HSBC suggests the worst is past: bank and rival Barclays post profits but strike different tones on future

Because of a 1-billion-pounds-sterling pre-tax profit from its investment-banking division, Barclays PLC's first-half net profit rose 10% to 1.9 billion pounds, while HSBC Holdings PLC suffered a 57%-decline in net profit to $3.35 billion. Article discusses both banks' share value, funding, capital rating and expected earnings for the rest of 2009.