hsbc holdings plc fourthquarter net profit more than doubled compared with the same period a year earlier as higher interest rates boosted its topline growth while better cost efficiency further supported profitability net profit surged to 462 billion sharply higher from the 179 billion profit in the same period a year earlier the asiafocused lender hsbaln said tuesday operating income rose 24 to 14875 billion mainly driven by higher net interest income as global central banks tightened monetary policies throughout 2022 which led to sharply higher policy interest rates in the past quarter  the bank maintained its target of achieving a return on average tangible equity of at least 12 for 2023 onwards it also guided for at least 36 billion in net interest income for the new year