Barclays to up cap allocation, headcount in India

"There is a huge demand for structured financial products in the country...We expect the market to double this year to $ 2-billion," Barclays Capital's Managing Director Dixit Joshi told PTI here.

"We will be increasing our capital allocation besides raising our headcount in India," Joshi said without disclosing further details.

With more peers entering the Indian market, competition is hotting up, Joshi said, adding that not only is the market growing rapidly but there is also an increasing awareness amongst Indian investors who were now demanding sophisticated products.

"Investors here are now realising that there are products available that not only protect their capital but also give upside returns," he said.

Barclays Capital's present customer base comprises of asset managers, security-broking houses, high networth individuals (HNIs), large brokers and private banks.

On its India-strategy, Joshi said that "India features high as one of our priority markets...Our focus now is on growing the market here."