LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Shares in Britain's biggest bankswere higher in early trading after they passed the first of anew annual health check by the Bank of England.
The FTSE 350 Banks Index was up 0.8 percent at0808 GMT. Shares in Barclays were up 1.3 percent with HSBC up0.9 percent. State-backed Royal Bank of Scotland andLloyds Banking Group, which had the weakest passes,were both up by 0.5 percent.
(Reporting by Matt Scuffham)