Banking giant HSBC said on Monday that profits fell in the first half because one-off gains were not repeated and after a weaker showing at its investment arm. The Asia-focused lender meanwhile warned over the dangers of "risk aversion" by its bankers in the wake of industry-wide scandals. Net profit dropped five percent to $9.746 billion (7.259 billion euros) in the six months to June 30 compared with $10.284 billion in the first half of 2013, the British bank said in a statement.
Reported profit before tax dropped to $12.3 billion as last year's first half benefited from higher gains from disposals and reclassification of HSBC's interest in China's Industrial Bank. Pre-tax profit at HSBC's investment division dropped 12 percent to $5.0 billion in the first half. HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver said that the bank's overall interim results "demonstrate the resilience" of its business model.
"Whilst regulatory uncertainty persists, our balance sheet remains strong and our continuing ability to generate capital supports both growth and our progressive dividend policy," he added in the statement. The lender is pushing on with its savings programme, having announced last year plans to cut costs by up to a further $3.0 billion by 2016. HSBC chairman Douglas Flint meanwhile used Monday's results statement to draw attention to another challenge - risk-taking by its bankers amid regulatory clampdowns and record fines for the sector.
"Greater focus on conduct and financial crime risks at all levels of the firm globally is clearly the right response to past shortcomings," said Flint. "There is, however, an observable and growing danger of disproportionate risk aversion creeping into decision-making in our businesses as individuals... seek to protect themselves and the firm from future censure." A month ago, French bank BNP Paribas pleaded guilty to US criminal charges of violating sanctions on Iran and Sudan for eight years and was fined a record $8.9 billion.
Banks have also been hit by billions of dollars of fines over rate-rigging scandals and a slew of new regulations after the onslaught of the global financial crisis revealed the scale of recklessness in global financial markets. HSBC said on Monday that its underlying revenue fell 4.0 percent to $31.36 billion in the first half, while operating expenses rose 2.0 percent to $18.24 billion.
"Against a backdrop of continuing low interest rates and reduced financial market volumes, HSBC produced a suitably well-balanced financial performance," said Flint. "At a time of residual concerns over the sustainability of economic growth in many major markets and with heightened geopolitical tensions apparent, the board supported management's view that this was not the time to expand risk appetite to offset the effect of lower revenues," he added.