Data Exercise: BARCLAYS PLC CEO's Statement Analysis - Essay Example

ay’s strategy to diversify and expand its operations outside the UK and to solicit international business, especially through its controlling stake acquired in the South African bank Absa. The Chairman provides evidence to support the strong ethical nature of Barclay banking practices, because they are reflected in the high banking of the bank in terms of ethical indices. His statements about inclusion also reflect Barclays’ strengths, in that it has been reaching out to the marginalized sections of society and offering banking services to individuals who previously did not have access to the banking system.

The CEO’s statement also provides evidence about Barclays’ commitment to global climate change, since it is maintaining a control over its suppliers through environmental and social screening, so that most of the energy used across the UK is from renewable sources. The CEO also mentions that profits at Barclays are being sustained, with headline profit before tax reflecting a 15% increase as compared to the first quarter of 2006. He mentions the growth in Barclay capital but notably neglects to mention Barclay credit, which unwittingly provides evidence that this sector may be facing losses.

The CEO’s assessment of powerful global changes taking place in the financial markets is correct. However, he views these changes as positive, while financial experts and pundits who analyze the global financial markets see this as a negative trend, since worries about global credit have resulted in a lowering of the value of banking companies.(www.news.bbc.co.uk). Varley views the areas of future growth being in the demand for banking products in the developing countries – products such as bond markets and derivatives, which involve the element of risk and speculation.

But the concerns about credit that are being expressed in global financial circles are of itself, the reason why the future potential of such markets does not look good. A massive bank such