Barclays smashes a $2.8 billion deal to buy mortgage lender Kensington Barclays (BARC.L) has struck a deal worth around 2.3 billion pounds ($2.8 billion) to buy specialist lender Kensington Mortgage Company, extending its reach in Britain’s housing market. The acquisition represents one of Barclays’ biggest recent transactions and a sizeable bet on the property market.Kensington …