CHRONOLOGY-Timeline of events in SocGen fraud case

PARIS, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The following is a timeline of events concerning the 4.9 billion euro ($7.2 billion) fraud at France's second-largest bank Societe Generale (SocGen) (SOGN.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

* 2007 - SocGen junior trader Jerome Kerviel starts building up large positions. As his losses mount he tries to cover up his positions by hacking into the bank's computer systems.

* Jan 18, 2008 - SocGen shares plunge 8.2 percent, with traders and fund managers citing market speculation of huge write-downs at the bank.

* Jan 18 - The International Herald Tribune runs a report on its Web site saying that Bank of France Governor Christian Noyer has been monitoring the balance sheets of banks such as SocGen. The Bank of France later denies that Noyer ever said this.

* Jan 18 - Later that evening, a compliance officer notices a trade that has breached one of the bank's thresholds. The officer telephones another brokerage, with which SocGen had apparently made the trade, and is told that the firm has no record of any such transaction taking place.

* Jan 19/20 - On Saturday, SocGen senior executives begin investigating suspicious trades which are traced to Kerviel. The trader is hauled in and top management questions him.

* Jan 20 - Kerviel is questioned by the SocGen board.

* Jan 20 - Bouton says he informs the Governor of the Bank of France and the head of France's AMF stock market authority when he learns of the situation.