RPT-UPDATE 2-HSBC profits nearly double as costs and bad debts fall
* Q1 pretax profit $8.4 bln vs analyst forecast of $8.1 bln * Bad debts charge halve; costs fall 10 percent * Analysts say HSBC could raise cost savings target * HSBC to update investors on strategy on May 15 * Shares up 3 pct to highest for nearly 2 months By Steve
