Trading Statement

Barclays PLC
25 May 2006


                                                                   25th May 2006

                                  Barclays PLC
                                 Trading Update

                            Continued Strong Momentum


'Barclays performed very strongly in the first quarter. High levels of activity
with our customers and clients enabled us to deliver excellent profit growth. We
continue to benefit from our strategy of geographical and product
diversification. I look forward to another year of strong growth'.

John Varley, Group Chief Executive


Barclays reports continued very strong profit momentum across the Group. The
performance of UK Retail Banking continued to improve, and there has been
excellent growth in Wholesale and Institutional and very strong growth in
International Retail and Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. Cost growth
was driven by continued investment in organic development, performance related
pay and the inclusion of Absa. As expected, impairment in Barclaycard in the UK
continued to increase.


Business Commentary

UK Retail Banking income grew faster than the rate achieved for the full year
2005, underpinned by improvements in customer service, product promotion and
sales productivity. We are accelerating the pace of investment in restructuring
and operational infrastructure in 2006 to bring forward further improvements in
operating efficiency and customer service. UK Business Banking performed
satisfactorily with continued strong growth in the balance sheet. We remain on
track to report a 2% cost:income ratio improvement in UK Banking in 2006.

Barclays Capital delivered excellent growth in both income and profit reflecting
the success of recent investment, particularly in currencies, commodities and
equities. Our performance was at the top end of the comparable peer group.
Market risk, as measured by average DVaR, remained slightly below the 2005 year
end level.

Excellent income growth at Barclays Global Investors was driven by prior period
asset inflows and strong investment performance. We generated strong flows of
net new assets across the business in the first quarter of 2006 and continued to
invest in product development and infrastructure to support the growth of the
business.

Wealth Management delivered very strong income growth, driven by increases in
client funds and greater transaction volumes. We are accelerating investment in
client facing professionals and infrastructure to facilitate future growth.

Last year's trends continued at Barclaycard; very strong income growth was
offset by higher impairment charges in UK credit cards and consumer loans and by
investment in the business. The rate of growth in impairment at Barclaycard was
similar to the impairment trend for the full year 2005.

International Retail and Commercial Banking maintained very strong underlying
momentum across the business. Absa delivered profit growth ahead of plan and
synergies are beginning to be delivered.


Capital

The disposal of our stake in FirstCaribbean, announced on 13th March 2006, is
expected to complete in late 2006.

In recognition of historically low yields on property, we have taken action to
realise gains in part of our freehold property portfolio. These will arise
principally in UK Banking, where the gains are expected to be reinvested in the
business.

Strong balance sheet growth and continued investment in the business resulted in
a brisk rate of increase in risk weighted assets. Barclays continues to target a
year end Tier 1 capital ratio of about 7.25%.


Outlook

Based on current trends and market conditions, Barclays expects full year 2006
income, impairment and expenses to be significantly ahead of the current market
consensus, with the rate of income growth to be broadly in line with the rate of
expense growth.

                                    - ENDS -



Notes


 1. Key trends set out above, unless stated otherwise, relate to the three 
    months to 31st March 2006, and are compared to the corresponding three
    months of 2005.
 2. Trends in income are expressed after the deduction of 'net claims and
    benefits on insurance contracts'.
 3. Absa earnings are consolidated into Barclays from 27th July 2005. The
    reported results for Absa in the Barclays accounts include hedging and
    funding costs and a charge for the amortisation of intangible assets.


Trading Update conference call and webcast details

The Group Finance Director's briefing will be available as a live conference
call at 09.00 (BST) on Thursday, 25th May 2006. The telephone number for UK
callers is 0845 358 0087 ([phone] 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 Interim Results Announcement           Thursday, 3rd August 2006
Ex Dividend Date                            Wednesday, 16th August 2006
Dividend Record Date                        Friday, 18th August 2006
Dividend Payment Date                       Monday, 2nd October 2006

All dates are provisional and subject to change.


For further information please contact

Investor Relations                              Media Relations

Mark Merson/James S Johnson                     Stephen Whitehead/Alistair Smith
[phone]/2927                       [phone]/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.







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