Core Viewpoint - A federal judge has dismissed the last remaining claims in the litigation against global banks accused of conspiring to manipulate Libor, concluding one of the longest financial antitrust cases in U.S. history [1][13]. Legal Ruling - U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald issued a 273-page ruling, stating that investors failed to prove collusion among banks to keep Libor artificially low, indicating that the evidence did not exclude the possibility of independent actions by the banks [2][7]. - The ruling marks the end of over a decade of litigation that began in 2011, with plaintiffs seeking to recover losses linked to the alleged manipulation of Libor [3]. Impact on Investors and Banks - The decision concludes private antitrust claims related to Libor, removing the last legal uncertainty for banks after global investigations resulted in approximately $9 billion in fines [4][9]. - The investor group involved included various entities such as Principal Financial Group, cities like Baltimore and Houston, and mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, alleging that banks' actions inflated profits and distorted borrowing costs during the 2008 financial crisis [5][6]. Evidence and Findings - Over the years, investors presented various forms of evidence, including emails and expert analysis, but the judge found that it did not establish a coordinated effort among banks [7]. - Despite uncovering manipulation by traders during investigations, civil courts did not find sufficient evidence to prove a broad conspiracy [9][10]. Libor's Transition - Libor, which influenced interest rates for over $300 trillion in loans and derivatives, was phased out in January 2022 and replaced by the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) and other benchmarks [8][14]. - The transition to new benchmarks aims to prevent future manipulation, addressing the issues highlighted by the Libor scandal [14].