Barclays (BCS)

Expansion into Emerging Markets: Barclays' International Retail and Commerical Banking has exhibited substantial growth, with expansion into India, South Africa, and South America most notably contributing to IRCB's bottom line.

Starving for capital and hell-bent on retaining its handsome dividend, Barclays PLC (ADR: BCS) plans to raise $8.9 billion (4.5 billion pounds) by selling shares to investment banks and sovereign wealth funds around the world.

As much as 1.58 million shares will be sold to existing investors China Investment Bank and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings Pte. Ltd., as well as new investors Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Qatar Investment Authority and Challenger - a fund that represents "the beneficial interests" of Qatar’s royal family. The investment, which will be made through the group’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. unit, underscores an evolving trend among large Japanese banks that have so far been unaffected by the subprime collapse.

Barclays, Britian’s fourth-largest bank, said the proceeds will help lift the bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio above its 5.25% target, preserve capital for its dividend and help the bank’s veiled acquisition plans, or "opportunities for new business," as Chief Executive Officer John Varley put it in a statement. And though Varley didn’t say it, the capital is needed to catch up with rivals including Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (ADR: RBS) and also give a layer of armor to protect itself from the credit plague circulating throughout European banks.

Continuing Buy Back Programme: Barclays continues to purchase it's own shares to ensure existing shareholders are not diluted by July's £2.4bn share issue to China Development Bank and Temasek, indicating liquidity remains strong despite the current squeeze in credit markets.

Decreasing Costs in Strongest Segments: Barclays has managed to increase profits before taxes and cut operational costs year on year in both of its highest profit contributing segments: Barclays Capital and UK Business Banking.