Barclays Wealth launches protected series

Barclays Wealth has launched a new range of protected investments that will be available until January 9 2009: a five-year regular income bond linked to the DJ Stoxx 50 index of European supersector stocks offers a fixed annual income of 7.75% or a quarterly income of 1.9%. Capital is returned at maturity as long as the index has not fallen by more than 40% at any time and is lower than the starting level at maturity, with capital then reduced on a 1:1 basis.

The Super Tracker offers a three or five-year investment providing geared exposure to the FTSE 100, with the former providing 2.5 times the index up a maximum 50% return and the latter four times the rise up to a maximum of 100%. Capital is returned unless the FTSE 100 falls more than 50% at any time and is lower than the starting level, with capital then lost 1:1 with the index.

For full capital protection, the Protected FTSE Plan offers 1.25 times the rise of the index up to a maximum return of