The banking sector has jumped on soaring profits from HSBC. It gave a signal that the banking sector may be returning to normality after the credit crisis as it posted interim profits that more than doubled on the back of a sharp reduction in bad debts.In the half year to June 30, the bank saw pre-tax profits jump to US$11.1bn (£7bn) from $5bn (£3.2bn) over the same period the previous year.It said that loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions fell to their lowest levels since the start of the credit crisis, falling by $6.4bn to $7.5bn.Shares in HSBC jumped after the results, with fellow banks RBS and Lloyds, which are due to report their results this week, climbing in sympathy.The mining sector is also strong as hopes that the global economy is faring better than expected lift metal prices. Sentiment has been lifted by strong earnings, including those from HSBC and French peer BNP Paribas and economic figures, notably US manufacturing expansion slowing less than expected. Industrial metal giants such as Vedanta and Antofagasta are among the strong risers, but Randgold Resources falls back after it revised the production guidance for its Loulo gold mine in Mali downwards following what it called a 'difficult quarter.'Top performing sectors so far todayMining 21,665.50 +3.99%Banks 5,201.23 +3.94%Oil Equipment, Services & Distribution 19,030.46 +3.83%Chemicals 5,922.11 +3.60%Industrial Metals & Mining 5,906.08 +3.52%