Absa Group Trading Statement

RNS Number:8445P
Barclays PLC
19 January 2007


                                                              19th January 2007

                                  Barclays PLC


Shareholders are advised that Absa Group Limited, in which we have a
shareholding of over 56%, and Absa Bank Limited today issued the Trading
Statement set out below.


ABSA GROUP LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1986/003934/06)
ISIN: ZAE000067237
JSE share code: ASA
Issuer code: AMAGB
(Absa, Absa Group or the Group)


   ABSA GROUP TRADING STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006

In terms of the Listing Requirements of the JSE Limited (the JSE Listing
Requirements), a listed company is required to publish a trading statement as
soon as it becomes apparent that headline earnings per share and/or earnings per
share for the next period to be reported on are expected, with a reasonable
degree of certainty, to differ by at least twenty per cent (20%) from those of
the previous corresponding period.

Shareholders are advised that the Group's headline earnings per share for the
twelve months ended 31 December 2006 are expected to increase by between twenty
per cent (20%) and twenty-four per cent (24%) compared with the pro forma
headline earnings per share of 954,8 cents per share for the same period in
2005.

The Group's earnings per share for the twelve months ended 31 December 2006 are
expected to increase by between twenty-five per cent (25%) and twenty-nine per
cent (29%) compared with the pro forma earnings per share of 950,3 cents per
share for the same period in 2005.

The operating environment remained favourable throughout the year. Signs of a
slowdown in advances growth only appeared towards the end of the year, and
impairments increased moderately. Earnings were also positively impacted by the
realisation of synergies from leveraging Barclays expertise, by the sale of
non-core operations and by the strong investment markets.

The financial results on which this trading statement is based have not been
reviewed or reported on by Absa's auditors.

The Group's results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2006 will be
released on Sens on 20 February 2007.


Enquiries
Eric Wasserman
Group executive: Group Finance
Absa Group Limited
4th floor, Absa Towers East, 170 Main Street, Johannesburg
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
e-Mail: [e-mail]


Issued by:
Jacques Badenhorst
Head: Investor Relations
Absa Group Limited
4th floor, Absa Towers East, 170 Main Street, Johannesburg
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
e-Mail: [e-mail]


Lead sponsor:
Merrill Lynch South Africa (Proprietary) Limited


Co-sponsor:
Absa Capital, a division of Absa Bank Limited


Johannesburg
19 January 2007


Barclays PLC
For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations                 Media Relations
Mark Merson/James Johnson          Jason Nisse/Alistair Smith
[phone]/2927          [phone]/6132


Shareholders should note that the content and presentation of the results of
Absa Group Limited in respect of the year ended 31 December 2006 will differ
from those results as consolidated into the results of Barclays PLC because of
the following:

   *  changes in the Rand/Sterling exchange rate;
   *  adjustments for the amortisation of intangible assets, certain head
      office adjustments, transfer pricing and minority interests;
   *  Absa Capital's results are reported by Barclays within the Barclays
      Capital business and the remainder of the results of Absa Group Limited 
      are reported by Barclays within the International Retail and Commercial 
      Banking business.



ABSA BANK LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1986/004794/06)
ISIN: ZAE000079810
JSE share code: ABSP
(Absa Bank)


   ABSA BANK TRADING STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006

In terms of the Listing Requirements of the JSE Limited (the JSE Listing
Requirements), a listed company is required to publish a trading statement as
soon as it becomes apparent that headline earnings per share and/or earnings per
share for the next period to be reported on are expected, with a reasonable
degree of certainty, to differ by at least twenty per cent (20%) from those of
the previous corresponding period.

The current results are not comparable to those previously published due to a 
change in Absa Bank's financial year end.

Shareholders are advised that Absa Bank's headline earnings per share are 
expected to be between 1 685 and 1 805 cents per share for the twelve months 
ended 31 December 2006.

In addition, Absa Bank's earnings per share are expected to be between 1 740 
and 1 855 cents per share for the twelve months ended 31 December 2006.

The financial results on which this trading statement is based have not been
reviewed or reported on by Absa Bank's auditors.

Absa Bank's results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2006 will be
released on Sens on 20 February 2007.


Enquiries
Eric Wasserman
Group executive: Group Finance
Absa Group Limited
4th floor, Absa Towers East, 170 Main Street, Johannesburg
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
e-Mail: [e-mail]


Issued by:
Jacques Badenhorst
Head: Investor Relations
Absa Group Limited
4th floor, Absa Towers East, 170 Main Street, Johannesburg
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
e-Mail: [e-mail]


Lead sponsor:
Merrill Lynch South Africa (Proprietary) Limited


Co-sponsor:
Absa Capital, a division of Absa Bank Limited


Johannesburg
19 January 2007


Barclays PLC
For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations                 Media Relations
Mark Merson/James Johnson          Jason Nisse/Alistair Smith
[phone]/2927          [phone]/6132






                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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