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2008 Interim Report Section 3

4th Aug 2008 16:51

RNS Number : 6068A
HSBC Holdings PLC
04 August 2008
 



Principal activities 

HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world, with a market capitalisation of US$185 billion at 30 June 2008.

Through its subsidiaries and associates, HSBC provides a comprehensive range of banking and related financial services. Headquartered in London, HSBC operates through long-established businesses and has an international network of some 11,000 properties in 85 countries and territories in five geographical regions: Europe; Hong Kong; Rest of Asia-Pacific, including the Middle East and Africa; North America; and Latin America. Within these regions, a comprehensive range of financial services is offered to personal, commercial, corporate, institutional, investment and private banking clients. Services are delivered primarily by domestic or regional banks, typically with large retail deposit bases, and by consumer finance operations.

Strategic direction

HSBC's strategic direction reflects its position as 'The world's local bank', combining the largest global developing markets banking business and a uniquely cosmopolitan customer base with an extensive international network and substantial financial strength.

The Group's strategy is aligned with key trends which are shaping the global economy. In particular, HSBC recognises that, over the long-term, developing markets are growing faster than the mature economies, world trade is expanding at a greater rate than GDP and life expectancy is lengthening virtually everywhere. Against this backdrop, HSBC's strategy is focused on delivering superior growth and earnings over time by building on the Group's heritage and skills. Its origins in trade in Asia have had a considerable influence over the development of the Group and, as a consequence, HSBC has an established and longstanding presence in many countries. The combination of local knowledge and international breadth is supported by a substantial financial capability founded on balance sheet strength, largely attributable to the scale of the Group's retail deposit bases.

HSBC is progressively reshaping its business by investing primarily in faster growing markets and, in the more developed markets, by focusing on businesses which have international connectivity. Central to these reshaping activities is a policy of maintaining HSBC's capital strength and strong liquidity position.

The Group has identified three main business models for its customer groups and global businesses that embody HSBC's areas of natural advantage: 

businesses with international customers for whom developing markets connectivity is crucial - Global Banking and Markets, Private Banking, the large business segment of Commercial Banking and the mass affluent segment of Personal Financial Services; 

businesses with local customers where efficiency can be enhanced through global scale - the small business segment of Commercial Banking and the mass market segment of Personal Financial Services; and 

products where global scale is possible through building efficiency, expertise and brand - global product platforms such as cards and direct banking.

The means of executing the strategy, and further utilising the linkages within the Group, are clear: 

the HSBC brand and global networks will be leveraged to reach new customers and offer further services to existing clients;
efficiency will be enhanced by taking full advantage of local, regional and global economies of scale, in particular by adopting a common systems architecture wherever possible; and
objectives and incentives will be aligned to motivate and reward staff for being fully engaged in delivering the strategy.

Reconciliation of reported and underlying profit before tax

HSBC measures its performance internally on a likeߛforߛlike basis, eliminating the effects of Group currency translation gains and losses, acquisitions and disposals of subsidiaries and businesses and gains from the dilution of the Group's interests in associates, which distort the period-on-period comparison. HSBC refers to this as its underlying performance.

The tables below show the underlying performance of HSBC for the half-year to 30 June 2008 compared with the half-years to 30 June 2007 and 31 December 2007. Equivalent tables are provided for each of HSBC's customer groups and geographical segments in their respective sections below. 

The main differences between HSBC's reported and underlying financial performance were:

Foreign currency translation differences were most significant in Europe due to the size of HSBC's operations in the UK. The Group's profit before tax for the first half of 2008 decreased by 28 per cent compared with the first half of 2007. The effect of the change in foreign currency translation rates accounted for an increase of 4 percentage points. The equivalents for the first half of 2008 compared with the second half of 2007 were increases of 2 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively.

There were a number of acquisitions and disposals that affected both comparisons. The most significant were the acquisitions of HSBC's partner's share in life insurer, Erisa S.A., and property and casualty insurer, Erisa I.A.R.D. (together now renamed 'HSBC Assurances') in France in March 2007, and the assets and liabilities of The Chinese Bank in Taiwan in March 2008; and the deemed disposals of the stakes in Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Limited ('Ping An Insurance'), Bank of Communications Limited ('Bank of Communications') and Industrial Bank Co. Limited ('Industrial Bank'), as a consequence of their making share offerings on the domestic 'A' share market in mainland China in the first half of 2007.

Half-year to 30 June 2008 ('1H08') compared with half-year to 30 June 2007 ('1H07')

HSBC 

1H07 as reported US$m

Disposals  and  dilution

  gains1

US$m

Currency

translation2

US$m

1H07 at 1H08 exchange rates US$m

Acqui-

sitions1

US$m

Under- lying  change  US$m

1H08 as reported US$m

Re- ported change %

Under- lying

change

Net interest income 

18,230

(7)

587

18,810

158

2,210

21,178

16

12

Net fee income 

10,495

70

351

10,916

(45)

120

10,991

5

1

Other income3 

9,768

(1,177)

393

8,984

(45)

(1,633)

7,306

(25)

(18)

Net operating income4 

38,493

(1,114)

1,331

38,710

68

697

39,475

3

2

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions 

(6,346)

-

(124)

(6,470)

-

(3,588)

(10,058)

(58)

(55)

Net operating income 

32,147

(1,114)

1,207

32,240

68

(2,891)

29,417

(8)

(9)

Operating expenses 

(18,611)

55

(738)

(19,294)

(28)

(818)

(20,140)

(8)

(4)

Operating profit 

13,536

(1,059)

469

12,946

40

(3,709)

9,277

(31)

(29)

Income from associates 

623

-

48

671

(12)

311

970

56

46

Profit before tax 

14,159

(1,059)

517

13,617

28

(3,398)

10,247

(28)

(25)

Half-year to 30 June 2008 ('1H08') compared with half-year to 31 December 2007 ('2H07')

HSBC 

2H07 as reported US$m

Disposals  and  dilution

  gains1

US$m

Currency

translation2

US$m

2H07 at 1H08 exchange rates US$m

Acqui-

sitions1

US$m

Under- lying  change  US$m

1H08 as reported US$m

Re- ported change %

Under- lying

change

Net interest income 

19,565

(5)

213

19,773

8

1,397

21,178

8

7

Net fee income 

11,507

(52)

98

11,553

1

(563)

10,991

(4)

(5)

Other income3 

9,428

(15)

16

9,429

4

(2,127)

7,306

(23)

(23)

Net operating income4 

40,500

(72)

327

40,755

13

(1,293)

39,475

(3)

(3)

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions 

(10,896)

-

(22)

(10,918)

-

860

(10,058)

8

8

Net operating income 

29,604

(72)

305

29,837

13

(433)

29,417

(1)

(1)

Operating expenses 

(20,431)

50

(227)

(20,608)

(11)

479

(20,140)

1

2

Operating profit 

9,173

(22)

78

9,229

2

46

9,277

1

-

Income from associates 

880

-

37

917

-

53

970

10

6

Profit before tax 

10,053

(22)

115

10,146

2

99

10,247

2

1

For footnotes, see page 89.

Customer groups and global businesses

Summary

HSBC manages its business through two customer groups, Personal Financial Services and Commercial Banking, and two global businesses, Global Banking and Markets, and Private Banking. Personal Financial Services incorporates the Group's consumer finance businesses.

Profit before tax

Half-year to

30 June 2008

30 June 2007

31 December 2007

US$m

%

US$m

%

US$m

%

Personal Financial Services 

2,313 

22.6 

4,729 

33.4

1,171

11.7

Commercial Banking 

4,611 

45.0 

3,422 

24.2

3,723

37.0

Global Banking and Markets 

2,690 

26.2 

4,158 

29.4

1,963

19.5

Private Banking 

822 

8.0 

780 

5.5

731

7.3

Other5 

(189)

(1.8) 

1,070 

7.5

2,465

24.5

10,247 

100.0 

14,159 

100.0

10,053

100.0

Total assets6

At 30 June 2008

At 30 June 2007

At 31 December 2007

US$m

%

US$m

%

US$m

%

Personal Financial Services 

603,016 

23.7 

577,402 

26.9 

588,473

25.0

Commercial Banking 

286,533 

11.2 

225,763 

10.5 

261,893

11.1

Global Banking and Markets 

1,509,390 

59.3 

1,220,316 

56.7 

1,375,240

58.4

Private Banking 

98,039 

3.8 

81,916 

3.8 

88,510

3.8

Other 

49,700 

2.0 

45,044 

2.1 

40,150

1.7

2,546,678 

100.0 

2,150,441 

100.0 

2,354,266

100.0

For footnotes, see page 89.

Basis of preparation

Customer group results are presented in accordance with the accounting policies used in the preparation of HSBC's consolidated financial statements. HSBC's operations are closely integrated and, accordingly, the presentation of customer group data includes internal allocations of certain items of income and expense. These allocations include the costs of certain support services and head office functions, to the extent that these can be 

meaningfully attributed to operational business lines. While such allocations have been made on a systematic and consistent basis, they necessarily involve a degree of subjectivity.

Where relevant, income and expense amounts presented include the results of inter-segment funding as well as inter-company and inter-business line transactions. All such transactions are undertaken on arm's length terms.

Personal Financial Services

Profit before tax

Half-year to

30 June 2008

30 June 2007

31 December

2007

US$m

US$m

US$m

Net interest income 

15,217 

13,998 

15,071

Net fee income 

5,626 

5,523 

6,219

Trading income excluding net interest income 

142 

37

Net interest income  on trading activities 

42 

92 

48

Net trading income7 

184 

93 

85

Net income/(expense) from financial instruments designated at fair value 

(1,135)

796 

537

Gains less losses from financial investments 

585 

60 

291

Dividend income 

15 

41 

14

Net earned insurance premiums 

4,746 

3,735 

4,536

Other operating income 

390 

255 

132

Total operating income 

25,628 

24,501 

26,885

Net insurance claims8 

(3,206)

(3,605)

(4,542)

Net operating income4 

22,422 

20,896 

22,343

Loan impairment charges  and other credit risk provisions 

(9,384)

(5,928)

(10,244)

Net operating income 

13,038 

14,968 

12,099

Total operating expenses 

(11,099)

(10,452)

(11,305)

Operating profit 

1,939 

4,516 

794

Share of profit in associates and joint ventures 

374 

213 

377

Profit before tax 

2,313 

4,729 

1,171

By geographical region

Europe 

1,324 

604 

977

Hong Kong 

2,036 

1,898 

2,314

Rest of Asia-Pacific 

535 

351 

409

North America 

(2,050)

1,488 

(3,034)

Latin America 

468 

388 

505

Profit before tax 

2,313 

4,729 

1,171

%

%

%

Share of HSBC's profit before tax 

22.6 

33.4 

11.7

Cost efficiency ratio 

49.5 

50.0 

50.6

Balance sheet data6

US$m

US$m

US$m

Loans and advances to customers (net) 

458,302 

460,196 

464,726

Total assets 

603,016 

577,402 

588,473

Customer accounts 

474,263 

416,525 

450,071

For footnotes, see page 89.

Business highlights

Profit before tax in Personal Financial Services was US$2.4 billion lower than that reported in the first half of 2007 and was 53 per cent lower on an underlying basis, primarily because of higher loan impairment charges in the US consumer finance business. Excluding this business, pre-tax profits rose by 23 per cent, 18 per cent on an underlying basisCompared with the second half of 2007, on an underlying basis, profit before tax in Personal Financial Services was 89 per cent higher as both loan impairment charges and operating expenses fell.

Market turmoil in the first half of 2008 led retail customers to move their assets from investment products into bank deposits and concentrate their savings in the largest and best regarded financial institutions. HSBC benefited from both these trends with customer accounts growing by US$24.2 billion or 5 per cent in the period.

HSBC Premier ('Premier'), the Group's global banking service which offers affluent customers a seamless international service, continued to build on the success of its relaunch in 2007. In the first half of 2008, the service was extended to a further 4 countries, with a fifth added in July, taking the total to forty. 208,000 net new customers joined Premier, of which more than 80 per cent were new to the Group and, at 30 June 2008, HSBC had 2.4 million Premier customers who, on average, each generated more than US$2,000 of annualised revenues.

HSBC Direct, the Group's online banking product suite, continued to expand in the four markets in which the product has been launched to date. In aggregate, HSBC Direct balances reached US$16.1 billion and customer numbers 1.2 million, increases of 19 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, from 31 December 2007. 

HSBC's focus on emerging markets was reflected in growth in cards in force of 5 per cent in these countries compared with 31 December 2007.

In the UK, HSBC successfully launched a RateMatcher promotion to attract higher quality customers facing an interest rate reset in the near term. In the three months of the offer, HSBC attracted a strong flow of new business, both for the RateMatcher product and other mortgages. Overall, HSBC attracted US$11 billion of balances during the campaign.

Notwithstanding weaker equity markets in Asia, HSBC's Personal Financial Services businesses in both Hong Kong and Rest of Asia-Pacific maintained revenue momentum, with notable success in deposit generation, particularly from Premier customers. 

Consistent with HSBC's strategy to increase the sale of insurance products to existing customers, underlying net premium income and insurance fee income grew by 7 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.

In the US, declining house prices, together with continuing reduction in the availability of mortgage 

finance, fuelled growing customer delinquencies as house price depreciation became more pronounced and the economy weakened. HSBC continued to take measures to help customers manage their mortgage repayments and avoid foreclosure. In the first half of 2008, HSBC Finance extended its mortgage loan modification programme, with longer term modifications. Some 90 per cent of US mortgage customers remained current, or only one payment overdue, across the consumer lending business. Normal repayments and continued write-offs lowered the mortgage services portfolio by US$4.8 billion to US$31.4 billion at 30 June 2008.

Reconciliation of reported and underlying profit before tax

Half-year to 30 June 2008 ('1H08') compared with half-year to 30 June 2007 ('1H07')

Personal Financial Services 

1H07 as reported US$m

Disposals  and  dilution

  gains1

US$m

Currency

translation2

US$m

1H07 at 1H08 exchange rates US$m

Acqui-

sitions1

US$m

Under- lying  change  US$m

1H08 as reported US$m

Re- ported change %

Under- lying

change

Net interest income 

13,998

(7)

397

14,388

156

673

15,217

9

5

Net fee income 

5,523

122

136

5,781

(45)

(110)

5,626

2

(2)

Other income3 

1,375

(101)

48

1,322

(47)

304

1,579

15

23

Net operating income4 

20,896

14

581

21,491

64

867

22,422

7

4

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions 

(5,928)

-

(104)

(6,032)

-

(3,352)

(9,384)

(58)

(56)

Net operating income 

14,968

14

477

15,459

64

(2,485)

13,038

(13)

(16)

Operating expenses 

(10,452)

5

(395)

(10,842)

(25)

(232)

(11,099)

(6)

(2)

Operating profit 

4,516

19

82

4,617

39

(2,717)

1,939

(57)

(59)

Income from associates 

213

-

18

231

-

143

374

76

62

Profit before tax 

4,729

19

100

4,848

39

(2,574)

2,313

(51)

(53)

Half-year to 30 June 2008 ('1H08') compared with half-year to 31 December 2007 ('2H07')

Personal Financial Services 

2H07 as reported US$m

Disposals  and  dilution

  gains1

US$m

Currency

translation2

US$m

2H07 at 1H08 exchange rates US$m

Acqui-

sitions1

US$m

Under- lying  change  US$m

1H08 as reported US$m

Re- ported change %

Under- lying

change

Net interest income 

15,071

(5)

133

15,199

6

12

15,217

1

-

Net fee income 

6,219

-

25

6,244

1

(619)

5,626

(10)

(10)

Other income3 

1,053

19

16

1,088

2

489

1,579

50

45

Net operating income4 

22,343

14

174

22,531

9

(118)

22,422

-

(1)

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions 

(10,244)

-

(25)

(10,269)

-

885

(9,384)

8

9

Net operating income 

12,099

14

149

12,262

9

767

13,038

8

6

Operating expenses 

(11,305)

2

(131)

(11,434)

(9)

344

(11,099)

2

3

Operating profit 

794

16

18

828

-

1,111

1,939

144

134

Income from associates 

377

-

19

396

-

(22)

374

(1)

(6)

Profit before tax 

1,171

16

37

1,224

-

1,089

2,313

98

89

For footnotes, see page 89.

Commercial Banking 

Profit before tax

Half-year to

30 June 2008

30 June 2007

31 December

2007

US$m

US$m

US$m

Net interest income 

4,747 

4,286 

4,769

Net fee income 

2,165 

1,904 

2,068

Trading income excluding net interest income 

197 

121 

144

Net interest income on trading activities 

24 

13 

18

Net trading income7 

221 

134 

162

Net income/(expense) from financial instruments designated at fair value 

(59)

(24)

46

Gains less losses from financial investments 

191 

25 

65

Dividend income 

4

Net earned insurance premiums 

360 

205 

528

Other operating income 

718 

163

Total operating income 

8,346 

6,536 

7,805

Net insurance claims8 

(190)

44 

(435)

Net operating income4 

8,156 

6,580 

7,370

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions 

(563)

(431)

(576)

Net operating income 

7,593 

6,149 

6,794

Total operating expenses 

(3,280)

(2,907)

(3,345)

Operating profit 

4,313 

3,242 

3,449

Share of profit in associates and joint ventures 

298 

180 

274

Profit before tax 

4,611 

3,422 

3,723

By geographical region

Europe 

1,940 

1,236 

1,280

Hong Kong 

869 

760 

859

Rest of Asia-Pacific 

961 

597 

753

North America 

430 

477 

443

Latin America 

411 

352 

388

Profit before tax 

4,611 

3,422 

3,723

%

%

%

Share of HSBC's profit before tax 

45.0 

24.2 

37.0

Cost efficiency ratio 

40.2 

44.2 

45.4

Balance sheet data6

US$m

US$m

US$m

Loans and advances to customers (net) 

238,116 

185,923 

220,068

Total assets 

286,533 

225,763 

261,893

Customer accounts 

247,705 

205,002 

237,987

For footnotes, see page 89.

Business highlights

Pre-tax profits increased by 35 per cent to US$4.6 billion. This included a gain of US$425 million from selling the Group's merchant acquiring business in the UK to a new card processing joint venture with Global Payments Inc. Operating performance was driven by robust growth in economic activity in developing markets, where much of the Group's incremental credit appetite was directed. This led to strong revenue generation with costs rising at approximately half the rate of income as productivity improved. Loan impairment charges rose as economic conditions weakened during the first half of 2008.

Pre-tax profits in Europe, including the gain from the new card processing joint venture, were 57 per cent higher. Growth in profit was strongest in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, reflecting the Group's established position in these fast-growing economies. Growth was also strong in Brazil. Underlying income and profit fell in North America, largely as a result of increased loan impairment charges. 

Excluding the gain on the sale of the merchant acquiring business, the share of Commercial Banking'profit from developing markets rose from 52 per cent in 2007 to 54 per cent in the first half of 2008.

Strong revenue growth of 29 per cent from trade and supply chain and 44 per cent from foreign exchange reflected Commercial Banking's 'leading international business' strategy. HSBC has benefited from growth in intra-regional trade flows and from facilitating investment flows from developed to developing economies, in part utilising its network of International Business Centres. Cross-border referrals through the Global Links system in the first half of 2008 rose by over 126 per cent in number and by over 83 per cent in aggregate transaction value compared with the first half of 2007.

The 'best bank for small business' strategy also contributed strongly to income growth, with an increase in deposits gathered from small business customers. Total customer numbers grew by 8 per cent to 2.9 million, largely among small and micro-business customers. Dedicated small-business centres in Turkey and the success of BusinessDirect in the UK contributed to this growth

Both physical and online distribution capabilities were expandedIn Turkey, the number of Small Business Centres was increased to over 100 and in the UK local business managers were redeployed to key branches. In Taiwan, the acquisition of the assets, liabilities and operations of The Chinese Bank extended HSBC's reachthe additional branches bringing the total number to 44At 8,300, the total number of relationship managers was 20 per cent higher than at 30 June 2007, with particularly strong growth in India following implementation of a new small business strategy.

The number of small and micro business customers using business internet banking increased by 22 per cent to nearly 900,000; the number of mid-market and corporate customers rose by 28 per cent to over 35,000.

Referrals to other customer groups and global businesses increased, specifically mortgages and Premier referrals to Personal Financial Services, debt and advisory services, to Global Banking and Markets, and ongoing referrals to Private Banking. 

Reconciliation of reported and underlying profit before tax

Half-year to 30 June 2008 ('1H08') compared with half-year to 30 June 2007 ('1H07')

Commercial Banking

1H07 as reported US$m

Disposals  and  dilution

  gains1

US$m

Currency

translation2

US$m

1H07 at 1H08 exchange rates US$m

Acqui-

sitions1

US$m

Under- lying  change  US$m

1H08 as reported US$m

Re- ported change %

Under- lying

change

Net interest income 

4,286

-

195

4,481

3

263

4,747

11

6

Net fee income 

1,904

-

75

1,979

-

186

2,165

14

9

Other income3 

390

-

14

404

2

838

1,244

219

207

Net operating income4 

6,580

-

284

6,864

5

1,287

8,156

24

19

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions 

(431)

-

(17)

(448)

-

(115)

(563)

(31)

(26)

Net operating income 

6,149

-

267

6,416

5

1,172

7,593

23

18

Operating expenses 

(2,907)

-

(157)

(3,064)

(2)

(214)

(3,280)

(13)

(7)

Operating profit 

3,242

-

110

3,352

3

958

4,313

33

29

Income from associates 

180

-

11

191

-

107

298

66

56

Profit before tax 

3,422

-

121

3,543

3

1,065

4,611

35

30

Half-year to 30 June 2008 ('1H08') compared with half-year to 31 December 2007 ('2H07')

Commercial Banking

2H07 as reported US$m

Disposals  and  dilution

  gains1

US$m

Currency

translation2

US$m

2H07 at 1H08 exchange rates US$m

Acqui-

sitions1

US$m

Under- lying  change  US$m

1H08 as reported US$m

Re- ported change %

Under- lying

change

Net interest income 

4,769

-

50

4,819

3

(75)

4,747

(0)

(2)

Net fee income 

2,068

-

13

2,081

-

84

2,165

5

4

Other income3 

533

-

(4)

529

2

713

1,244

133

135

Net operating income4 

7,370

-

59

7,429

5

722

8,156

11

10

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions 

(576)

-

2

(574)

-

11

(563)

2

2

Net operating income 

6,794

-

61

6,855

5

733

7,593

12

11

Operating expenses 

(3,345)

-

(50)

(3,395)

(2)

117

(3,280)

2

3

Operating profit 

3,449

-

11

3,460

3

850

4,313

25

25

Income from associates 

274

-

9

283

-

15

298

9

5

Profit before tax 

3,723

-

20

3,743

3

865

4,611

24

23

For footnotes, see page 89.

Global Banking and Markets

Profit before tax

Half-year to

30 June 2008

30 June 2007

31 December

2007

US$m

US$m

US$m

Net interest income 

3,737 

1,847 

2,583

Net fee income 

2,354 

2,264 

2,637

Trading income excluding net interest income 

360 

3,048 

455

Net interest income/ (expense) on trading activities 

273 

(151)

(85)

Net trading income7 

633 

2,897 

370

Net income/(expense) from financial instruments designated at fair value 

(211)

11 

(175)

Gains less losses from financial investments 

244 

768 

545

Dividend income 

49 

175 

47

Net earned insurance premiums 

62 

46 

47

Other operating income 

551 

529 

689

Total operating income 

7,419 

8,537 

6,743

Net insurance claims8 

(40)

(38)

(32)

Net operating income4 

7,379 

8,499 

6,711

Net loan impairment (charges)/recoveries and other credit risk provisions 

(115)

24 

(62)

Net operating income 

7,264 

8,523 

6,649

Total operating expenses 

(4,827)

(4,479)

(4,879)

Operating profit 

2,437 

4,044 

1,770

Share of profit in associates and joint ventures 

253 

114 

193

Profit before tax 

2,690 

4,158 

1,963

By geographical region

Europe 

1,190 

1,674 

853

Hong Kong 

770 

697 

881

Rest of Asia-Pacific 

1,972 

1,098 

1,366

North America 

(1,625)

436 

(1,401)

Latin America 

383 

253 

264

Profit before tax 

2,690 

4,158 

1,963

%

%

%

Share of HSBC's profit before tax 

26.2 

29.4 

19.5

Cost efficiency ratio 

65.4 

52.7 

72.7

For footnotes, see page 89.

Business highlights

In the most difficult financial market conditions seen for many decades, Global Banking and Markets delivered pre-tax profits of US$2.7 billion, an improvement of US$727 million or 37 per cent on the six months ended 31 December 2007 but some US$1.5 billion lower than in the first half of 2007.

The result reflected a total of US$3.9 billion of write-downs on credit trading, leveraged and acquisition financing positions and monoline credit exposures resulting from the continued deterioration in the credit markets. This compared with US$2.1 billion for the second half of 2007 and nil for the first half of 2007. Partly offsetting this was a US$262 million fair value gain on the widening of credit spreads on structured liabilities.

Notwithstanding the challenging market conditions in credit trading and Principal Investments, where the opportunities to realise assets diminished in 2008, other businesses performed very well. The 'emerging markets-led and financing-focused' strategy continued to ensure that HSBC was well positioned to support clients as they undertook cross-border transactions into and out of emerging markets.

In Global Markets, the foreign exchange business reported record revenues. This reflected greater market volatility and higher customer volumes.

Strong results were seen in Rates, where increased customer activity and growth in deal volumes resulted in income rising by 120 per cent. In equities, excluding the effect of the gain on sale of HSBC's investment in Euronext N.V and the Montreal Exchange in 2007, revenues rose by 37 per cent. 

The securities services business continued to grow despite the backdrop of lower interest rates and lower equity markets, as stronger transaction volumes and new mandates resulted in higher revenues. This was particularly evident in Asia, as clients continued to rebalance their investment portfolios.

Management view of total operating income

Half-year to

30 June 2008

30 June 2007 

31 December 2007

US$m

US$m

US$m

Global Markets 

1,688

3,825

1,895

Credit 

(3,124)

658

(1,977)

Rates 

1,303

592

699

Foreign exchange 

1,546

909

1,269

Equities10 

746

652

525

Securities services 

1,112

855

1,071

Asset and structured finance 

105

159

308

Global Banking 

2,432

1,974

2,216

Financing and equity capital markets 

1,371

1,042

1,144

Payments and cash management 

839

751

881

Other transactionservices

222

181

191

Balance Sheet Management 

1,630

521

705

Global Asset Management 

669

636

700

Principal Investments 

167

755

498

Other11 

833

826

729

Total operating income 

7,419

8,537

6,743

Balance sheet data6

Trading assets (including derivatives) 

721,366

567,340

625,132

Trading liabilities (including derivatives) 

577,048

443,634

483,881

Financial investments 

211,486

174,095

224,057

Financial assets designated at fair value  

7,469

5,269

7,936

Loans and advances to: 

- customers (net) 

303,826 

241,602 

250,464

- banks (net) 

214,693 

183,708 

199,506

Total assets 

1,509,390 

1,220,316 

1,375,240

Customer accounts 

328,952 

265,739 

299,879

Deposits by banks 

144,043 

121,744 

126,395

Comparative information has been restated to reflect the current management view.

In the first half of 2008, Global Markets included a US$262 million fair value gain on the widening of credit spreads on structured liabilities.

For footnotes, see page 89.

Balance Sheet Management recorded significantly higher income from positions taken in expectation of interest rate reductions by a number of central banks. As a result of these positions there was an associated increase in the total value at risk.

In Global Banking, the write-downs on leveraged and acquisition finance positions were more than 

transaction volumes drove robust growth in fees, particularly in emerging markets. Total operating income in payments and cash management was 12 per cent higher, led by a strong rise in deposit balances. 

HSBC's extensive distribution network enabled the delivery of products to emerging markets as recognised by a number of industry awards including 'Best Investment Bank' and 'Best at Risk Management' in the Middle East, and 'Best Debt House' in Asia and in Western Europe by Euromoney. 

The strength of the Group's corporate and institutional franchise was again illustrated by the number and variety of transactions in which Global Banking acted on behalf of clients. In the first half of 2008HSBC acted for over 700 clients in 29 sectors and some 60 countries. The total notional transaction value was more than US$1,000 billion.

Global Asset Management benefited from a significant increase in liquidity fund inflows with total funds under management growing to US$389 billion, as clients sought certainty in a volatile market. The Group maintained its position as one of the leading emerging markets asset managerswith assets increasing to US$86 billion, a rise of 18 per cent on the first half of 2007. The business continued to leverage the Group's distribution capabilities with new funds including HSBC's New Frontiers Fund, launched in February for the Group's Private Banking clients, which raised US$300 million in the three months following its launch

Within the Group's available-for-sale portfolio, continuing illiquidity in asset-backed securities markets led to further write-downs of securities. However, as a consequence of the underlying credit quality and seniority of the tranches held by HSBC, the first half of 2008 included a relatively modest impairment charge through the income statement of US$55 milliona further US$134 million was absorbed by income note holders who take the first loss on positions within the securities investment conduits ('SICs') now consolidated in HSBC's accounts. Further details on these SICs are provided on pages 137 to 141. 

Reconciliation of reported and underlying profit before tax

Half-year to 30 June 2008 ('1H08') compared with half-year to 30 June 2007 ('1H07')

Global Banking and Markets 

1H07 as reported US$m

Disposals  and  dilution

  gains1

US$m

Currency

translation2

US$m

1H07 at 1H08 exchange rates US$m

Acqui-

sitions1

US$m

Under- lying  change  US$m

1H08 as reported US$m

Re- ported change %

Under- lying

change

Net interest income 

1,847

-

72

1,919

-

1,818

3,737

102

95

Net fee income 

2,264

-

104

2,368

-

(14)

2,354

4

(1)

Other income3 

4,388

-

183

4,571

-

(3,283)

1,288

(71)

(72)

Net operating income4 

8,499

-

359

8,858

-

(1,479)

7,379

(13)

(17)

Loan impairment (charges)/recoveries and other credit risk provisions 

24

-

(2)

22

-

(137)

(115)

(579)

(623)

Net operating income 

8,523

-

357

8,880

-

(1,616)

7,264

(15)

(18)

Operating expenses 

(4,479)

-

(151)

(4,630)

-

(197)

(4,827)

(8)

(4)

Operating profit 

4,044

-

206

4,250

-

(1,813)

2,437

(40)

(43)

Income from associates 

114

-

5

119

-

134

253

122

113

Profit before tax 

4,158

-

211

4,369

-

(1,679)

2,690

(35)

(38)

Half-year to 30 June 2008 ('1H08') compared with half-year to 31 December 2007 ('2H07')

Global Banking and Markets 

2H07 as reported US$m

Disposals  and  dilution

  gains1

US$m

Currency

translation2

US$m

2H07 at 1H08 exchange rates US$m

Acqui-

sitions1

US$m

Under- lying  change  US$m

1H08 as reported US$m

Re- ported change %

Under- lying

change

Net interest income 

2,583

-

37

2,620

-

1,117

3,737

45

43

Net fee income 

2,637

-

32

2,669

-

(315)

2,354

(11)

(12)

Other income3 

1,491

-

12

1,503

-

(215)

1,288

(14)

(14)

Net operating income4 

6,711

-

81

6,792

-

587

7,379

10

9

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions 

(62)

-

2

(60)

-

(55)

(115)

(85)

(92)

Net operating income 

6,649

-

83

6,732

-

532

7,264

9

8

Operating expenses 

(4,879)

-

(32)

(4,911)

-

84

(4,827)

1

2

Operating profit 

1,770

-

51

1,821

-

616

2,437

38

34

Income from associates 

193

-

8

201

-

52

253

31

26

Profit before tax 

1,963

-

59

2,022

-

668

2,690

37

33

For footnotes, see page 89.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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