HSBC Bank Australia produced higher pre-tax earnings during the June 2013 half-year, but on other metrics the business has gone backwards. Some Australian figures were included in the interim report of HSBC Holdings, released this week.The local banking operation made a pre-tax profit of US$233 million for the six months to June. This was an increase on the pre-tax profit of $91 million for the six months to June 2012, and $184 million for the six months to December.Last year the bank suffered a large impairment on an Australia loan, which held back its 2012 results. Impairments were much lower in the latest half.However, the underlying business looks softer. HSBC Bank Australia's loan book contracted from US$19.9 billion at June last year to $18.8 billion at June 30 this year.The number of Australian customer accounts at June 30 was 18,240 - down from 20,430 last December and 19,560 in June last year.HSBC Bank Australia has adopted a policy of not commenting on local results.