RBS stands to receive the largest slice of government money under the scheme [AFP]

Britain's government plans to invest up to £37bn ($64bn) of taxpayers' money into three British banks hit hard by the global credit crisis, a statement from the British treasury said on Monday.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) and Lloyds TSB are set to receive the government investment in order to boost their available capital.

"With continuing exceptional instability in the global financial markets, the government is today taking decisive action ... to make commercial investments in UK banks," the treasury statement said.

Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, described the move as "unprecedented" but essential.

"The government cannot just leave people on their own to be buffeted about," he said.

Markets soar

On the back of the treasury announcement, London's FTSE 100 climbed by 5.50 per cent to 3,974.32 points shortly after the start of trading.

Wall Street recovered early on Monday as investors rushed into stocks after eight sessions of devastating losses. The major stock indexes rose more than four per cent, including the Dow Jones industrials, which at times jumped more than 400 points.

Germany's DAX rose by five per cent in early trading, while the French stock market rose by 4.52 per cent.

Gulf markets have risen after governments pledged to guarantee deposits [Reuters]

Stock markets in oil-rich Gulf countries also rallied on Monday, after authorities in the region pledged to guarantee bank deposits for the next three years.

Dubai's stock markets rose by 6.6 per cent, while Abu Dhabi's increased by almost six per cent. Qatar's stock exchange surged 7.4 per cent in early trading.

But in a sign of continuing instaibility, Iceland's stock market remained closed on Monday, in the wake of a devastating credit crunch that has left the island on the verge of bankruptcy.

The stock-market rally came after an announcement on Sunday by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, that leaders from the 15-member Eurozone had reached an agreement to inject capital into banks across the continent.

He said on Monday that his government will make up to 320bn euros available for bank guarantees to run until 2009.

"Nothing will be spared to prevent the crisis getting any worse," Sarkozy said.

Germany's rescue plan proposes a 80bn euro capital injection to its banks and 400bn euros in loan guarantees, a finance ministry statement said on Monday.

Joes Luis Zapatero, Spain's prime minister, said that the government would cover up to 100bn euros in inter-bank loans, but stopped short of announcing a recapitalisation scheme.

British plan details

Under the British government plan announced on Monday, RBS stands to increase its capital by £20bn.

The UK government will use taxpayers' money to buy £5bn in preference shares and underwrite a further £15bn.

HBOS and Lloyds TSB will also take part in the government scheme "upon successful merger", the British treasury said.

HBOS will take £11.5bn, including £3bn in preference shares, while Lloyds TSB will receive £5.5bn, with £1bn of that amount in preference shares.

Dividends on ordinary shares in the three banks will not be paid until the preference shares taken by the British government are repaid.

Barclays exception

But Barclays, another bank which had been expected to agree to government intervention, said on Monday that it would aim to raise £6.5bn through private investment.

Banks participating in the scheme will attempt to sell ordinary shares to existing investors, backed up by the government.

The government will buy up any shares left unsold.
 
The government could also provide capital in return for preference shares, which could pay an annual dividend of about 10 per cent.

The scheme means that the government could become a majority investor in RBS and HBOS/Lloyds TSB, should the latter two banks merge.

Fred Goodwin, chief executive of RBS, will step down as head of the ailing banks and will be replaced by Stephen Hester, chief executive for British Land.

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