Interim Report - 11 of 28

Economic background 

Annualised US real GDP growth averaged 1.4% in the first half of 2013. On the same basis, personal consumption rose by 2.0%, lifted by increased spending on durable goods. Government consumption and gross investment declined by 2.3%, reflecting budgetary cutbacks at the federal, state and local levels of government. Payroll employment growth was positive in the first half of 2013, with an average increase of 198,000 per month. The unemployment rate was 7.6% in June 2013, down from 7.8% in December 2012. Inflation decelerated in the first half of 2013. As measured by the core price index for personal consumption, core inflation slowed to 1.2% year-on-year through June, down from 1.4% in December 2012. In the first half of 2013, the Federal Open Market Committee maintained the federal funds rate in a range of zero to 0.25%. In addition, the Federal Reserve purchased agency mortgage-backed securities at a rate of US$40bn per month and longer-term Treasury securities at US$45bn per month in the period.

The Canadian economy struggled. Despite an export-led expansion in GDP of 2.5% in the first quarter of 2013, economic indicators for the second quarter suggested that the economy slowed markedly and net exports fell sharply. For example, the expansion in hours worked fell from 1.8% in the first quarter to just 0.1% in the second. In addition, private sector job creation stalled. Annualised inflation was less than 1%, below the Bank of Canada's 1% to 3% inflation target range.

Review of performance

In the first half of 2013, our operations in North America reported a profit before tax of US$666m, compared with US$3.4bn in the first half of 2012. On a constant currency basis, profit before tax declined by US$2.7bn.

Reported profits in both periods included gains and losses on disposal of businesses not aligned to our long‑term strategy, notably gains in the US of US$3.1bn and US$661m following the sales of the CRS business and 138 non-strategic retail branches, respectively, in the first half of 2012.

On an underlying basis, the pre-tax profit of US$808m in the first half of 2013 compared with a pre-tax loss of US$772m in the first half of 2012. This was mainly due to lower loan impairment charges in the US, primarily in the CML portfolio, driven by significant favourable adjustments to the market value of the underlying properties reflecting

Profit/(loss) before tax by country within global businesses

improvements in housing market conditions together with a decline in operating expenses, as the first half of 2012 included a US$700m provision for US anti-money laundering, BSA and OFAC investigations. These positive effects were partly offset by losses on the sale of certain loan portfolios in the first half of 2013 as described further below.

Underlying profit before tax in Canada declined due to lower revenues as a result of the closure to new business in 2012 of the Canadian consumer finance company, spread compression in a low rate and competitive market and the write-down of an investment property held for sale, partly offset by lower costs as a result of cost control and sustainable savings from organisational effectiveness initiatives. Our operations in Bermuda reported a higher profit before tax, primarily due to lower loan impairment charges and operating expenses.

In line with our objective to accelerate the run-off of our CML portfolio and simplify operations, we completed the sale of the CML non-real estate personal loan portfolio with a carrying amount of US$3.7bn on 1 April 2013 and recognised a loss on sale of US$271m. CML lending balances, including loans held for sale, at 30 June 2013 were US$36.1bn, a decline of US$6.6bn from 31 December 2012. At 30 June 2013, we had real estate secured accounts of US$5.8bn before impairment allowances, which we plan to actively market for sale in multiple transactions during the next 18 months. At 30 June 2013, the carrying value of these assets was US$56m greater than their estimated fair value. We expect to recognise a loss on sale of these loans although the amount will depend on market conditions at the date of sale. Their disposal is expected to be capital accretive, reduce funding requirements and alleviate operational burdens, given that the loans are intensive to service and subject to foreclosure delays. We completed the sale of a pool of similar real estate secured loans in June 2013 and recorded a loss on sale of US$1m.

In RBWM, as part of the simplification of our US operations, PHH Mortgage began to service HSBC Bank USA N.A. ('HSBC Bank USA') mortgage accounts, providing mortgage origination processing services and sub‑servicing of our portfolio. The outsourcing will enable RBWM to focus on strategic wealth products and service initiatives. RBWM has also made significant progress in transforming its RM model to one which is more client focused and needs‑based. This change includes realigning RM portfolios to match the needs and affluence of clients with the skills of the sales force, and a shift away from an incentive-based compensation scheme to drive appropriate behaviour in the sales process.

In CMB, the strategy to strengthen our position as the leading international trade and business bank made good progress. We hired over 170 RMs, product specialists and support personnel to drive the US growth strategy. New lending facilities of US$3.8bn were approved in the first half of 2013 representing a 9% increase in overall credit facilities to CMB customers since December 2012.

In GB&M, we continue to connect clients to global growth, with New York acting as a hub for the Americas. We have a strong domestic franchise servicing US based clients and are focused on growing inbound business from mainland China, driving business with mainland Chinese multinationals in the US and delivering RMB products to US clients with the support of our China desk in New York. In addition, we remain dedicated to enhancing collaboration with other global businesses to appropriately service the needs of our client base.

The following commentary is on a constant currency basis.

Net interest income decreased by 36% as a consequence of selling the CRS business and retail branches, lower average lending balances from the continued run-off of the CML portfolio and portfolio disposals during the first half of 2013, lower reinvestment rates in BSM, closing the Canada consumer finance company to new business in 2012 and reduced spreads on commercial loans in Canada. Partly offsetting the decrease were higher average lending balances in CMB from the continued expansion of our business in the US.

Net fee income decreased by 21%, primarily due to the sale of the CRS business and the retail branches in 2012. This was partly offset by fees from the transition service agreement with the purchaser of the CRS business.

Net trading income was US$347m higher in the first half of 2013, primarily due to favourable fair value movements on non-qualifying hedges in HSBC Finance of US$263m in 2013 due to a rise in interest rates, compared with adverse movements of US$217m in the first half of 2012. This was partly offset by a loss of US$199m relating to the early termination of qualifying accounting hedges in the first half of 2013 as a result of anticipated changes in funding.

Net trading income increased in GB&M as a result of higher Credit trading revenue driven by revaluation gains on securities, and monoline releases in the legacy portfolio. Net trading revenue also benefited from the performance of economic hedges used to manage interest rate risk which benefited from favourable interest rate movements. Rates trading revenue was broadly in line with the first half of 2012, as lower income from a decline in trading activities and the widening of credit spreads was offset by favourable fair value movements on structured liabilities due to a widening of our own credit spreads.

Net expense from financial instruments designated at fair value was US$72m in the first half of 2013 compared with US$639m in the comparable period in 2012. This was due to lower adverse fair value movements on our own debt designated at fair value in 2013 than in the first half of 2012 as credit spreads tightened to a lesser extent.

Gains less losses from financial investments increased by 27% during the first half of 2013 as Balance Sheet Management reported higher gains on sales of available-for-sale debt securities as a result of ongoing portfolio repositioning for risk management purposes.

Net premium income decreased by US$75m due to the sale of our US Insurance business in the first half of 2013.

Gains on disposal of US branch network and cards business reported in the first half of 2012 included a gain of US$3.1bn from the sale of the CRS business and US$661m from the sale of 138 non-strategic branches in upstate New York. We recognised gains of US$449m and US$212m in RBWM and CMB, respectively, as a result of the branch sales.

Other operating income decreased by US$455m to an expense of US$228m, due to the loss on sale of the CML non-real estate personal loan portfolio, a loss on sale of our US insurance business, and a write-down of an investment property held for sale.

LICs decreased by US$1.5bn to US$696m, mainly in the US, driven by significant favourable adjustments to the market value of the underlying properties of US$603m reflecting improvements in housing market conditions, a reduction in lending balances from the continued run-off of the CML portfolio and loan sales, and lower delinquency levels. In addition, loan impairment charges declined by US$323m due to the sale of the CRS business in the first half of 2012. Partially offsetting these declines was an increase of US$130m relating to a rise in the estimated average period of time from a loss event occurring to write‑off for real estate loans to twelve months (previously a period of ten months was used). In CMB, loan impairment charges increased by US$105m due to individually assessed impairments on a small number of exposures in Canada and, in the US, due to higher provisions as a result of increased loans in key growth markets and a lower level of recoveries compared with the same period in 2012.

Operating expenses were 26% lower than in the first half of 2012, primarily due to the non-recurrence of a US$700m provision for US anti-money laundering, BSA and OFAC investigations, lower average staff numbers and costs following the business disposals in the US and Canada, and a reduction in litigation provisions in relation to USmortgage foreclosure servicing costs. We also achieved over US$140m of sustainable cost savings in the first half of 2013, primarily from organisational effectiveness. Partly offsetting the above was an increase of US$100m in the customer remediation provisions in the first half of 2013 related to enhancement services products sold by our former CRS business.

Profit/(loss) before tax and balance sheet data - North America

Profit/(loss) before tax and balance sheet data - North America (continued)