Barclays Share News (BARC)

The banks were among the worst performers of the day on Monday as they awaited a the government's response to proposed changes to the sector by the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB).The ICB has recommended that lenders should be forced to ring-fence their High Street lending operations from the investment banking activities, as a means of ensuring that banks which drop a bundle investing in the markets can be allowed to go belly-up, without dragging down retail customers with them. The banking industry has vehemently opposed the restriction, arguing that it would restrict their ability to compete with international competitors. With Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne expected to endorse the proposals, banking stocks were out of favour today, with Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) falling.In other news, RBS is rumoured to be deciding whether of not to shut down more than half of its Global Banking and Markets (GBM) division. The operation may also see the bank offload stockbroking business Hoare Govett before a complete closure of its equity business. Some 18,900 employees at GBM have already been warned of the possibility of large-scale layoffs.One bank, Standard Chartered, was bucking the trend on reports that it could cut the size of its South Korean workforce by up to 13%. According to the Financial Times, the bank believes it will be the final stage of "a painful overhaul of costs and corporate culture" which this past summer sparked South Korea's longest banking strike, lasting two months. The broader financial sector was on the decline with Man Group, Icap and Hargreaves Lansdown in the red.Carnival led the risers ahead of its fourth quarter results tomorrow. Evolution Securities reiterated its buy rating on the cruise operator today, saying that it expects surplus cash-flow to jump sharply and much of this should be returned to shareholders via dividends and buy-backs.After raising its profits forecasts twice already this year, temporary power and temperature control provider Aggreko informed that full-year profits are expected to slightly ahead of the previous guidance given in October. Shares rose 1.3%. BCFTSE 100 - RisersCarnival (CCL) 2,188.00p +1.77%SABMiller (SAB) 2,182.00p +1.46%Unilever (ULVR) 2,096.00p +1.40%Aggreko (AGK) 1,841.00p +1.32%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,355.00p +1.29%Shire Plc (SHP) 2,137.00p +1.28%InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 1,080.00p +1.22%Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,100.00p +1.20%ARM Holdings (ARM) 557.00p +1.18%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) 144.60p +1.12%FTSE 100 - FallersMan Group (EMG) 123.90p -2.90%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 23.87p -2.57%BP (BP.) 435.30p -2.34%Vedanta Resources (VED) 1,061.00p -2.21%Fresnillo (FRES) 1,519.00p -2.19%Evraz (EVR) 360.90p -1.66%Intertek Group (ITRK) 1,890.00p -1.56%ICAP (IAP) 330.20p -1.37%Barclays (BARC) 169.25p -1.28%Tullow Oil (TLW) 1,312.00p -1.28%