Barclays reported that group profit for the first six months of 2025 rose 23% from a year earlier, comfortably ahead of analysts’ estimates. Management said brisk client activity in the wake of market volatility triggered by the latest U.S. trade tariffs helped lift results. The investment-banking division led the out-performance. Fixed-income trading revenue climbed 26% to £1.45 billion, while equities trading income advanced 25% to £870 million, offsetting a softer period for deal underwriting. Second-quarter pretax profit reached £2.48 billion, also topping consensus forecasts. Buoyed by the stronger earnings, the London-based lender unveiled a fresh £1 billion (about $1.3 billion) share-buyback, taking total capital returned to shareholders in the first half to £1.4 billion. Barclays said it remains on track to meet the profitability and payout targets set in its three-year strategic plan.