The group's cost-to-income ratio is in line with the ratio...

The group's cost-to-income ratio is in line with the ratio reported for March 2005 if the costs relating to the Barclays transaction and synergy initiatives are excluded. However, if the Barclays related costs are included, the cost-to-income ratio deteriorated from 56.6% in March 2005 to 58.0% in December 2005 owing to top-line income growth, at 17.9%, lagging expenditure growth over the period.