On the morning of January 15, shares in Deutsche Bank were trading down nearly 4%. The day before, the shares had tumbled 8% after the bank announced estimated losses of €3.9bn ($5bn) for the year – its first loss since the Second World War – and a tie-up with German bank Postbank.

But that morning shares were hit by rumours Deutsche Bank's chief executive Dr Josef Ackermann had collapsed at a cocktail reception the evening before and been rushed to hospital.