* Lawsuits say banks' conspiracy hurts investors, traders
* ScotiaBank, Barclays, HSBC, Societe Generale, UBS targeted
By Jonathan Stempel
April 14 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank AG agreed tosettle U.S. lawsuits accusing it of conspiring with other banksto manipulate gold and silver prices at investors' expense,court papers show.
The settlements were disclosed in letters filed in Manhattanfederal court by lawyers representing investors and traders whoaccused Deutsche Bank of violating U.S. antitrust law.
Terms were not disclosed, but both settlements will includemonetary payments by the German bank. Deutsche Bank also agreedto help the plaintiffs pursue claims against other defendants.
The gold settlement was disclosed on Thursday, and thesilver settlement on Wednesday.
Both agreements require further documentation, and must beapproved by U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni.
Deutsche Bank spokeswoman Amanda Williams declined tocomment.
The plaintiffs accused Deutsche Bank of conspiring with Bankof Nova Scotia, Barclays Plc, HSBC HoldingsPlc and Societe Generale to manipulate pricesof gold, gold futures and options, and gold derivatives throughtwice-a-day meetings to set the so-called London Gold Fixing.
They also accused Deutsche Bank, HSBC and ScotiaBank of asimilar conspiracy to manipulate silver prices by rigging thedaily Silver Fix.
UBS AG was also accused in both lawsuits ofconspiring to exploit metals prices.
Representatives of ScotiaBank, Societe Generale and UBSdeclined to comment on Thursday. The other banks were notimmediately available for comment but have declined to discussongoing litigation.
The lawsuits are among several in Manhattan federal court inwhich investors accuse banks of conspiring to rig rates orprices in financial and commodities markets.
The cases are In re: Commodity Exchange Inc Gold Futures andOptions Trading Litigation, U.S. District Court, SouthernDistrict of New York, No. 14-md-02548; and In re: London SilverFixing Ltd Antitrust Litigation in the same court, No.14-md-02573. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by DanGrebler)