LONDON/PARIS, May 7 (Reuters) – HSBC is expected to
almost double first quarter profits to about $8 billion on
Tuesday helped by a fall in costs and bad debts and showing the
benefits of a three-year restructuring that is nearly complete.

The results will keep HSBC as one of the most profitable and
most strongly capitalised banks in the world although Europe’s
biggest bank still has more to do on costs.

LONDON (Reuters) – State-backed Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday pushed for the British government to start selling its 82 percent stake as early as next year even though it could mean a loss for taxpayers.

Chairman Philip Hampton said the aim was to have a business in strong enough shape to start preparing a prospectus with the government for a sale from the middle of 2014.

LONDON (Reuters) – State-backed Royal Bank of Scotland said on Friday the British government might have to take a hit when it starts selling its stake in the bank, which could happen as early as next year.

Britain pumped 45.5 billion pounds into RBS to keep it afloat during the 2008 financial crisis, leaving it with an 82 percent stake. British taxpayers are currently sitting on a paper loss of 18.5 billion pounds.

LONDON (Reuters) – State-backed Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday the British government might have to take a hit when it starts selling its stake in the bank, which could happen as early as next year.

Britain pumped 45.5 billion pounds ($71 billion) into RBS to keep it afloat during the 2008 financial crisis, leaving it with an 82 percent stake. British taxpayers are currently sitting on a paper loss of 18.5 billion pounds.

LONDON, April 30 (Reuters) – Cost-cutting and resilient
trading revenues helped Europe’s investment banks keep pace with
their U.S. rivals last quarter and boosted prospects that their
slimmed-down operations can deliver rewards for investors.

First-quarter results from Europe’s big four investment
banks – Deutsche Bank, Barclays, UBS
and Credit Suisse – showed a performance
nearly identical to that of their U.S. peers.

LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) – Investors will have their pick
of British banks in the next couple of years with up to five
lenders looking to float on the stock market, offering a
potentially lucrative, and nostalgic, punt on high street
banking.

A failure to attract buyers from the banking sector means
that state-backed groups Lloyds and Royal Bank of
Scotland are racing to prepare stock market flotations
of hundreds of branches they have been told to sell by European
regulators.

LONDON (Reuters) – Barclays (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) promised a rigorous review of executive pay on Thursday, as shareholders at the bank’s annual meeting criticized the new management, unconvinced that the paying of big bonuses will be abandoned as part of a new ethical drive.

Chief Executive Antony Jenkins, drafted in last year to tear up Barclays’ profits-at-all-costs culture, told shareholders it would take time for them to see the benefits of his multi-billion-pound overhaul.

LONDON (Reuters) – Barclays (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research) promised a rigorous review of executive pay and a cooperative relationship with regulators as it tries to dispel a reputation for reckless risk-taking and unethical behaviour that caused a series of scandals.

The British bank said on Wednesday it would reform its standards and culture, from improving coordination within its executive team to forcing all staff to attend a course on the company’s new values.

LONDON (Reuters) – Barclays (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) promised a rigorous review of executive pay and a cooperative relationship with regulators as it tries to dispel a reputation for reckless risk-taking and unethical behavior that caused a series of scandals.

The British bank said on Wednesday it would reform its standards and culture, from improving coordination within its executive team to forcing all staff to attend a course on the company’s new values.

LONDON (Reuters) – Investment banking made most of the first quarter profit at British bank Barclays (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), highlighting the challenge for the lender’s new boss in making money as he shrinks that part of the business.

Chief Executive Antony Jenkins was brought in to bring a more ethical approach to Britain’s third largest bank after scandals over rate-fixing and big bonuses in the investment banking arm that was built up by his predecessor Bob Diamond.