Morgan Stanley chief seeks investor support

The moves also triggered the departure of two dozen executives, bankers, traders from the company’s highly profitable securities division. Purcell acknowledged there will be more departures in the months ahead.

‘‘The media frenzy of recent events has been disruptive to all three of our key constituencies,’’ Purcell said, referring to investors, clients and staff. ‘‘The sooner we can move on to our key business, the better.’’

Yet shares in Morgan Stanley fell 2 per cent to $49.75, down nearly 18 per cent from their 52-week high set on February 14. Investors expecting details on plans to revive Morgan Stanley’s performance and stock price said they were left flat.

‘‘They didn’t really fess up to the fact that they have some real problems that have to be addressed. They tried to gloss over them,’’ said Matrix Advisors money manager David Katz.

At the UBS Global Financial Services Conference, Purcell said the operating environment in the second quarter was proving to be more difficult.