Barclays Close to Closing Non-Core Business, CEO Says

The transcript discusses Barclays' first quarter performance, highlighting strong growth and the nearing closure of non-core businesses. It outlines the strategy for separating from Barclays Africa, pending regulatory approval. The investment banking sector showed improvement, with notable achievements in capital markets, despite a strong previous year comparison.

What was a significant factor in Barclays' improved first quarter performance?

• Doubling of pretax profit

• Reduction in employee count

• Increased marketing expenses

• Expansion into new markets

What is the target date for closing Barclays' non-core unit?

• March 31st

• June 30th

• September 30th

• December 31st

Which asset is Barclays planning to sell to close out its non-core operations?

• Retail bank in Spain

• Retail bank in France

• Retail bank in Germany

• Retail bank in Italy

What is the main focus of Barclays' investment banking strategy?

• Becoming a global retail bank

• Being a transatlantic consumer corporate and investment bank

• Focusing solely on European markets

• Expanding into Asian markets

How did Barclays' investment banking revenue perform in the first quarter compared to the previous year?

• It was 100 basis points better

• It remained the same

• It decreased significantly

• It was 200 basis points worse