As per the media reports, the Qatari investors in Barclays are virtually sitting on paper profits of more than £700 million. These are the same investors who pumped crucial funds into the bank at the height of last autumn's financial crisis.

Last October, a whopping £800-million worth of convertible notes that could be changed into Barclays shares at 153p, were bought by the Qatar Investment Authority and Challenger, representative of Qatar's royal family.

These notes changed into Barclays shares at the end of last month, under the terms of deal.

The bank said, in a stock market announcement: "At Barclays' closing share price of 292.75p, the shares are worth around £1.53 billion."

Only if Barclays and the royal family decide to sell up will the investors book the profit. As of now, the Qataris have holdings and warrants equivalent to a stake of around 15% in Barclays.