HSBC in Australia reported around twice the profit in the half year to June 2008 than it earned 12 months before. Financial statements for HSBC, published overnight, show the Australian arm reported a profit of US$100 million in the half year to June 2008, compared with US$51 million in the half year to June 2007.A little under half the profit related to "global banking and markets", about a third to commercial banking and 15 per cent to personal financial services.The HSBC loan book increased, in US dollar terms, by 12 per cent over six months and by 29 per cent over 12 months.Most of the balance sheet growth was in commercial lending, though the consumer credit portfolio increased 30 per cent over 12 months to US$1.1 billion.The commentary included in the report noted that "revenue growth was broad-based with interest income growth of 36 per cent attributable to increased deposit balances." Deposits increased by 34 per cent.The report also noted that loan impairment charges increased by 83 per cent in Australia due to increased delinquencies on cards.