HSBC lending falls in UK

The London-based bank also reported a 32% uplift in pre-tax profits for the third quarter – ahead of market expectations and due in part to a fall in fines for past misconduct and wider cost-cutting measures.

HSBC paid our $1.4bn less in legal costs than in the same period last year and has also sold off parts of the business in Brazil and Turkey.

The results also revealed that the bank’s decision to move its headquarters from London had been delayed and was unlikely to happen before the year end as it had originally planned.