Closer second place

Barclays: Barclays has got out of a tight spot. The UK bank’s E64bn all-share offer for the Dutch ABN Amro looked a poor competitor to the Royal Bank of Scotland consortium’s E71bn, 93% of it in cash. But raising its bid appeared to risk a run-in with its investors. A cash injection of up to E13.4bn from two Asian investors - China Development Bank and Singapore’s Temasek - has helped Barclays to improve its terms while minimising the risk of upsetting its own shareholders. The cash injection h...