HONG KONG/LONDON: HSBC Holdings PLC posted a 65% drop in first-half pre-tax profit, more than expected, as the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on businesses forced the Asia-focused bank to boost its loan-loss provisions.
Europe's biggest bank by assets reported a pre-tax profit for the first six months this year of $4.32 billion, down from $12.41 billion in the same period a year earlier, according to its financial statement filed with the stock exchange.
The profit was lower than the $5.67 billion average of analysts' estimates compiled by the bank. - Reuters
