Barclays 'optimistic' after profits surge

Barclays has cheered a strong start to the new year, with profits more than doubling in the first quarter as it edged closer to the end of a major restructuring programme.

The British lender said group pre-tax profit surged to £1.68bn (€1.98bn) in the three months to March 31, up from £793m (€937m) in the same period last year.