Bonus debate returns as banks announce profits

Fresh concern over bumper bonuses in the City was raised today after the banks began to publish their interim results.Barclays recorded an 8 per cent rise in profits for the first half of the year, with pre-tax profits up to almost £3 billion, boosted by its investment banking arm Barclays Capital. HSBC saw its profits halve over the past year but said they were better than expected given the current climate, and profits in investment banking were at record levels.