Bob Diamond, the former boss of Barclays, has given up bonuses worth up to €25m following his resignation over a rate-fixing scandal, the bank’s chairman said in parliamentary testimony yesterday.

Britain’s biggest banks were tonight embroiled in a criminal investigation after the Serious Fraud Office opened an official inquiry into the rate-rigging affair.

Pressure mounted for Barclays Plc chief executive Bob Diamond to quit after Britain’s third-biggest bank sacrificed its chairman over an interest rate rigging scandal that has dealt “a devastating blow” to its reputation.

Barclays shares rose 3% today as chairman Marcus Agius’s decision to step down in the wake of the rate-rigging scandal was backed by investors.

The rate-rigging scandal claimed its first scalp today as Barclays confirmed its chairman Marcus Agius is to step down.

The chairman of UK banking giant Barclays apologised to shareholders today as he moved to head off a showdown over the pay of chief executive Bob Diamond.

Barclays today reported a leap in first quarter profits to £1.82bn (€2.09bn), but shares came under pressure amid fears of a slowdown at its star investment banking arm.

AFTER admirable away draws for Bohemians and Derry City, St Patrick’s Athletic last night made it three one-ones on the trot for League of Ireland teams in Europe – but, with a precious away goal to take home with them, it was Valletta of Malta who were doing the celebrating at the end of this Uefa Europa League Second Qualifying Round first leg tie at Richmond Park.

Barclays shares ended a nine-day slump in dramatic fashion today after an open letter from management insisted the bank was well-funded and profitable.

Barclays shares rose more than 25% today after an open letter from the bank’s under-pressure bosses helped settle investor nerves.

A New York-based activist investor has called on British bank Barclays to drop its takeover of Dutch rival ABN Amro.

Barclays was on the verge of a new era today as the controversial tenure of chief executive-turned-chairman Matt Barrett draws to a close.

Banking giant Barclays today said that its “inspirational” chairman Matt Barrett will stand down at the end of the year to be replaced by Marcus Agius.

CROATIAN war crimes suspect Ante Gotovina pleaded not guilty yesterday to seven counts of murder, persecution and expulsion of Serbs during the critical final months of the Croatian War in 1995.

Croatian war crimes suspect Ante Gotovina pleaded not guilty today to seven counts of murder, persecution and expulsion of Serbs during the critical final months of the Croatian war in 1995.