Barclays fell another 9 per cent on Wednesday afternoon as fears about the health of the banking sector following the government’s latest bail-out persisted.

The UK’s second largest bank, which has more than halved in a week, closed 6.8p lower at 66.1p. Earlier in the session the bank’s shares had fallen as low as 47.4p, a fall of 35 per cent, amid speculation it could bring forward its annual results statement. The bank, which turned down the opportunity to participate in the government’s bank rescue earlier this week, is due to release full-year results on February 17.