Banking giants HSBC and Barclays are reporting stronger underlying profits
BANKING giants HSBC and Barclays are reporting stronger underlying profits so far this year as the gulf widens with their beleaguered taxpayer-supported counterparts.
HSBC Holdings, Europe's biggest bank, said its first quarter profits were ``well ahead'' of last year, swelled by record results in its investment bank arm and gains on the value of its own debt.