Summary: HSBC 's first-half profit surges more than twofold. HSBC announces a new share buyback program worth $2 billion. Market cap reaches $162 billion, with a pre-tax profit of $21.7 billion in the first six months. Investors are excited about the confidence shown through share buyback s. HSBC shares are soaring after reporting strong earnings and announcing a fresh share buyback of up to $2 billion. ...

Summary: Halifax , the UK's biggest mortgage lender, is reducing rates by up to 0.71 percentage points. HSBC and other major banks have also announced rate cuts in response to rising mortgage rates. The reduction in rates provides relief to homeowners and potential buyers, especially for fixed-rate deals. The move is influenced by expectations of Bank of England rates and inflation trends. Mortgage rates have been on the rise due to consecutive interest rate increases by the Bank of England . Recent decrease in inflation offers optimism about possible rate stabilization. Mortgage companies are aiming to attract customers by ...