Barclays pre-tax profits up 15%

Barclays Bank has announced a sharp rise in profits in the first three months of this year despite the ongoing financial crisis.
Profits before tax came in at £1.37bn ($2.07bn), up by 15% compared with the same period last year.
Total income almost doubled to a record £8.15bn because of strong performance at the group’s investment banking arm.
Separately, Lloyds Banking Group said it still expects to make a loss in 2009 despite „good progress“ made this year.

Without quoting specific figures, the bank said it had delivered „good revenue growth in the first quarter of 2009.“
The period had seen a „significant“ rise in impairments, Lloyds said in the statement that sent its shares down 10% in early trading, more than any other share in the FTSE 100.

However, the overall effect of the impairments will be reduced significantly by the bank’s participation in the government’s Asset Protection Scheme, which insures banks’ riskiest assets against further losses, Lloyds added.
„Our intended participation will substantially reduce the risk profile of the group’s balance sheet and significantly strengthen our capital position,“ Lloyds chief executive Eric Daniels said.
Strong results
Unlike Lloyds and RBS, Barclays has shunned government help, instead choosing to raise money privately.
„Income increased by 42% driven by very strong performance at Barclays Capital and by most of the international businesses within global retail and commercial banking,“ the bank said.
However, income from UK retail banking fell slightly.
The strong results were achieved despite losses from write downs of £2.61bn and increased costs related to the bank’s acquisition of parts of US bank Lehman Brothers last year.
Barclays boss John Varley said the bank’s performance reflected „the continued benefit of diversification“, including the purchase of Lehman.
„We generated strong income growth across most business lines driven by the investments we have made in expanding our international network,“ he said.
The bank recently agreed to sell its iShares fund management business to CVC Capital Partners to raise £3bn ($4.5bn).
While other High Street banks have accepted government money to help them through the credit crunch, Barclays has chosen instead to raise finance privately.
Last year, the bank raised £7bn from investors in the Middle East.
The bank has also not taken part in the government’s insurance scheme for toxic assets.
The Asset Protection Scheme uses government money to insure banks’ riskiest assets against further losses.
Barclays reported profits before tax of £6.08bn for 2008.