experienced this) the finance industry changed its mind.

The failed negotiations put all other county services at risk of being shut down, so they had no choice but to file bankruptcy.  It’s not just the county that’ll be affected: “Bankruptcy will negatively impact not only the Birmingham region, but also the entire state.”-Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama

Amazingly, JP Morgan Chase says the $3 billion bankruptcy will not negatively affect them financially!

Jefferson County, Alabama, is part of a growing trend of municipalities going bankrupt.  Since 2010 seven U.S. cities and towns have gone officially bust.