Why does Matt Barrett, the hard-driving chief executive of Barclays Bank, appear to be carrying the whole world on his shoulders? I suspect that one reason is that the Barclays share price has been as exciting as cold semolina compared to the dazzling performance of investment banks. But that's not Barrett's fault because almost all commercial bank share prices have been in the same leaky boat.

His main worry is probably that Barclays Bank, which still has one of the best brand names in the industry, is falling behind in the wave of consolidations which is taking place all around him. Sorry to be so unkind but Barclays has become very, very boring. It is all very well to have worthy ambitions in the UK mortgage sector, but does the purchase of the Woolwich send a tingle of excitement down your spine?