Trading Statement

Barclays PLC
24 May 2007

                                                                   24th May 2007

                                  BARCLAYS PLC

                                 TRADING UPDATE

'Barclays has had a strong start to the year. We continued to deliver
double-digit profit growth on top of the outstanding performance in 2006 and
made further significant investments across our businesses.'

John Varley, Group Chief Executive


Barclays profit before tax for the first quarter of 2007 was 15 per cent ahead
of the first quarter of 2006. Excluding gains from the sale and leaseback of
property, profit before tax grew 10 per cent. Performance was particularly
strong at Barclays Capital, which had its best quarter ever.


Business Commentary

Global Retail and Commercial Banking

UK Retail Banking delivered good growth in profit before tax. Growth in net
interest income, reflecting a strong deposit performance, was moderated by lower
net fees and commissions and other income. Market share of net new mortgages
continued to improve. In UK Business Banking strong growth in profit before tax
was driven by continued good income growth. We are on track to report a further
two percentage point cost:income ratio improvement in UK Banking in 2007.

Profit before tax at Barclaycard improved on the run rate of the second half of
2006: income and expenses were broadly stable and the impairment charge was
lower. Barclaycard US is on track to be profitable in 2007. Barclaycard
completed the Monument credit card portfolio sale on 4th April 2007.

International Retail and Commercial Banking - excluding Absa profit grew
strongly, excluding the contribution of FirstCaribbean International Bank, which
was sold at the end of 2006. Income growth was strong and we continued to invest
in the distribution network and infrastructure. International Retail and
Commercial Banking - Absa delivered a very strong increase in profit before tax
in Rand terms, driven by very strong growth in loans and good growth in
deposits. Profit before tax in Sterling declined slightly owing to Rand
depreciation.


Investment Banking and Investment Management

At Barclays Capital very strong profit growth was driven by broadly based income
contributions across asset classes and regions, with excellent results in
commodities, equities and mortgage products. The rate of profit growth was
higher than the rate of growth in average DVaR. The acquisition of EquiFirst
completed on 30th March 2007.

Barclays Global Investors delivered good growth in US Dollar income and profit.
Profit before tax in Sterling saw a slight decline due to the depreciation of
the US Dollar. The acquisition of Indexchange Investment AG completed on 8th
February 2007.

Barclays Wealth delivered strong profit growth, driven by increased client funds
and greater transaction volumes. Investment continued in client facing staff and
infrastructure to drive future performance.


Capital

At 31st March 2007 Barclays Tier 1 Capital ratio was broadly in line with its
targeted ratio of 7.25%.

Barclays completed its second parallel run under Basel II and reaffirms its
expectation of a modest reduction in capital requirements.



                                    - ENDS -



Notes

1. Key trends set out above, unless stated otherwise, relate to the three months
   to 31st March 2007, and are compared to the corresponding three months of
   2006.
2. Trends in income are expressed after the deduction of 'net claims and
   benefits on insurance contracts'.
3. There have been a number of changes to the Group structure and reporting for
   2007. The businesses impacted are: UK Retail Banking, Barclaycard,
   International Retail and Commercial Banking and Barclays Wealth. There is no
   change to Group profit. Details of this restatement will be published ahead
   of the Interim results. The above narrative refers to the Group structure
   prior to this restatement.


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, 24th May 2007. The telephone number for UK
callers is 0845 359 0170 ([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

2007 Interim Results Announcement           Thursday, 2nd August 2007
Ex Dividend Date                            Wednesday, 15th August 2007
Dividend Record Date                        Friday, 17th August 2007
Dividend Payment Date                       Monday, 1st October 2007


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 International Financial Reporting Standards (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, the success of future
acquisitions and other strategic transactions 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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