LONDON (ShareCast) - While an upcoming LIBOR settlement at Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBS.L - news) (RBS) may just be a drop in the ocean compared with last year's PPI redress, Investec (LSE: INVP.L - news) has retained its 'sell' recommendation on the stock.
The broker reckons that regulatory fines for traders' attempted LIBOR manipulation will not be material with RBS expected to be settle at £400m. However, media reports suggest an even lower amount.
"This pales into insignificance when compared with Payment Protection Insurance [PPI] for which RBS has already provided £1.7bn and Lloyds [also rated 'sell'] £5.3bn and counting," said analyst Ian Gordon.
He said that for RBS's fourth quarter, regulatory costs/redress, increased restructuring costs, flat Non-Core losses and an elevated tax charge results in its forecast for an attributable loss of £1.4bn.
Gordon said: "In 2013-15e, we see a return to profit with a modest improvement in core profitability (despite an offset from EC-mandated business disposals).
"However, with a very weak outlook for RoE [return on equity], we remain sellers."
Nevertheless, the broker has raised its target price for the stock from 265p to 290p.
RBS's shares were down 0.74% at 329.94p.
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