This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33754901
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
HSBC's pre-tax profit up 10% in first half of the year | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Profit at Europe's largest bank, HSBC, was up 10% in the first half of this year compared with a year ago on strong earnings in Hong Kong. | |
Pre-tax profit was $13.6bn (£8.7bn) in the first six months, compared with $12.3bn a year ago - higher than forecasts which were for $12.5bn. | |
The lender also announced the sale of its Brazil unit to banking giant Banco Brandesco for $5.2bn. | The lender also announced the sale of its Brazil unit to banking giant Banco Brandesco for $5.2bn. |
The move comes as it tries to reduce costs with plans to cut 50,000 jobs. | The move comes as it tries to reduce costs with plans to cut 50,000 jobs. |
"We are executing the actions that we announced at our investor update in June and our focus is on making significant progress during the remainder of the year," the London-based bank said in a statement on Monday. | "We are executing the actions that we announced at our investor update in June and our focus is on making significant progress during the remainder of the year," the London-based bank said in a statement on Monday. |
The sale of its Brazilian operations marks the bank's retreat from the second-largest emerging market, where it has about 21,000 employees. | The sale of its Brazilian operations marks the bank's retreat from the second-largest emerging market, where it has about 21,000 employees. |
The bank has been looking to withdraw from underperforming markets and also wants to sell its business in Turkey. It operates in 70 countries worldwide. | |
Considering relocation | |
HSBC has also been considering moving its global headquarters from London, and confirmed a decision by its board would be made by the end of this year. | |
Its revenues rose by 4% to $30.8bn in the same period, with its Asian operations helping to drive earnings. | |
Asia accounted for nearly 70% of the bank's pre-tax profit as the firm considers moving its headquarters to Hong Kong. | |
HSBC's Hong Kong listed shares were up 1.4% after the results, outperforming the benchmark Hang Seng index, which is down almost 1%. |