FTSE at 10-month high as HSBC posts $5bn profit

At shortly after 4.15pm, the index had reached 4,688, a jump of more than 1.7%. Banks and miners have been leading the London index today, with Barclays seeing its shares rise 6.05% to 320p, after announcing a near £3bn pre-tax profit for the first half of 2009. HSBC also gained after announcing first half profits of $5bn, although this was about half what it made in the same period a year ago. Shares in the company slightly lagged Barclays, but were still up 5.26% to 637.60p by 3:10pm. Meanwhile, Petrofac has continued to lead the field today, with its share price rising 10.53% to...