By Charlie Conchie HSBC’s profits plunged over 40 per cent in the third quarter of the year as it was hit by rising loan losses and hefty charges relating to the sale of its French retail business. Reported pretax profits at the bank plunged to $3.15bn for the three months to September 30th, down from $5.4bn last year, as it incurred an impairment charge of $2.4bn relating to the sale of the French division, alongside a net charge for expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges. The figure comfortably topped analysts’ estimate of $2.45bn, however. The bank has been looking to sh…