Barclays profits soar

Barclays said today that profits at its UK banking business grew 9% to £1.36bn (€2bn), despite an £87m (€129m) charge to cover refunded overdraft fees.

The figures for the six months to June 30 emerged as Barclays confirmed group-wide profits of £4.1bn (€6bn), an increase of 12% on a year earlier.