Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 as investor confidence about banks earnings started to increase.

Next week RBS is due to announce its full year results and the part-nationalised bank is expected to reveal a strong set of figures.

Earlier this week Barclays, which was not bailed out, announced a 32 per cent rise in pre-tax profit thanks to a near doubling of profits from its investment banking arm.

By 10:55 shares in Lloyds Banking Group were up 2.53 per cent to 68.89 pence per share, RBS shares were flat at 48.98 pence per share, Barclays shares increased 1.70 per cent to 337.65 pence per share and HSBC shares climbed 1.80 per cent to 734.50 pence per share.

Overall the FTSE 100 was down 0.02 per cent to 6,084.09.

Barclays HSBC FTSE