Will Barclays sell its investment division?

According to the Monday edition of the Daily Telegraph British bank Barclays is pressed to consider the sale of its entire $1 trillion fund management business, Barclays Global Investors. While two newspapers reported on Sunday that Barclays is nosing about the potential buyers for its iShares business.

The report says the bank is in talks with the U.S. investors over a $5.55 billion sale of iShares, but that it is coming under pressure from "Middle Eastern parties." "Middle Eastern parties" are interested in acquiring iShares assets but they are also pushing for a sale of the entire BGI business.

As reported by Reuters a person familiar with the case declined the fact that Barclays is considering the sale of its assets management arm.