Lazard has revealed that federal prosecutors have asked it for information about gifts exchanged by former traders and mutual fund giant Fidelity. Securities regulators have also yet to resolve investigations into the bank despite reaching settlements with Fidelity and Jefferies in recent months.

Lazard's gift practices have already been scrutinised by the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASD over the past two years. The bank has previously said regulators have been questioning the firm for its dealings with Fidelity Investments between 2002 and 2004. The inquiries concern Lazard's capital markets business, which it has since spun off.