HSBC Holdings Share Price (HSBA) - Buy HSBA Shares

HSBC is a globally recognised name (Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation for anyone not in the know) and as of 2008 it is officially the world's largest banking group and the world's largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes Magazine.

The Group provides a range of financial services to more than 128 million customers in four key customer groups and global businesses, these include Commercial Banking, Global Banking, Personal Financial Services and Private Banking. Its Personal Financial Services Group offers a range of personal banking products such as current and savings accounts, mortgages and personal loans, credit cards. Its Global Banking and Markets Group provides tailored financial solutions to various government, corporate and institutional clients, including treasury and capital market services for central banks, corporations, institutional and private investors, financial institutions and other market participants.

HSBC's pe-tax profits for 2008 stood at £12.2bn, an increase of 10%, and the bank's UK commercial banking sector topped the 1bn mark for the first time. Despite its giant corporate status, even HSBC has plenty to worry about, particularly in light of a global credit crunch. In 2008 HSBC suffered a hit from its US retail banking business which suffered $4.3bn (£2.75bn) in impairment charges between July and September, £700m more than the second quarter of the year. However, most financial experts are in agreement that HSBC will weather the storms ahead unlike many of its rivals. Some believe that it could raise capital in the market and should do so to take advantage of the rock bottom prices of smaller rivals who are struggling.