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EU court cuts Credit Suisse fine for foreign exchange cartel

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 23, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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EU court cuts Credit Suisse fine for foreign exchange cartel
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BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union's General Court reduced on Wednesday a fine imposed on Credit Suisse to 28.9 million euros ($33.92 million)from a previous 83.2 million euros fine, over its

EU Court Reduces Credit Suisse's Fine Over Forex Cartel Participation

EU Court Ruling on Credit Suisse Fine

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union's General Court substantially reduced a fine imposed on Credit Suisse to 28.9 million euros ($33.92 million) from 83.2 million euros on Wednesday, over its participation in a foreign exchange trading cartel.

Background of the Case

The court ruled that Credit Suisse had participated in the cartel, but the European Commission had not correctly determined the amount of the fine.

Details of the Cartel

"The applicants have rightly claimed that certain data used by the Commission in determining the proxy for the value of Credit Suisse's sales were less complete and reliable than those proposed for that purpose by Credit Suisse during the administrative procedure," the court said in a statement.

Impact on Credit Suisse and UBS

UBS, which merged with Credit Suisse in 2024, declined to comment.

The case stemmed from a professional online chatroom called "Sterling Lads" where certain traders exchanged sensitive information, allowing them to make decisions on buying and selling G10 currencies - the world's most liquid and traded currencies - and the timing of those trades.

EU antitrust regulators fined Credit Suisse in 2021 over the cartel, as well as Barclays, HSBC and NatWest. Credit Suisse was at the time handed the second-largest fine, after HSBC.

($1 = 0.8519 euros)

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Makini Brice;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

Key Takeaways

  • EU court reduced Credit Suisse's fine from €83.2M to €28.9M.
  • The fine relates to participation in a forex trading cartel.
  • The European Commission's initial fine calculation was incorrect.
  • UBS, merged with Credit Suisse, declined to comment.
  • The case involved the 'Sterling Lads' chatroom for G10 currencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a foreign exchange cartel?
A foreign exchange cartel is a group of financial institutions that collude to manipulate currency exchange rates for profit, often through sharing sensitive trading information.
What is a fine in financial regulation?
A fine is a monetary penalty imposed by regulatory authorities on companies or individuals for violating laws or regulations, often as a deterrent against future misconduct.
What is the role of the European Commission?
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day operations.
What is a merger in finance?
A merger is a financial transaction in which two companies combine to form a single entity, often to enhance competitiveness and market reach.

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