Barclays profits surge amid investment bank boost

Barclays saw first-half profits jump 17 per cent as its investment bank cashed in on financial market dealmaking and activity.

The rise helped offset the banking group setting aside more to cover bad debts.

Barclays reported a pre-tax profit of £6.1 billion for the first six months of the year, up from £5.2 billion in the same period a year ago.

The lender said its balance sheet was boosted by higher income from divisions including its UK bank, which rose by eight per cent year-on-year to £4.5 billion, and its investment bank, which jumped by 11 per cent to £8 billion.

Bosses say it benefited from greater levels of activity from investors in global markets and increased income from equities, with higher fees delivering a boost to its investment banking arm.

However, the banking giant said its credit impairment charges for bad loans increased to £1.4 billion for the half-year period, which was up from £1.1 billion the year before.

This was largely driven by a one-off hit of £228 million relating to a single company affecting its investment banking operations in the first quarter of 2026.

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