First-quarter pre-tax profits were "well ahead" of the figure for the same period of last year, the bank said, bouncing back despite the world financial crisis.
The group gave a cautious outlook for the year ahead amid concerns about the tough trading environment and a spreading global recession -- but also cited "robust" growth in China and India.
"HSBC has made a resilient start to 2009," the group said in an interim management statement, noting that "underlying pre-tax profit was well ahead of the first quarter of 2008.
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"Revenue recovered strongly from the fourth quarter of 2008, with record results in Global Banking and Markets which benefited from improved market share and margins in a number of key areas.
"The group's costs were held flat overall.
Operating trends were in line with our expectations."
HSBC, while escaping the need for a British government bailout, recently raised 12.5 billion pounds (18 billion dollars, 13.
7 billion euros) via a sale of new shares.