HSBC first-half profit falls 26%, misses estimates

HONG KONG/LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings HSBA.L reported a 26% slide in first-half pretax profit on Wednesday, missing analyst estimates, as a $2.1 billion impairment from its investment in Bank of Communications 601328.SS weighed.

Europe's largest bank posted a pretax profit of $15.8 billion for the first six months of this year, versus $21.6 billion a year earlier.

The result compared with the $16.5 billion average of broker estimates compiled by HSBC.