George Soros fails to clear his name

The European Court of Human Rights ruled yesterday that France did not violate George Soros's rights when convicting him of insider trading, defeating a years-long effort by the financier to clear his name.

Though Mr Soros has faced criticism for other investment decisions before and since, the French conviction left a particular stain on the Hungarian-born businessman and philanthropist's five-decade career.

He was fined €2.2m in 2002 for purchasing shares in the French bank Société Générale in 1988, days after being informed about a planned takeover bid for the bank. That was the amount he was accused of making when he sold the shares shortly afterward. France's highest court reduced the fine in 2007.