There are unconfirmed reports that Barclays could be in trouble, and that the much hyped purchase of ABN Amro doesn’t have a hope in hell of going ahead.

It started with the sudden resignation in late August of Edward Cahill, Barclays Capital’s Head of European Collateralised Debt Obligations.

See : Barclays’ CDO chief in Europe quits as sub-prime crisis hits funds

And another: Barclays falls to earth

Note particularly the paragraph which says:

“Barclays has not helped its own cause. Twice in just over a week it has been forced to borrow expensively a total of £1.9 billion from the Bank of England’s emergency reserves. Such loans are routine, but in the current fragile markets any hint of financial distress has prompted panic among investors. Barclays is looking distinctly accident-prone.”

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