For better or worse, Citi is paring down to its core--retail and corporate banking. Now that Smith Barney seems to be out of the way, you have to wonder what it will sell next and to whom. The Financial Times notes that CitiFinancial (a consumer finance firm) and Primerica (insurance) are among the units that "were never completely integrated into the company after they were purchased."

Grupo Financiero Banamex is also said to be on the block, as are a lot of overseas operations. But Citi may have erred in waiting too long, the FT notes. The assets may have fetched more in early 2008, when buyers were more plentiful. But the Smith Barney deal proves that solid deals are possible. Stay tuned.  

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