A report that Barclays is in discussions to sell its giant asset management division, Barclays Global Investors, may be jumping the gun - a source close to Barclays says the report is "not true" - but it is easy to see why the bank would be tempted. This is a temptation it should resist.

Analysing sources of capital is a priority for banks right now because their levels of regulatory capital look dangerously thin.