UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549


FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

June 2008

Barclays PLC and
Barclays Bank PLC
(Names of Registrants)

1 Churchill Place
London E14 5HP
England
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

      
Form 20-F x     Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     
Yes     No x

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):


This Report is a joint Report on Form 6-K filed by Barclays PLC and Barclays
Bank PLC. All of the issued ordinary share capital of Barclays Bank PLC is
owned by Barclays PLC.

This Report comprises:

Information given to The London Stock Exchange and furnished pursuant to
General Instruction B to the General Instructions to Form 6-K.

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

        
Response to Press Comment and Trading Update

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of the registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

         
                                                     BARCLAYS PLC
                                                     (Registrant)
 

Date: May 16 2008                   

       By:   /s/ Patrick Gonsalves
                                                         ----------------------
                                                         Patrick Gonsalves
                                                         Deputy Secretary
 
                                                     BARCLAYS BANK PLC
                                                     (Registrant)
 


 
Date: May 16 2008

                      By:   /s/ Patrick Gonsalves
                                                         ----------------------
                                                         Patrick Gonsalves
                                                         Joint Secretary

 

 


 

 


 

BARCLAYS
 
PLC

16 June
 2008

Response to press comment
 and trading update

Barclays
 
notes recent speculation
 regarding the possible issuance of new equity by 
Barclays
 by way of a placing and pre-emptive offer to 
existing 
shareholders
. 
 
The Board of 
Barclays
 confirms 
this is currently under active consideration
. 
 
A further announcement will be made i
n the event that the Board of 
Barclays
 
decides to pursue 
such 
an equity issuance.

In respect of current trading, 
Barclays
 
Group profit before tax in May was well ahead of the monthly run rate for 2007. Relative to May 2007, Global Retail and Commercial Banking continued to deliver strong growth in profits and in Investment Banking and Investment Management profits were in line.
  


-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
 

Investor Relations
Media Relations
Mark Merson
Alistair Smith
+44 (0) 20 7116 5752
+44 (0) 20 7116 6132
John McIvor
Robin Tozer
+44 (0) 20 7116 2929
+44 (0) 20 7116 6586





About 
Barclays
Barclays
 PLC is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, 
Barclays
 operates in over 50 countries and employs 135,000 people
.
 We move, lend, invest and protect money for over 27 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about 
Barclays
, please visit our website 
www.barclays.com
.

This announcement does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.