Barclays builds on iShares sale hopes

As of shortly after 9am, the company had climbed more than 10 points, or 6.53%, to 168p, helping the FTSE to an early 32 point, or 0.82%, advance to 3,958. Reports suggest lawyers acting for both Barclays and London-based private equity house CVC Capital Partners worked through Wednesday night to complete the sale by the end of today. Completion of the sale, which will see Barclays retain a near 20% exposure to the iShares unit through warrants, will mark a major step forward in the British bank's efforts to bolster its capital position. Elsewhere, Lloyds Banking Group was up 3.3p, or...