HSBC Holdings posted a $19.5 billion pretax profit for the first six months of the year, a 23% increase from the prior period that exceeded analyst forecasts. The bank raised its full-year net interest income target above $46 billion, announced up to $1 billion in share buybacks, and declared a second interim dividend of $0.10 per share. Hong Kong-listed shares remained flat following the August 4 earnings release.