Barclays has announced an 8% rise in first-half profits, boosted by its investment banking division.
Pre-tax profits for the first six months came in at £2.98bn ($5bn), although this was slightly below analysts' forecasts.
Profits at its investment bank Barclays Capital doubled, but those at its UK retail banking arm more than halved.
HSBC reported half-year profits of $5bn, although this was about half what it made in the same period a year ago.
Shares in Barclays rose 9% in morning trading, while HSBC climbed 4.6%.
Read more @ BBC News
so am I not the only one thinking "blood sucking..."
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
For the banks, making such a large profit is good, even though it is smaller than last years... but at the same time, many banks were bailed out, others have raised their charges etc, so the question comes from where did they make such humongous profits? By ripping their customers off?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Barclays and HSBC weren't bailed out by the government. They don't 'owe' us anything.
Plus they looked after people's money better than most of the other banks did.
That said, Capitalism stinks.
Don't just do something! Stand there.
Nowt wrong with capitalism itself - but greed can stink.
And yes, you do have a very good point about Barclays not being bailed out. There are other banks however (America only?) that were bailed out but are posting bumper profits. WHich, if they go to the sharefholders, that does include the tax payer, right?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.