barclays profits drop

Barclays has seen annual profits drop to £7.08bn, including a net loss of £1.6bn stemming from turbulence on the global credit markets.
Profits fell by 1% from £7.13bn a year earlier, but met market forecasts.

Barclays’ shares have fallen 40% in the past year on uncertainty over its exposure to US sub-prime mortgages following the US housing slowdown.

However, Barclays - which announced it would increase its dividend by 10% - said it was “confident” looking ahead.

Shares in the firm were 3% lower at 447 pence in early trade. However, analysts highlighted that this was part of a wider fall in banking shares, after Credit Suisse said quarterly profits would be $1bn less than forecast.
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sharp fall in profits for Bradford & Bingley

Lender Bradford & Bingley (B&B) has reported a sharp fall in profits after cutting the value of risky assets following the recent market turmoil.
Pre-tax profit almost halved to £126m in 2007 from £246.7m the year before, after the bank wrote down assets including those tied to US mortgages.

B&B’s shares tumbled in London on the news, sliding 12% to 214.5 pence.

Banks worldwide have been reporting massive losses related to problems in the ailing US housing market

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HMV shares rise

Shares in HMV rose by as much as 17% after it announced it had a “really cracking Christmas” period.

 Unlike some retailers who have seen shares decrease, the music and book firm said sales in the UK rose as much as 14.1% whilst sales at its Waterstone’s books chain increased by 4%.

 HMV now expected full year profits to be at the top of forecasts.