HSBC latest bank to make hay from interest rate hikes, with profits up over £3bn May 2, 2023 HSBC’s pre-tax profits soared by more than four billion dollars (£3.2bn) in the first three months of 2023, according to a trading update from the banking group. Revenue soared by 64 per cent to $20.2bn (£16.2bn) compared to the same period 12 months ago, the company crediting the rise to higher net interest income due [...]
Recession knife-edge: Consumer spending on credit at £1.3bn as house prices continue to slide May 2, 2023 Britain’s better than expected economic performance since the turn of the year is poised to have lured consumers into splashing the cash on their credit cards, new numbers out this week are tipped to show. Families are tipped by markets to have borrowed £1.3bn in March, which would signal spending in the UK is holding [...]
FTSE 100 close: Persimmon and Standard Chartered peg losses on London index April 26, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 skidded lower today despite a decent batch of results pumping up banks and house builders. The capital’s premier index lost 0.49 per cent to close at 7,852.63 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, edged 0.04 per cent lower to [...]
Standard Chartered, Barclays, Natwest kick off UK bank earnings this week with interest income back in focus April 24, 2023 Profit looks set to increase at the UK’s largest lenders as they line up to report first quarter earnings over the coming two weeks. The FTSE banking giants have seen relative stability over the last few weeks following the extreme volatility in March, but this stability means investors will refocus their attention on other major [...]
HSBC shareholders should not vote for Asia spinoff plan, warns advisory group ISS April 23, 2023 HSBC investors should vote against a resolution by the bank’s biggest shareholder Ping An, shareholder advisory group ISS said. Ping An are calling on HSBC to consider strategic options – including a spinoff of its Asia business. The proposal, over which the bank and the Chinese insurer have been arguing since last November, “lacks detailed rationale”, ISS [...]
HSBC faces more shareholder pressure as Pirc urges investors to vote against re-election of Noel Quinn April 23, 2023 HSBC faces yet more trouble at its upcoming AGM as shareholder advisory firm Pirc urges shareholders to vote against the re-election of chair Noel Quinn, according to a report in the Mail on Sunday. Justifying the recommendation, the investment advisory firm highlighted the bank’s alleged links to Hong Kong human rights abuses. Pirc said: “While [...]
FTSE 100 close: London index muted as Barclays and Lloyds Bank give up early gains April 20, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 was muted today as investors ditched mining giants, curbing the sector’s recent rally, while high street banks gave up strong early gains. The capital’s premier index edged 0.01 per cent high to 7,899.48 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more responsive to sentiment toward the UK economy, nipped [...]
HSBC boss hopes ‘brave’ last-minute call to buy Silicon Valley Bank UK pays off April 20, 2023 HSBC’s UK boss Ian Stuart today defended the bank’s decision to buy Silicon Valley Bank UK, arguing the bank needed to be “brave”.
FCA will ‘keep its eyes’ on banks’ Q1 results for evidence of savings rate profiteering April 20, 2023 Savers are facing a rising “loyalty penalty” from high street banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned. Customers banking with the UK’s big name lenders are likely to earn less competitive interest rates on their savings over time, while new savers are given more attractive offers, the City watchdog told MPs today. “Harm” from [...]
HSBC exaggerating costs of spinning off Asia unit, Ping An argues in rare rebuke April 18, 2023 Ping An, HSBC’s largest shareholder, has publicly criticised the bank ahead of its AGM as it confirmed it will back calls to restructure the lender. The Chinese insurer, which holds an eight per cent stake in the bank, has long argued in favour of spinning off HSBC’s Asian business, which generates the vast majority of [...]