| Updated:
Barclays has “encouraging” start to year says Diamond
Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond said the bank has had an “encouraging” start to the year, across key areas such as retail and investment banking.
Commercial and investment banking had enjoyed a “pleasing” increase in volumes, continuing a strong January, Diamond told Reuters, repeating comments made to analysts and investors at a Morgan Stanley conference.
He added the retail business had also had a good start to the year.
Investment banking in particular had been hit hard in the second half of 2012 at most major firms by turmoil in the Eurozone.
Meanwhile HSBC chairman Douglas Flint, speaking at the same conference, said: “2012 has started well, the first quarter.”