2008 Société Générale trading loss a role in the market's overall decline, but characterized that impact as "minimal". 2008 Société Générale trading loss In January 2008, the bank Société Générale lost approximately €4.9 billion closing out positions over three days of trading beginning January 21, 2008, a period in which the market was experiencing a large drop in equity indices. The bank states these positions were fraudulent transactions created by Jérôme Kerviel, a trader with the company. The police stated they lacked evidence to charge him with fraud and charged him with breach of trust and illegally accessing computers. Kerviel states his actions were known
Jérôme Kerviel paid a €300,000 bonus on a declared profit (approximately 0.5%). Family members speaking out say the bank is using Kerviel as a scapegoat to excuse its recent heavy losses. Kerviel was reporting to Eric Cordelle and Philippe Baboulin. Baboulin is now COO of Kepler Capital Markets Geneva. Cordelle has since launched a single malt whisky craft distillery. In answer to the rumors that Kerviel had fled Paris following the discovery of the unauthorised trading, on 2008 Kerviel's lawyer denied that he attempted to disappear and said he remained in Paris to face the accusations. Also on 24 January 2008, Société