HSBC is anticipated to report pre-tax profits of $10.9bn (£6.7bn) for the period, down from $11.1bn (£7bn). The main focus is likely to be on progress with cost-cutting after boss Stuart Gulliver unveiled a multi-billion dollar savings programme earlier this year. Taxpayer-backed Lloyds and RBS have seen their shares plunge 30% and 17% respectively in the last six months alone, while Barclays' shares have plummeted 26% and HSBC has lost 14%. Barclays, which reports tomorrow, is expected to reveal a 24% drop in reported profits to £1.8bn, according to broker Seymour Pierce. Taxpayer-backed Lloyds Banking Group is expected to report pre-tax profits of £1bn on Thursday. This will be a steep reduction on the £1.6bn reported a year earlier. Royal Bank of Scotland closes the week with its results on Friday, which are expected to reveal £611m in reported profits, down 19% on the previous year.