I wonder how much they really need?

Austin Tassletine, South West , UK

They don't want government intervention because that would mean regulation . Regulation mean's a cut in profits , so we can assume Barclays will not have the consumers interest's anywhere on it's to do list from here on in .
Time to close the account me-think's.

Nick , Sutton Coldfield, England

Institutional shareholders are invited to take part in the capital raising, not small shareholders. Given the huge discounts for the new shares, & the massive commissions being paid, small shareholders are paying a heavy price in dilution for the management's past errors. Power & wealth win again.

N Reed, London, UK

Can someone explain why this move has a positive effect on the share price when in effect the share capital has been diluted considerably?

Dan Barlow, Birmingham, UK

What Barclays don't mention is the extent to which they have written down the value of their sub prime exposure. It is widely known within the city that they haven't marked their exposure down by anywhere near the extent other major banks have & this could lead to further 'shock' writedowns.

AJ, London, UK

The decision by the board has one main reason, the same reason as always - pay and bonuses.

If they go with the government the Board pay is restricted on bonuses, this way they shaft their shareholders, but get to set their own exhorbitent bonuses!! It's all down to greed.

Andrew Johnson, Christchurch, UK

Barclays made a sensible choice to be free of UK govt control .

The correct deal is 4 the UK to buy shares, no strings, pay interest/divididend & guarantee & sell back into the market or the bank as soon as poss but no longer than ten years . Brown control freak shows thru and damages UK

Bill Hollis , maldon, uk

Oh, great. So now after exposing whats happening in Saudi funded UK mosques, the same people have a massive stake in one of the largest UK banks. The world is gong down the toilet.

Joe, Manchester,

This is severely diluting small shareholders in particular and less so institutional shareholders.

How can the directors get away with it?

A Government deal would be better for exisitng small shareholders than this - what's happened to pre-emptive rights?

David, London,

They would rather sell their souls to the devil than take government money that comes with so many strings attached you could start an orchestra... and their playing the funeral march!

Rex Lester, Surbiton, UK

What does this tell you about the Bank fear of letting this Government get a 'hold' on it (Barclays) - if their profits are slightly up in the present climate, this shows good judgement. Not letting this UK Government get a 'hold', also shows very good judgement

chris, Hitchin, UK

So Barclays is now in favour of nationalisation - just as long as it's a foreign government that owns it.

Stewart, Glasgow,

hang on...first the middle east is labelled a hotbed of terrorist activity and now suddenly they're all ok again? geez..what'll happen next? the uk will stop being a hotbed of institutionalized xenophobia?

mike clarke, stevenage,