- Dolphins ace Hill baffled by 'crazy' police arrest
- 'I let lot of people down', says Fritz after US Open final loss
- Vatican thriller 'Conclave' drums up Oscars buzz in Toronto
- More civilians killed hours after Sudan rejects UN experts' report
- Ronaldo strikes late to seal Portugal win over Scotland
- Drought sinks longest Polish river to record-low level
- East Timor prepares for first papal visit since independence
- Tearful Sinner dedicates US Open title to seriously ill aunt
- Three things on US Open champion Jannik Sinner
- Ten-man Spain sink Switzerland in 4-1 romp
- Hill sparks Dolphins comeback in wild NFL opening day
- Sinner sweeps to US Open title for second Grand Slam triumph
- Smith heroics for England remind Collingwood of Gilchrist
- Thousands protest Mexican judicial reform
- Nissanka leaves Sri Lanka in sight of third Test win over England
- Kendrick Lamar to headline 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
- Thousands defy roadblocks in rally for Pakistan ex-PM Khan
- Roglic wins record-equalling fourth Vuelta
- Russia advances in east Ukraine, launches deadly air strikes
- Cowboys quarterback Prescott agrees record $240 mln extension
- Swiss double in Paralympic wheelchair marathons, Dutch women retain basketball title
- New 'Beetlejuice' creeps its way to top of N.America box office
- South Africa captain Kolisi leaves Racing 92: French Top 14 club
- Funeral for slain athlete Cheptegei in Uganda on Sept 14
- Dolphins star Hill arrested on way to season-opener
- Smith hits back after England collapse against Sri Lanka
- Weather delays final regattas in Louis Vuitton Cup
- Venezuela's Gonzalez Urrutia: from placeholder to opposition pointman
- Marquez thanks rain for San Marino MotoGP win as leader Martin pays for gamble
- Boeing, union reach preliminary deal to avert Seattle-area strike
- Neuville wins Acropolis Rally to close in on world title
- Venezuela's opposition figure fled to Spain to save 'his life'
- Trump, Harris tied on eve of televised presidential debate
- Paris Paralympics the greatest ever, say former Olympics executives
- Pope exit revives Sri Lanka's hopes in third Test against England
- Gunman kills 3 Israelis at West Bank crossing as Gaza war rages
- Marquez wins San Marino MotoGP as leader Martin pays for rain gamble
- Greece to hike fee for cruise passengers to Mykonos and Santorini
- Carsley's 'refreshing' England overhaul launches new era
- Swiss double in wheelchair marathons on final day of Paralympics
- France's Le Pen urges Macron to hold referendum to break deadlock
- Typhoon Yagi weakens, toll rises to 14 in Vietnam
- India's Randhir Singh elected Asian Olympic chief
- Under pressure, UN winds down 'unique' Iraq probe into IS crimes
- 'Proud' athletics great Weir calls time on marathon Paralympic career
- 'Brave' Afghanistan can beat anyone, says skipper ahead of NZ Test
- Vaughan warns England against 'taking the mick' after Sri Lanka collapse
- England's Moeen Ali retires from international cricket
- Japan's Hirata holds off inspired Smyth to win on Asian Tour
- China's Paralympic domination fails to ignite enthusiasm back home
HSBC records $21.6 billion pre-tax profit in first half 2024
Banking giant HSBC said Wednesday that pre-tax profits in the first half of 2024 came in at $21.6 billion, slightly lower than last year's record performance.
"After delivering record profits in 2023, we had another strong profit performance in the first half of 2024, which is further evidence that our strategy is working," said Noel Quinn, the group's outgoing chief executive.
The bank also doubled down on its share buyback, announcing a further three-month repurchase of up to $3 billion, following the completed $3 billion buyback announced last quarter.
The buyback and approval of an interim dividend of $0.1 per share would bring shareholders a total of $4.8 billion, taking the total amount of capital distributed since 2023 to $34.4 billion, Quinn said in the statement.
"We remain confident that we can deliver attractive returns, even in a lower interest rate environment," he added.
"As a result, we are providing new guidance of a mid-teens return on average tangible equity, excluding the impact of notable items, in 2025."
P.Serra--PC