Profits at HSBC, Britain's biggest bank, fell by 28% in the first six months of year as the credit crunch knocked its troubled US operations deeper into the red. The 28% fall - the steepest reduction for seven years - took HSBC's first-half profits to $10.2bn (£5.2bn). Europe generated the biggest profit of $5.1bn - a rise of 50% - while the US reported a loss of $2.8bn. The loss in the US was $549m greater than HSBC ran up in the second half of 2007 - demonstrating the deepening impact of the credit crunch.
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has picked up 0.60% stake in logistic services provider -- Gateway Distriparks. The bank has bought 6.40 lakh shares in the company for a total consideration of Rs 8.32 crore. Gateway Distriparks, incorporated in 1994, is engaged in the business of warehousing, container freight stations, providing handling and clearance of sea borne export-import trade in containerized form.
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