Barclays suffers US$1.6bil first-half loss

Big loss: ATMs outside a Barclays Plc bank branch in London. The bank made a 1.4bil loss on the sale of 33 of Barclays Africa Group and took a further 1.1bil impairment charge on the sale. — Bloomberg

British bank takes big hit from sale of its African business

LONDON: Barclays reported a £1.2bil (US$1.57bil) attributable first half loss after taking a £2.5bil hit from the sale of its Africa business and calling an end to its restructuring.