Barclays’ big read

We’re familiar with the concept of broadsheet newspapers producing tabloid editions, but credit research reports masquerading as novels? In an effort to sex up credit analysis, Barclays Capital’s European 2004 outlook is a 628-page book with a lurid cover design more reminiscent of Douglas Coupland or Stephen King than Gary Jenkins, who heads global credit research at the bank.

The cover blurb warns that a renegade analyst is going to reduce the credit universe to junk status.