Barclays Plc H1 Pretax Profit Rises - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - British lender Barclays plc (BARC.L, BCS) reported that first-half pretax profit increased 25 percent to 3.11 billion pounds from 2.50 billion pounds in the prior-year period. Profit to ordinary equity holders of the parent was 1.61 billion pounds, up 43 percent from 1.13 billion pounds in the year-ago quarter, and earnings per ordinary share grew to 9.7 pence from last year's 7.0 pence.

Excluding items, adjusted profit before tax was 3.73 billion pounds, compared to last year's 3.35 billion pounds, reflecting improvements across all core operating businesses.

Adjusted Group attributable profit was 2.16 billion pounds, compared to 1.76 billion pounds in the prior year. Adjusted basic earnings per share was 13.1 pence, compared to 10.9 pence last year.

Net interest income grew to 6.20 billion pounds from 6.08 billion pounds last year. Total income was 14.14 billion pounds, up from 13.62 billion pounds a year ago.

The lender also reported a 7 percent reduction in total adjusted operating expenses to 8.26 million pounds, driven by savings from strategic cost programmes.

Further, the Board has concluded that it is appropriate to plan for a 6.5 pence dividend for 2015, the same level as 2014. The company said a second interim dividend of 1 pence will be paid on September 14, 2015.