HSBC Q3 profit up, U.S. bad debt charge jumps

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe's biggest bank, said its third-quarter profits were ahead of last year's and revenue growth across the group offset a jump in its charge for bad debts in the United States.

The trading update on Wednesday reassured investors that HSBC was not further exposed to big debts in mortgage-related financial products and was benefiting from its broad spread, and its shares jumped over 4 percent.

The bank does not report quarterly results and is not due to announce annual results until March 3, 2008.

HSBC increased its bad debt charge related to its U.S.

consumer finance business to