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RBS reserves £400m for currency probe RBS reserves £400m for currency probe
(35 minutes later)
Royal Bank of Scotland has set aside £400m to cover the cost of investigating possible manipulation of the foreign exchange market. Royal Bank of Scotland has set aside £400m to cover potential costs from an investigation into alleged manipulation of the foreign exchange market.
The provision, revealed in its third quarter results, follows Barclays' decision to set aside £500m.The provision, revealed in its third quarter results, follows Barclays' decision to set aside £500m.
Pre-tax profit at RBS came in at £1.27bn - up £260m on the previous quarter and far better than the £634m loss in the same period last year.Pre-tax profit at RBS came in at £1.27bn - up £260m on the previous quarter and far better than the £634m loss in the same period last year.
RBS also said that it planned to retain Ulster Bank.RBS also said that it planned to retain Ulster Bank.
The bank's chief executive, Ross McEwan, said that Ulster remained a core part of the bank following a strategic review into its future.The bank's chief executive, Ross McEwan, said that Ulster remained a core part of the bank following a strategic review into its future.
He said early progress had been made towards his goal of making RBS simpler, clearer and fairer, adding: "But we know we still have a long list of conduct and litigation issues to deal with and much, much more to do to restore our customers' trust in us."He said early progress had been made towards his goal of making RBS simpler, clearer and fairer, adding: "But we know we still have a long list of conduct and litigation issues to deal with and much, much more to do to restore our customers' trust in us."
The £400m provision for the currency investigation sent the corporate and institutional banking division to an operating loss of £557m.The £400m provision for the currency investigation sent the corporate and institutional banking division to an operating loss of £557m.
RBS is among several banks being investigated by regulators over allegations that currency markets were rigged.RBS is among several banks being investigated by regulators over allegations that currency markets were rigged.
Shares up
The bank also set aside a further £100m to cover the cost of compensation for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI).The bank also set aside a further £100m to cover the cost of compensation for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI).
Total income fell 11% to almost £4.36bn, while operating expenses rose 5% to £3.88bn. Investors welcomed the improving performance for the bank, sending shares up 3.4% in early trading in London to 375.8p, valuing RBS at £41.8bn.
RBS's overall position improved slightly in the three months to September 30, with its core tier 1 ratio - a key measure of financial health - up 0.7 percentage points to 10.8% in the quarter.
However, it warned: "Ongoing conduct and regulatory investigations and litigation continue to present challenges and are expected to be a material drag on both earnings and capital generation over the coming quarters.
"The timing and amounts of any further settlements or redress however remain uncertain and could be significant."
The bank also said that it had released £801m of money set aside for bad debts - known as impairment provisions - in the quarter compared with a figure of £93m in the second quarter of 2014. That was considerably better than the £590m analysts had expected and reflected an improving economic picture in both the UK and Ireland.
Total income fell 11% to almost £4.36bn, while operating expenses rose 5% to £3.88bn. Restructuring costs were down £205m to £180m compared with the previous quarter.
Loans and advances to customers were up 2%, or £7.4bn, to £393bn, and customer deposits increased by £4.1bn, or 1%, to £405.4bn.