HSBC reports $4.76b pre-tax profit

Hong Kong banking giant HSBC said Friday that pre-tax profit dipped four percent to $4.76 billion in the first three months of the year owing to rising operating costs but added it would buy back $2 billion worth of stock.

It also said revenue rose six percent to $13.7 billion in the period as it benefits from an improving global economy and rising interest rates.

The upbeat January-March results follow a strong 2017, which was boosted by a recovery that saw it lay off tens of thousands of staff since 2015 as part of a wide-ranging overhaul.

Chief executive John Flint welcomed the results, saying: "Our global businesses performed well in the first quarter, maintaining momentum from the end of 2017.

"We continue to benefit from interest rate rises and economic growth, particularly in Asia. Our primary focus is to grow the businesses safely, and we have increased investment to deliver that aim."

He added that he was positive about the outlook for 2018.

The improving global economy has led central banks around the world to either lift borrowing costs or at least consider lifting them as the decade of post-crisis easy money comes to an end.

Leading the way is the Federal Reserve, which analysts expect to announce at least two more hikes this year, helping lenders.