3 British nationals arrested over manipulation of LIBOR interest rates

Bob Diamond being questioned by MPs at the HOC Treasury Committee hearing in London, July 4, 2012. / AP

LONDON Britain's Serious Fraud Office says three people have been arrested as part of an investigation of the manipulation of a key market interest rate.

The three men — aged 33, 41 and 47 — were not named. The office said Tuesday all are British nationals.

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The fraud office opened its investigation in July after Barclays was fined $435 million by American and British agencies for creating false reports on its borrowing costs between 2005 and 2009, specifically related to the London interbank offered rate, or LIBOR.

LIBOR influences the costs of several financial instruments, including home mortgages. Banks submit data daily on the rates they pay other banks — and that data that is used to calculate LIBOR.

The scandal cost the job of Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond.

[woozybarnes]

Why are they not named? If you get caught stealing a pair of socks from a department store, you end up on the next morning's arrest report, mug shot and all.