Macquarie Bank Ltd.’s UK unit has been fined £13 million ($16.3 million) by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) after a metals trader in its London office booked fictitious trades to hide losses for nearly two years.
Key Details
- Trading Misconduct: The unauthorized trades occurred between June 2020 and February 2022, resulting in a loss of $57.8 million for Macquarie when the positions were unwound.
- FCA Actions:
- Macquarie resolved the matter early, qualifying for a 30% discount on the fine.
- The trader involved has been banned from the financial services industry.
- Bank’s Statement:
- The misconduct was isolated to one individual.
- No clients, markets, or third parties were directly affected or benefited financially.
Regulatory Importance
The FCA’s penalty underscores its commitment to maintaining market integrity and ensuring firms implement robust controls to prevent trading misconduct.
Impact on Macquarie
Despite the financial hit, Macquarie emphasized that the activity had no broader implications for clients or market operations, framing the incident as an isolated breach.
This case serves as a reminder of the critical need for stringent internal oversight in financial trading operations
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