Barclays share price history
Barclays share price is motivated by a number of things – as is any share price to be fair. Included in this extensive list of factors is the history of the institution, the underlying assets and the future of the group involved. World situations, political considerations and even the weather all play their part in Barclays share price and the movement of banking shares in general.
Barclays PLC
With headquarters in London UK, Barclays is a global banking and financial services company. With operations in over 50 countries, including Africa, Europe, Asia, North and South America. As of 2010 it is the world’s 10th largest financial services group with over 48 million customers world-wide.
Assets total over 1.94 trillion euros (as of 30th june 2010) which puts it third in the list of top world banks after BNP Paribas and HSBC. Primarily listed on the London Stock Exchange in the FTSE 100, it is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Barclays Bank Roots
Barclays can trace its roots back to 1690 – 5 years earlier than the earliest Scottish bank, the Bank of Scotland – when John Freame and Thomas Gould started up business as Goldsmith bankers in London. When James Barkley, one of the early founders and the son-in-law of John, became a partner in 1736 the name’ Barclays’ was forever associated with Barclays bank. An indication of the influence this particular character had perhaps?
Moving to Lombard street in 1728, the bank adopted the ‘black eagle’ symbol which has subsequently been the trademark of the Barclays bank.
Names associated with Barclays
There have been many names associated with Barclays bank over the years as Barclays changed with the times and more accurately the partners.
1690 we have Goldsmith Bankers, 1736 bank becomes associated with the name ‘Barclays’.
1776 we have ‘Barclay, Bevan and Bening’ . 1785 when another partner, John Tritton was admitted to the board, it was changed to’ Barclay, Bevan, Barclay and Tritton’.
A major change occurred in 1896 when several banks around London and the surrounding English provinces united to form ‘Barclays and co’. This was further extended between 1905 and 1916 with acquisitions of smaller banks.
Further acquisitions of smaller English banks continued, including the British Linen Bank in 1919.
Changes have of course continued apace over the years but the name ‘Barclays’ has held on. Now an international player of some repute on the global banking scene, Barclays bank has become a household name and the Barclays share price of some ‘domestic’ importance to small share holders.
With the huge changes that all banks have seen in this century Barclays bank it is fair to say would be virtually unrecognisable to it’s early founders. The growth of ‘digital finance’ and a multitude of lending facilities and opportunities as well as the global aspect of banking in these times is a world away from the early banks ideals.
Barclays Future:
As an international player on the banking scene Barclays future in my opinion (for what it’s worth) is as stable as any and perhaps stronger than most. The Barclays share price will of course go in any one of two directions – up and down ! Now hugely involved in world events and the various problems and opportunities that this represents, I have no doubt that Barclays bank will be one of the survivors in the present and coming economic turbulence that the world is experiencing at this time.