The group’s UK banking business saw a 9% rise in its profit before tax to GBP1.36 billion for the six month period, driven by solid growth in income. Barclays’s UK retail banking division also saw a 9% increase to GBP651 million, which was slightly offset by settlement fees in relation to overdraft charges, which the bank revealed reached GBP87 million.
Meanwhile, its securities unit, Barclays Capital, boosted profits after delivering record results with its two best quarters ever. The division saw profit surge 33% as a result of strong income performance, driven by continued strong growth across asset classes and regions, in particular across the structures credit and credit derivatives, equities, and commodities platforms.
The group also revealed that earnings per share rose 14% to GBP41.40, compared to GBP36.30 a year earlier.