UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
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FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
November 2006
Barclays PLC and
Barclays Bank PLC
(Names of Registrants)
1 Churchill Place
London E14 5HP
England
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No x
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
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This Report is a joint Report on Form 6-K filed by Barclays PLC and Barclays
Bank PLC. All of the issued ordinary share capital of Barclays Bank PLC is
owned by Barclays PLC.
This Report comprises:
Information given to The London Stock Exchange and furnished pursuant to
General Instruction B to the General Instructions to Form 6-K.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Trading Statement dated November 28, 2006
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of
the registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BARCLAYS PLC
(Registrant)
Date: November 28, 2006 By: /s/ Patrick Gonsalves
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Patrick Gonsalves
Deputy Secretary
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
(Registrant)
Date: November 28, 2006 By: /s/ Patrick Gonsalves
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Patrick Gonsalves
Joint Secretary
28th November 2006
BARCLAYS PLC
TRADING UPDATE
"Our strategy of earn, invest and grow continues to deliver very strong profit
growth. We expect full year 2006 results to be in line with current market
consensus."
John Varley, Group Chief Executive
Business Commentary
UK Banking continued to perform strongly and the improvement in the cost:income
ratio achieved in the first half was maintained. UK Retail Banking sustained the
first half rate of income growth. The accelerated investment in the business
continued. Improvements in capacity, propositions and service levels resulted in
an increased share of net flow of new mortgages and savings. UK Business Banking
performed well, with continued strong balance sheet growth.
In Barclaycard strong income growth, both internationally and in the UK, was
more than offset by continued growth in impairment in the UK and by investment
in the business. The rate of growth in impairment charges continued the trend of
the first half, driven by a higher level of insolvencies. The flows of new
arrears and levels of delinquent balances have stabilised.
International Retail and Commercial Banking - Absa continued to perform very
well, driven by very strong growth in balances. Integration synergies are ahead
of plan. Reported balances and earnings in Sterling will be affected by the
weaker Rand. International Retail and Commercial Banking - excluding Absa
performed well, reporting strong growth across its businesses, partly offset by
higher costs arising from business development and from specific initiatives to
increase our distribution networks in Portugal, Italy and India.
Excellent growth in income and profit at Barclays Capital was broadly spread
across products and geographies. Income and profits for the third quarter were
higher than those of the corresponding period in 2005, which was very strong.
Headcount has risen since the half year reflecting continued business growth and
the acquisition of HomEq, a mortgage servicing business in the US, which
completed on 1st November 2006.
Barclays Global Investors continued its excellent performance. We continued to
invest in people and infrastructure. Income growth exceeded expense growth for
the nine months to the end of September, although by a smaller margin than in
the first half.
Increased client funds and higher transactional income drove a strong
performance in Barclays Wealth. We have made further investments in people and
infrastructure to support future growth.
Capital
Our property portfolio disposals continued in the second half as anticipated and
the gains are being substantially reinvested. We expect the disposal of our
stake in FirstCaribbean to complete in 2006. We expect the year-end Tier 1
capital ratio to be slightly above our target of 7.25%.
2006 Outlook
Barclays expects 2006 results to be in line with the current market consensus.
- ENDS -
Notes
1. Key trends set out above, unless stated otherwise, relate to the nine months
to 30th September 2006, and are compared to the corresponding nine months of
2005.
2. Trends in income are expressed after the deduction of 'net claims and
benefits on insurance contracts'.
3. 'International Retail and Commercial Banking - Absa' refers to the total
results for Absa Group Limited, excluding Absa Capital, consolidated into
the results of Barclays PLC, translated into Sterling with adjustments for
amortisation of intangible assets, certain head office adjustments, transfer
pricing and minority interests.
4. As at close of business 27th November 2006, the market consensus derived by
Barclays Investor Relations for profit before tax was GBP6,990m, and for
earnings per share was 69.6p.
Trading Update conference call and webcast details
The Group Finance Director's briefing will be available as a live conference
call at 09.00 (GMT) on Tuesday, 28th November 2006. The telephone number for UK
callers is 0845 301 4020 (+44 (0) 20 7663 4861 for all other locations), with
the access code 'Barclays Trading Update'. The briefing will also be available
as a live audio webcast on the Investor Relations website at:
www.investorrelations.barclays.com and a recording will be posted on the website
later.
Timetable
2006 Preliminary Results Announcement Tuesday, 20th February 2007
Ex Dividend Date Wednesday, 7th March 2007
Dividend Record Date Friday, 9th March 2007
2007 Annual General Meeting Thursday, 26th April 2007
Dividend Payment Date Friday, 27th April 2007
All dates are provisional and subject to change.
For further information please contact
Investor Relations Media Relations
Mark Merson/James S Johnson Jason Nisse/Alistair Smith
+44 (0) 20 7116 5752/2927 +44 (0) 20 7116 6223/6132
Forward-looking statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section
27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to certain of the
Group's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future
financial condition and performance. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current
facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as 'aim',
'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'estimate', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal',
'believe', or other words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking
statements include, among others, statements regarding the Group's future
financial position, income growth, impairment charges, business strategy,
projected levels of growth in the banking and financial markets, projected
costs, estimates of capital expenditures, and plans and objectives for future
operations.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because
they relate to future events and circumstances, including, but not limited to,
the further development of standards and interpretations under IFRS applicable
to past, current and future periods, evolving practices with regard to the
interpretation and application of standards under IFRS, as well as UK domestic
and global economic and business conditions, market related risks such as
changes in interest rates and exchange rates, the policies and actions of
governmental and regulatory authorities, changes in legislation, progress in the
integration of Absa into the Group's business and the achievement of synergy
targets related to Absa, the outcome of pending and future litigation, and the
impact of competition - a number of which factors are beyond the Group's
control. As a result, the Group's actual future results may differ materially
from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in the Group's forward-looking
statements. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Barclays
speak only as of the date they are made. Barclays does not undertake to update
forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in Barclays expectations with
regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which
any such statement is based. The reader should, however, consult any additional
disclosures that Barclays has made or may make in documents it has filed or may
file with the SEC.