Barclays to raise loans by £11bn

Barclays promised to increase loans to customers by £11bn this year - a 6% increase on its loan book at the end of 2008 - at the bank’s annual meeting on Thursday, at which shareholders criticised the board’s decision to seek investment from the Middle East. In signs of ongoing investor dissent, a significant minority of shareholders – representing more than 16% of total shares voted – opposed the reappointment of Marcus Agius, the bank’s chairman. Separately, the FT reports that Barclays’ largest shareholder, Qatar Holding, has cut its stake in bank to 5.8% from 6.4%.