A file picture dated 02 August 2010 shows a Lloyds TSB bank sign outside a branch close to St. Paul’s cathedral in Central London, Britain. Britain’s part-nationalized Lloyds Banking Group reported on 04 August 2010 a pre-tax profit of 1.6 billion pounds (2.5 billion dollars or 1.9 billion euros) for the first half of the year 2010 in a marked turnaround from steep losses for the same period in 2009. Lloyds, a major participant in the previous Labour government’s huge bailout programme in 2008, reported losses of 4 billion pounds (6.3 billion US dollars or 4.8 billion euros) in the first half of 2009. It described Wednesday’s results as a ‘significant milestone’ for the bank. EPA/ANDY RAIN