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Barclays profit up to almost £3bn Barclays profit up to almost £3bn
(31 minutes later)
Barclays has announced pre-tax profits of £2.98bn for the first half of 2009. Barclays has announced an 8% rise in first-half profits, boosted by its investment banking division.
Profits for the year were slightly below analysts' forecasts of more than £3bn, but were up 8% on the £2.75bn it made in the first six months of 2008. Pre-tax profits for the first six months came in at £2.98bn ($5bn), although this was slightly below analysts' forecasts.
The results were boosted by the performance of its investment banking division, Barclays Capital, which saw profits double to more than £1bn. Its investment bank Barclays Capital saw profits double to more than £1bn, having picked up some still-successful operations from Lehman Brothers.
But profits at Barclays' UK retail banking arm more than halved, falling to £268m, from £690m a year ago. But profits at Barclays' UK retail banking arm more than halved.
Bad debts almost doubled. Impairments and other credit provisions jumped to £4.56bn, up 86% from £2.45bn in the first half of 2008. The BBC's business editor Robert Peston says the striking number in Barclays' results is the massive reduction in loans and investments across the world, which have come down from £2 trillion to £1.5tn.
Shares in Barclays rose 2% to 308.5 pence when trading began in London. Shares in Barclays rose 4.9% in early trading.
HSBC is also due to give its latest figures on Monday, with Lloyds and RBS reporting later in the week. Barclays is the first major UK bank to report its half-year figures, with Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland reporting later in the week.
Investment banking 'back'Investment banking 'back'
Neither Barclays nor HSBC have accepted government bail-outs. Barclays has not accepted government bail-outs.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme Investment banking is booming again - partly thanks to the frenzied attempts by big companies and governments to raise vast amounts of new money Robert Peston, BBC business editor href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2009/08/barclays_even_the_bad_times_ar.html">Read Robert's blog
Ralph Silva, banking analyst at Tower Group, said that not accepting government money would have contributed to Barclays Capital doing so well.Ralph Silva, banking analyst at Tower Group, said that not accepting government money would have contributed to Barclays Capital doing so well.
"Investment banking is back. If you are a big company you are going to gravitate towards the banks that have not received government funds," he said."Investment banking is back. If you are a big company you are going to gravitate towards the banks that have not received government funds," he said.
Profits at Barclays Capital rose to £1.05bn from £524m a year ago.Profits at Barclays Capital rose to £1.05bn from £524m a year ago.
Barclays also said it had gained more investment banking clients thanks to the acquisition of some Lehman Brothers businesses in 2008. But profits at its UK retail banking division fell 61% to £268m, from £690m a year ago.
Bad debts almost doubled. Impairments and other credit provisions jumped to £4.56bn, up 86% from £2.45bn in the first half of 2008.
'Strong performance''Strong performance'
The addition of some of the still-successful operations from Lehman Brothers also "increased significantly" Barclays' presence in the US, the bank said. Barclays said it had gained more investment banking clients thanks to the acquisition of some Lehman Brothers businesses in 2008.
Investment banking is booming again - partly thanks to the frenzied attempts by big companies and governments to raise vast amounts of new money Robert Peston, BBC business editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2009/08/barclays_even_the_bad_times_ar.html">Read Robert's blog The addition of some of the Lehman businesses also "increased significantly" Barclays' presence in the US, the bank said.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
The US now accounts for about 40% of its income.The US now accounts for about 40% of its income.
Barclays chief executive John Varley was upbeat on the bank's prospects for the rest of the year.Barclays chief executive John Varley was upbeat on the bank's prospects for the rest of the year.
"The investments we have made, particularly in our international businesses, are driving very strong income performance and allowing us to absorb the consequences of the economic downturn," he said."The investments we have made, particularly in our international businesses, are driving very strong income performance and allowing us to absorb the consequences of the economic downturn," he said.
"Our goal for 2009 is very clear: we seek to deliver another year of solid profitability. Our first half performance is a good start to this.""Our goal for 2009 is very clear: we seek to deliver another year of solid profitability. Our first half performance is a good start to this."
The BBC's business editor Robert Peston says the striking number in Barclays' results is the massive reduction in loans and investments across the world, which have come down from £2 trillion to £1.5tn.