23 APRIL 1988, Page 21

Bit of fun from Barclays

BARCLAYS' board faces what is billed as a sticky meeting next week, when share- holders are asked to approve its gargan- tuan rights issue. You shouldn't own bank shares if you can't take that sort of joke. Critics, all the same, will point out that, on the news, Barclays' own stockbroking busi- ness rated Barclays' shares a sell. The board should reply that, on the same news, National Westminster's stockbroking busi- ness rated Barclays' shares a buy.