Trading Statement

Barclays PLC
29 November 2005


                                                              29th November 2005
                                  BARCLAYS PLC
                                 TRADING UPDATE


'Barclays continues to deliver strong profit growth. The contributions are well
spread by business line and we expect 2005 full year earnings per share to be
broadly in line with market consensus.'

John Varley, Group Chief Executive


Individual Business Commentary

UK Banking continued to perform well and is making significant progress towards
achieving its productivity targets. UK Business Banking performed strongly as
balance sheet growth continued to drive income. UK Retail Banking delivered good
profit growth from a combination of a modest rise in revenues and strong cost
control.

Barclays Capital delivered very strong profit growth driven by higher client
related activity and increasing contributions from credit products, commodities
and the US businesses. Operating expenses increased broadly in line with income
growth reflecting continued investment in the business and higher performance
related costs.

Barclays Global Investors continued its excellent performance reflecting good
net new asset inflows in the active and iShares businesses and strong investment
results. Operating expenses increased as a result of significant investment in
the business and performance related costs.

Wealth Management delivered very strong growth, with income driven by higher
assets under management, good growth in loans and deposits and higher client
transaction volumes. Operating expenses increased modestly, with efficiency
savings offset by increased investment in the business and higher restructuring
costs.

Barclaycard trends in the third quarter remained consistent with the first half.
Income growth was good in UK cards and loans and very strong in International
cards. Average UK extended credit card balances remained broadly flat relative
to the first half whilst average UK loan balances continued to grow modestly.
Operating expenses increased mainly as a result of the Juniper acquisition. The
rate of growth in impairment charges for the nine months to end September was
consistent with first half trends. Combined with continued investment in the
business, this more than offset the growth in income.

International Retail and Commercial Banking performed strongly. Income was
driven by strong balance growth in the European mortgage businesses, African
corporate lending and a good performance by the Spanish funds business.
Operating expenses increased in line with the rate of income growth reflecting
continuing investment.

Absa has reported strong results for the half year ended 30th September 2005.
The performance was driven by good balance sheet growth, higher levels of
customer activity and the benign credit environment.

Group Income

Organic income growth was strong and broadly based.

Business level net interest margins have remained broadly stable relative to the
first half of 2005.

Group Operating Expenses

Organic operating expenses increased broadly in line with the rate of income
growth. The increase was primarily attributable to continued investment in the
global product businesses, performance related expenses, the expansion of
International Retail and Commercial Banking and head office relocation costs.

Risk Management

Wholesale and corporate credit conditions remained steady and potential credit
risk loan balances were stable versus the first half position. Retail potential
credit risk loan balances increased modestly in the third quarter. Delinquency
levels in UK cards continued to trend slightly higher and the rate of increase
in impairment was consistent with the first half. UK consumer loans impairment
rose at a slower rate than UK cards. Mortgage impairment was negligible.

Average DVaR in Barclays Capital remained consistent with the first half of
2005.


2005 Outlook

Barclays is expecting a rate of income growth for the full year broadly in line
with that achieved in the first half, with a similar rate of expense growth,
excluding the impact of Absa. Organic cost growth in the second half of 2005
will reflect continued expansion and investment in the business and higher
levels of marketing, information technology and performance related expenditure.

We continue to expect overall impairment charges, excluding Absa, to be
approximately in line with the last published Risk Tendency.

Barclays expects 2005 full year earnings per share to be broadly in line with
market consensus.



                                    - ENDS -

Notes

 1. Key trends set out above, unless stated otherwise, relate to the nine months
    to 30th September 2005, and are compared to the corresponding nine months of
    2004.
 2. Trends in income are expressed after the deduction of 'net claims and
    benefits on insurance contracts'.
 3. Individual business trends are reported excluding the impact of Absa.
 4. Absa earnings will be consolidated into Barclays from 27th July 2005. The
    reported results for Absa in the Barclays accounts will 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 (GMT) on Tuesday, 29th November 2005. The telephone number for UK
callers is 0845 301 4020 ([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.co.uk and a recording will be posted on the
website later.

Timetable
2005 Preliminary Results Announcement         Tuesday, 21st February 2006
Ex Dividend Date                              Wednesday, 1st March 2006
Dividend Record Date                          Friday, 3rd March 2006
2006 Annual General Meeting                   Thursday, 27th April 2006
Dividend Payment Date                         Friday, 28th April 2006
2006 Interim Results Announcement             Thursday, 3rd August 2006

All dates are provisional and subject to change.

For further information please contact

Investor Relations                           Media Relations
Mark Merson/James S Johnson                  Chris Tucker/Jo Thethi
[phone]/2927                    [phone]/6217

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, 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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