Good asset quality relative to peers over an extended period. Leading business positions in U.K. banking and global investment banking. Reasonably diversified revenues by business line and by geography. In the midst of significant restructuring. Investment banking, although experiencing a pronounced reduction due to restructuring, increases group revenue volatility and confidence sensitivity, relative to many peers. Our expectation of below par earnings, further weakened by the combination of possible litigation charges and other exceptional items. Standard&Poor's Ratings Services placed its ratings on U.K.-based Barclays Bank PLC (Barclays), the main operating entity of the Barclays group, on CreditWatch with negative implications on Feb. 3, 2015 (see "S&P Takes Various Rating Actions On Certain U.K., German, Austrian, And Swiss Banks
