07:58 AM EST, 02/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with responses from HSBC ( HSBC ) and Morgan Stanley ( MS ) in the fourth and fifth paragraphs.)

Citigroup ( C ) , HSBC (HSBC), Morgan Stanley (MS), and Royal Bank of Canada ( RY ) have been ordered to pay a total of 104.5 million British pounds ($132.3 million) in fines by April 22 to settle accusations of traders inappropriately sharing competitively sensitive information about the pricing of UK bonds, the Competition and Markets Authority said on Friday.

The information sharing took place in communications among traders about the buying and selling of UK debt instruments called gilts between 2009 and 2013, the Competition and Markets Authority said. The banks have since implemented compliance measures to prevent such behavior, the regulator added.

According to the regulator, Citi will pay 17.2 million pounds, HSBC ( HSBC ) 23.4 million pounds, Morgan Stanley ( MS ) 29.7 million pounds, and Royal Bank of Canada ( RY ) 34.2 million pounds.

HSBC ( HSBC ) said in a statement to MT Newswires that it is "pleased to put this investigation behind us," saying the CMA's concerns were related to "a small number of historic communications" dating back 15 years.

Morgan Stanley ( MS ) said that "since the time in question the whole industry, including Morgan Stanley ( MS ), has undergone significant changes, including enhanced supervision and compliance controls."

Citigroup ( C ) and Royal Bank of Canada ( RY ) did not reply to MT Newswires' requests for comment.