Barclays Tells Hedge Funds It Can’t Be Seen With Them

By Jon Shazar

Barclays’ PR-driven makeover continues, even at the expense of being a full-service investment bank.

First, the ever-popular tax-avoidance tax-structuring business gets the chop. Now, the bank is telling hedge funds—easy targets in Europe, it must be said—to get lost, in the name of helping poor people eat. Hey, look, a bit of candor:

Chief Executive Antony Jenkins told a news conference on Tuesday the bank was exiting speculative trading in softs and agriculture due to “reputational reasons”, but was sticking with the overall commodities sector.

Barclays halts agriculture trading with hedge funds [Reuters]

Comments (10)

  1. 1
    Posted by Shazar's Dog | February 15, 2013 at 12:58 PM

    I can't be seen with Shazar

  2. 2
    Posted by guest | February 15, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    Yeah, but can you be Sheen with Shazar?

    -tiger blood

  3. 3
    Posted by Charlie Sheen, CFA | February 15, 2013 at 1:45 PM

    Shazar is the polar opposite of winning.

  4. 4
    Posted by guest | February 15, 2013 at 1:56 PM

    So they're giving up potentially making money trading a certain product b/c some hippie thinks it will drive up the price of his Capri Sun? Got it. They should just tell critics to rent a french car with a faulty accelerator.

    -Trader who would rather have a reputation has someone who makes money than someone who is held in high esteem by someone he holds in low esteem (a member of congress).

  5. 5
    Posted by Sergio Ermotti | February 15, 2013 at 2:14 PM

    I'd be happier than a pig in shit to be either of those things.

  6. 6
    Posted by CFA | February 15, 2013 at 2:33 PM

    So are you, loser.

  7. 7
    Posted by REO Chuckwagon | February 15, 2013 at 2:33 PM

    Where did all the funny comments go?

  8. 8
    Posted by An American | February 15, 2013 at 4:38 PM

    When did the British turn into a bunch of pussies? Discuss.

  9. 9
    Posted by quant me maybe... | February 15, 2013 at 6:36 PM

    <img src="http://1.cdn.tapcdn.com/images/thumbs/taps/2013/02/zeqhmrh-608093ab-sz420x294-animate.png"/&gt;

  10. 10
    Posted by Let's face it | February 16, 2013 at 11:20 AM

    Barclays sucks