Lloyds saw underlying profits improve by 32% to £3.82bn in the first half of the year.The analyst consensus was for an underlying profit of £3.6bn.The above was achieved despite a 2.2% fall in total underlying income to £9.25bn.Impairments for souring loans decreased 58% to £758m.Excluding the effect of the disposal of St. James's Place underlying profit would have increased by 58%.Net interest income rose 12% on the heels of a 39 basis point increase in net interest margins, to reach 2.4%.Statutory profits before tax plummeted by 60% to £863m (Numis estimate: £1.15bn) due to a £1.1bn charge linked to legacy assets, including £600m set aside for mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance.Looking out towards the rest of the year the lender said it expected profitability for the full year to be significantly ahead of that achieved during the first six months.As of 08:15 shares in the bank were standing 0.10% higher at 76.5p.AB