Barclays posts 10 rise in H1

However,the bank saw higher impairment charges in the retail banking segment,especially in India and UAE.

The banking entity8217;s total income jumped by 37 per cent to 16.25 billion pounds in the first six months of the current fiscal.

The company posted an eight per cent increase in profit before tax PBT of 2.98 billion pounds for the half year ended June 30,2009.

8220;The environment has remained very difficult in 2009 as a consequence of the onset during 2008 economic recession in most parts of the world in which we operate. But we were nonetheless solidly profitable,reporting a first half profit of 3 billion pounds,8221; Barclays said.

The group8217;s investment banking arm Barclays Capital saw its PBT double to 1.04 billion pounds as a result of a strong performance in the underlying business,including the impact of the Lehman Brothers North American businesses acquisition.