TOKYO (Reuters) - A joint venture of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (T:8306) and Morgan Stanley (N:MS) has been dropped as manager of bond issuances by some local governments after it was reprimanded for market manipulation, sources told Thomson Reuters DealWatch.
The move comes a day after sources revealed that Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co Ltd had been dropped from managing issuances by Toray Industries Inc (T:3402), KDDI Corp (T:9433) and Tokyo Gas Co (T:9531).
It has now also been dropped as manager of issuances by the city of Kyoto, Tokushima Prefecture in western Japan and the Japan Housing Finance Agency, people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday.
A spokesman at the JV said it took its clients' decisions seriously and would work on regaining their trust.
"It is a matter for a customer to decide, and we have no further comment," he said.
The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission on Friday recommended the Financial Services Agency fine the brokerage around $2 million, saying one of its dealers placed both buy and sell orders in August for a 10-year Japanese government bond futures contract without intention to execute.
The dealer aimed to create the impression of strong interest for the contract and the brokerage gained 1.58 million yen from related transactions, the watchdog said.