Barclays' Q1 earnings decline on falling returns on investments

London

BARCLAYS followed its US rivals in reporting falling investment banking revenues in a tough first three months of the year but investors welcomed signs of resilience under new chief executive Jes Staley.

The lender also said on Wednesday it was in discussions to sell its French retail banking operations to AnaCap Financial Partners, as part of efforts to shed "non-core" assets to cut costs and restore profits.