BOTH Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank in Botswana have reported significantly increased earnings for the first half of 1999, ended June 30. The two banks largely underpin the Botswana Stock Exchange, and account for 48,52%% of market capitalisation. Barclays’ price improved 34,5% to 44 thebe and StanChart was 29,6% up at 124,77 thebe. Pretax profits were 46,1-million pula for Barclays from 39-million and for StanChart 46,4-million pula against 34,2-million pula. Both banks increased their loan base substantially. Barclays’ loans and advances were up 68,9% to 1315 million pula and StanChart up 29,8% to 878-million pula.