Barclays clear ahead:

Shares in British clearing bank Barclays rose more than 10 per cent yesterday as it raised its first half profits and increased its potential for share repurchases this year to £700 from £500 million.

The shares reached a high of 1,465p, a gain of 137.5p, before falling back in afternoon trading, to stand a 105p higher at 1,432p at the close.