Top HSBC manager ‘arrested in New York’

A senior HSBC executive has reportedly been arrested in New York for his alleged role in a conspiracy to rig international currency markets.

Mark Johnson, HSBC's global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was arrested at John F. Kennedy International airport on Tuesday, according to media reports.

It comes more than a year after five banks pleaded guilty to charges related to the rigging of currency benchmarks.

HSBC has so far declined to comment.

Mr Johnson is expected to appear in a federal court in Brooklyn later on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg which first reported the news.