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Rogue trader to cost SocGen $7bn Rogue trader to cost SocGen $7bn
(30 minutes later)
French bank Societe Generale says it has uncovered a fraud by a Paris-based trader which resulted in a loss of 4.9bn euros ($7.1bn; £3.7bn).French bank Societe Generale says it has uncovered a fraud by a Paris-based trader which resulted in a loss of 4.9bn euros ($7.1bn; £3.7bn).
The bank said the fraud was based on simple transactions, but concealed by "sophisticated and varied techniques".
It also announced new write-downs of 2.05bn euros related to the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US.It also announced new write-downs of 2.05bn euros related to the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US.
But it said it would still make a profit of 600m to 800m euros for 2007, despite the blow to its balance sheet. The bank's shares, which were suspended in the morning, lost 3.6% when they resumed trading.
Trading in the bank's shares, which have fallen by nearly 50% in the past six months, has been suspended.
The bank, one of France's largest, will need to seek 5.5bn euros in new capital to offset the losses.The bank, one of France's largest, will need to seek 5.5bn euros in new capital to offset the losses.
But it said it would still make a profit of 600m to 800m euros for 2007, despite the blow to its balance sheet.
'Secret trade''Secret trade'
"One trader... had taken massive fraudulent directional positions in 2007 and 2008 beyond his limited authority," the bank said."One trader... had taken massive fraudulent directional positions in 2007 and 2008 beyond his limited authority," the bank said.
The sheer scale of the loss is overpowering Robert Peston, BBC business editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2008/01/socgen_sickness.html">Read Robert's report in full It added that the trader had confessed to the fraud and was being dismissed. His managers were to leave the bank as well. It added that the trader had "in-depth knowledge of the control procedures resulting from this former employment in the middle-office".
"The transactions which involved the fraud were simple - taking a position on shares rising - but hidden using extremely sophisticated and varied techniques," chief executive Daniel Bouton said in a letter to the bank's customers.
The sheer scale of the loss is overpowering Robert Peston, BBC business editor Read Robert's report in full The bank said that the trader had confessed to the fraud and was being dismissed. His managers were to leave the bank as well.
"I am sorry but I have a hard time buying the fact that a trader was able to set up a 'secret trade' of 4.9 billion without anybody finding out," said Ion-Marc Valhi at Amas Bank."I am sorry but I have a hard time buying the fact that a trader was able to set up a 'secret trade' of 4.9 billion without anybody finding out," said Ion-Marc Valhi at Amas Bank.
Frederic Hamm, fund manager at Agilis Gestion, believes that the fraud "impacts the reputation of the bank".Frederic Hamm, fund manager at Agilis Gestion, believes that the fraud "impacts the reputation of the bank".
Chief executive Daniel Bouton offered his resignation but it was rejected by the board, the bank said.Chief executive Daniel Bouton offered his resignation but it was rejected by the board, the bank said.
Richard Fuld, the chairman of Lehman Brothers, told BBC News in Davos that "nothing stuns me, nothing really surprises me these days."Richard Fuld, the chairman of Lehman Brothers, told BBC News in Davos that "nothing stuns me, nothing really surprises me these days."
'Unprecedented event''Unprecedented event'
The bank's losses have seriously dented its profits for 2007.The bank's losses have seriously dented its profits for 2007.
The company will announce its full year results on February 21, and it said that it expects its 2007 net income to be in the range of 600m-800m euros.The company will announce its full year results on February 21, and it said that it expects its 2007 net income to be in the range of 600m-800m euros.
SOCIETE GENERALE Founded in 1864467bn euros in assets under management (as of June 2007)22.5m customers worldwide120,000 employees in 77 countries Societe Generale is also going to raise 5.5bn euros through a capital increase "to strengthen its capital base". Shares in Societe Generale have fallen by nearly 50% in the past six months.
SOCIETE GENERALE IN FIGURES Founded in 1864467bn euros in assets under management (as of June 2007)22.5m customers worldwide120,000 employees in 77 countries
Societe Generale is also going to raise 5.5bn euros through a capital increase "to strengthen its capital base".
Meanwhile, another French bank, BNP Paribas, said that "it has not revealed any loss of item that would justify any particular warning to the market".Meanwhile, another French bank, BNP Paribas, said that "it has not revealed any loss of item that would justify any particular warning to the market".
Gilles Glicenstein, BNP Paribas chief executive, suggested that "there is still some information missing to understand what happened" at Societe Generale.Gilles Glicenstein, BNP Paribas chief executive, suggested that "there is still some information missing to understand what happened" at Societe Generale.
"Because the scale of the fraud is so large, there must be a complex explanation... For Societe Generale, it's an unprecedented event," he added."Because the scale of the fraud is so large, there must be a complex explanation... For Societe Generale, it's an unprecedented event," he added.
Mr Glicenstein also said it was not good news for banks in general, as "it can create doubt".Mr Glicenstein also said it was not good news for banks in general, as "it can create doubt".
"In other periods, this type of news was hidden, but today, there is a tendency to reveal everything and maybe it's by revealing everything that confidence can return," he said."In other periods, this type of news was hidden, but today, there is a tendency to reveal everything and maybe it's by revealing everything that confidence can return," he said.