The likes of Jupiter and Threadneedle, two asset managers, have been for sale for ages.

ECONOMIST: Financial services

No one knows more about the mood of Wall Street and Threadneedle Street!

CNN: It takes a crisis to focus on the value of Davos

In the meantime, the message coming from Threadneedle Street is that they're going to give Plan A everything they can.

BBC: The Bank's push to ease credit

There aren't many Western central banks with a worse forecasting record during this period than the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street.

BBC: Inflation: Balancing the risks

The BBC was unable to contact Threadneedle Property Investments for a comment.

BBC: Judge rejects Scunthorpe shopping centre appeal

Threadneedle had supported Nasdaq's 950 pence per share offer, considering it closer to a fair takeout value than previous bids by rival suitors.

FORBES: Nasdaq Has A Trick Up Its Sleeve

"Lower tail risks have helped propel markets higher over the past half year, " said William Davies, head of global equities at Threadneedle, a UK asset manager.

CNN: Fear index plummets to a 5?-year low

Threadneedle Property Investments, owners of the Foundry shopping centre in Scunthorpe's High Street, was asking for the right to appeal against a High Court judgement that ruled the plan could go ahead.

BBC: Judge rejects Scunthorpe shopping centre appeal

The arrival of a new governor at Threadneedle Street provides a perfect opportunity for such a debate to happen, without anyone getting too defensive (not that anyone would dare call Sir Mervyn King defensive).

BBC: The Bank of England, the chancellor, and the target

These then morphed into "banks for bankers" - clearing houses which would mop up liquidity among the middle and upper classes and spread it through the private banking system (in the lobby of the Bank of England there is a nice painting of the English bourgeoisie queuing up at Threadneedle Street on Dividend Day by George Elgar Hicks).

BBC: Central banks are part of the state