Investment bankers and traders used to be Masters of the Universe and, 10 years on from the financial crisis, some think they still are. Or, at least, should be.

At HSBC, a group of anonymous rebels is infuriated that the group’s top management doesn’t seem bothered that it is an also-ran in investment banking. At Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Christian Meissner’s friends have been spinning that his imminent departure as head of investment banking was triggered by his frustration at the group’s lack of ambition for his business. At other big groups investment bankers complain that the focus has shifted to other less glamorous operations.