"The performance of (investment unit) Barclays Capital was a core contributor to the profit numbers, whilst the impairment levels appear to be under control." Pre-tax profit at Barclays Capital surged 89 per cent to STG2.46 billion ($A4.33 billion) in 2009 after including results from operations bought from collapsed US bank Lehman Brothers. Barclays Capital has paid employees 38 per cent of the unit's 2009 income, down from 44 per cent a year earlier. By contrast, US investment banking giant Goldman Sachs cut its latest compensation ratio to 36 per cent from 48 per cent.