Science fiction has no place in the real world of bank capital, but when one bank goes boldly beyond where any other bank has gone before with a CoCo under CRD IV, there is perhaps something of a whiff of the future about it.

In response to the revelations that a senior executive suppressed a damaging report into Barclays Wealth, Alix Prentice, partner in the financial services regulatory team at international law firm Taylor Wessing, predicts that the bank may face action from a UK regulator increasingly focused on suitability and client risk appetite.

Regulators and shareholders are channelling their concerns over banks’ slow progress in shifting to new and sustainable business models to a new cadre of activist chairmen. Often experienced in the industry, independent of executive management and with strong personalities, these chairmen are increasing the pressure on bank CEOs to abandon unrealistic ambitions and reshape their banks to a new world. Expect more ructions ahead.

Absa acquires Barclays Africa; Barclays’ Absa stake rises to 62.3%.

The strong performance of UBS shares, since it announced it will radically shrink its investment bank, is heaping pressure on others to follow suit.

Ivan Ritossa, who recently announced he is leaving Barclays after 10 years, has been one of the most influential figures in foreign exchange during the past decade. Hamish Risk profiles the man and charts the extraordinary rise of Barclays as a leading FX player.