FTSE 100 bank Barclays hands shareholders another £500m as profits jump 12% to £2.3bn despite missing City forecasts

From the Newshound archive · first published 22 October 2026.

Barclays' investment bank was the weak link, bringing in £3.1bn against the £3.3bn analysts expected. Fixed income trading slumped 19% on lower client activity in rates and credit. Equities traders made up some ground, surging 47% to £1bn on market turmoil from the US-Iran war. Overall pre-tax profit for July to September fell just short of the £2.4bn consensus, leaving boss CS Venkatakrishnan's overhaul under scrutiny.

Cost-cutting drove the gains, with £201m stripped out, up from £93m a year earlier.

Group return on tangible equity hit 13.8%, with Venkat targeting above 14% by 2028.

The bumper payout lands while UK banks brace for a tax increase in the budget.