LONDON, April 30 (Reuters) - Barclays ( BCS ) reported

its first quarter profit rose a better than expected 19% on

Wednesday, as frenzied customer activity in the first three

months of the year boosted fixed income trading revenue and

dealmaking fees.

The British bank reported profit before tax for

January-March of 2.7 billion pounds ($3.62 billion), up from 2.3

billion pounds a year ago and above analysts' forecasts for 2.5

billion pounds according to LSEG data.

Income at the lender's investment bank rose 16% from a

year ago to 3.9 billion pounds in the first quarter, above

analysts' forecasts for 3.5 billion pounds.

($1 = 0.7469 pounds)