Announcement Re Absa

Barclays PLC
24 October 2005

                                        

                                  BARCLAYS PLC 

                                                                 24 October 2005

Shareholders are advised that Absa, in which Barclays PLC has a shareholding of
over 56%, has today made the Trading Statement set out below.

Text of Absa announcement made on Monday 24 October 2005.

Absa Group Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1986/003934/06)
(JSE Code: ASA)(Issuer Code: AMAGB)
(ISIN : ZAE 000013389)
('Absa' or 'the Group')
Trading statement

In terms of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited ('the JSE Listing
Requirements') a listed company is required to publish a trading statement as
soon as it becomes apparent that the financial results for the next period to be
reported on are expected, with a reasonable degree of certainty, to differ by at
least 20% from those of the previous corresponding period.

The continued low interest rates and favourable retail trading environment have
resulted in an improvement in the operating performance of the retail operations
and a reduction in credit impairment levels of the Group. In addition, the
strong performance of equity markets has contributed positively to the results
of the Group.

Shareholders are accordingly advised that the growth in headline earnings per
share and earnings per share of the Group for the six months ended 30 September
2005 versus the comparable period in 2004 is expected to be slightly in excess
of twenty percent.

The forecast has not been reviewed or reported on by Absa's auditors. The
Group's results for the six months ended 30 September 2005 will be released on
21 November 2005.

By order of the board

Inquiries: Eric Wasserman 011 350-5887
Grant Lewis 011 350-5386
Issued by:
Willie Roux
Investor Relations
Absa Group Limited
4th floor, Absa Towers East, 170 Main Street, Johannesburg.
Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]



For further information, please contact:

Barclays PLC
Investor Relations                            Media Relations
James Johnson                                 Pam Horrell  
[phone]                          [phone]  

                         
               
            



                                       




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