Barclays Share News (BARC)

The Archbishop of Canterbury joined the prime minister in a staunch defence of Christian Britain yesterday, as Nick Clegg called for an end to the link between church and state. The Most Rev Justin Welby said he had found it "quite baffling" to see the vociferous response to David Cameron's "moving" Easter declaration that Britain should be proud of its status as a Christian country. - The Wall Street Journal EuropeTwo of Britain's biggest companies, AstraZeneca and Barclays, were given a public mauling by shareholders over pay and bonuses yesterday as the City's top fund managers threatened to stage a repeat performance of their spring uprising of two years ago. Shareholders speaking for 38.5% of AstraZeneca voted against the remuneration report at the drugs group's annual meeting. - The TimesThe BBC has announced it has suspended its membership of the CBI following the business lobbying organisation's decision to register as a supporter of the No campaign [in Scotland]. A short statement issued by the Corporation said the decision had been taken in conjunction with the CBI in order to protect the public sector broadcaster's neutral political stand-point. - The ScotsmanAn EU tax on financial transactions is set to move closer next week with Britain expected to suffer an embarrassing defeat in its legal attempt to block the move. The levy, pushed by France and Germany, could wipe more than £3.6bn from the value of UK shares and bonds, according to some estimates, and has been described as "deadly" for the financial sector. - The TimesBarclays has become embroiled in a row with one of its biggest investors after being criticised over the bank's decision to increase bonuses last year despite a fall in profits. Sir David Walker, chairman of Barclays, and Sir John Sunderland, head of the bank's remuneration committee, rounded on Standard Life Investments after the fund manager spoke out at the lender's annual shareholder meeting saying it was "unconvinced" of the need to pay such large bonuses. - The Daily Telegraph Amazon, whose shares have dropped sharply in the past three months, announced rapidly growing earnings on Thursday amid a flurry of new initiatives. The company said that its revenue rocketed 23% to $19.74bn in the first three months of this year, compared with $16.07bn at the same time a year ago, above analysts' expectations. - The GuardianAB