Core Viewpoint - An independent board committee of Hang Seng Bank has deemed HSBC's $13.6 billion take-private offer as fair and reasonable, recommending minority investors to vote in favor of the proposal [1] Group 1 - The independent board committee's assessment supports the valuation of HSBC's offer at $13.6 billion [1] - The recommendation from the committee is aimed at guiding minority investors in their voting decision [1]

Hang Seng Bank’s independent financial adviser recommended that shareholders vote in favor of HSBC’s proposal to privatize the lender https://t.co/BTuCFeO3h4 ...

Hong Kong's financial services sector could boost hiring by as much as 15 per cent next year, fuelled by buoyant capital markets and growth in assets under management, according to a global recruitment agency. The surging equity markets in Hong Kong and mainland China had boosted revenues and budgets for hiring investment professionals and traders, said John Mullally, managing director for Hong Kong at Robert Walters. The jobs market would be "more functional", with hiring across the financial services s ...

Core Insights - Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) plans to close eight branches in New Jersey on January 29, 2026, following the closure of six branches earlier this year [1][9] - The closures are part of a broader strategy to transition to online and mobile banking, aiming to save $2.5 billion annually through digital growth and branch optimization [2][9] - TD Bank is reducing its U.S. footprint by 10%, having already closed 38 branches and planning to close 51 branches in 2026 [5][9] Branch Strategy - TD Bank is reshaping the role of branches from transaction hubs to high-value advice centers, as stated by CEO Raymond Chun [3][9] - The bank is simplifying operations to align with changing customer banking habits, which includes reducing physical presence to allocate resources for upgrading branches and enhancing digital services [4][9] Financial Performance - Over the past six months, TD shares have increased by 28.2%, outperforming the industry growth of 20.7% [6]

Group 1: Digital Currency Developments in Asia - APAC jurisdictions are pursuing different paths in digital currency development, with some focusing on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and others on private stablecoins [1] - Hong Kong completed its e-HKD pilot program on October 28, while Japan's JPYC stablecoin exceeded 50 million yen in circulation within 48 hours [1][5] - South Korea has issued warnings regarding depegging risks associated with stablecoins, and Australia has clarified its regulatory requirements for stablecoins [1] Group 2: Hong Kong's e-HKD Pilot Program - The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published its e-HKD Pilot Program Phase 2 Report on October 28, evaluating 11 pilot projects with major financial institutions like HSBC and DBS Hong Kong [2] - The report indicates that the e-HKD is more suitable for wholesale financial applications rather than immediate retail deployment [2][3] - The e-HKD demonstrated capabilities in settling tokenized assets, programmability for automated transactions, and offline payment functionality [3] Group 3: Future Plans for CBDCs - The HKMA plans to complete preparatory work for potential retail e-HKD applications by the first half of 2026, prioritizing wholesale use cases in the meantime [3] - The UAE is set to launch its Digital Dirham for retail use in Q4 2025, which will be treated as legal tender alongside physical currency [4] - Hong Kong's cautious approach contrasts with the UAE's accelerated timeline, highlighting different regulatory priorities and market conditions [4] Group 4: Japan's Stablecoin Launch - Japan launched its first regulated yen-pegged stablecoin, JPYC, on October 27, compliant with the revised Payment Services Act [5] - By October 29, JPYC had surpassed 50 million yen in circulation, marking a significant milestone for the country's stablecoin market [5]

Investment Trends - Hong Kong and mainland China retail investors plan to double tokenized fund investments [1] - Active traders, high-net-worth individuals, and long-term investors expect to increase allocations to 16%-26% [1] Digital Currency & Tokenization - Aptos Labs and BCG released a report on tokenized funds [1] - HKMA's "e-HKD+" Phase 2 pilot with Hang Seng Bank confirms instant and compliant settlement of tokenized funds using digital currency [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues increased by $500 million to $17.9 billion, with a year-over-year revenue growth of 3% [4][11] - Annualized Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE) was 16.4% in Q3 and 17.6% year to date, both excluding notable items [11][31] - Customer deposits grew by $86 billion over the last twelve months, reaching $1.7 trillion [4][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Banking Net Interest Income (NII) returned to growth at $11 billion for the quarter, driven by deposit volumes, with full-year guidance raised to $43 billion or better [12][13] - Wealth management saw a 29% growth in fee and other income, totaling $2.7 billion, with net new invested assets of $29 billion [16][17] - Wholesale transaction banking reported strong customer engagement, with trade and payments continuing to grow [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Hong Kong, the composite deposit rate decreased significantly in Q3, but HIBOR is expected to provide a tailwind for NII in Q4 [48][51] - The UK business experienced a 5% year-over-year growth in the lending book, with a focus on mortgages and commercial lending [26][88] - The commercial real estate sector in Hong Kong showed a slight increase in the Stage 3 loan ratio, but impairment charges were lower than the previous quarter [50][56] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced plans to privatize Hang Seng Bank, viewing it as a compelling growth opportunity in a familiar market [5][7] - The strategy includes exiting non-strategic activities, with 11 exits announced so far this year, allowing for reinvestment in priority growth areas [9][30] - The company aims for a disciplined approach to capital allocation, targeting a 50% dividend payout ratio for 2025 [11][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the outlook for Hong Kong and the overall growth strategy, emphasizing the importance of operational efficiencies and alignment [6][7] - The company remains cautious about the credit cycle but believes in strong organic capital generation [28][60] - Management highlighted the positive momentum in customer deposits and the potential for continued growth in various markets [25][37] Other Important Information - The company is on track to achieve around 3% cost growth in 2025 compared to 2024, with simplification savings ahead of expectations [21][29] - Legal provisions of $1.4 billion were recorded for historical matters, which do not impact ongoing business operations [22][60] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for Banking NII in Q4 - Management confirmed that banking NII is expected to be no less than $10.6 billion in Q4, driven by deposit strength and structural hedges [36][37] Question: Sustainability of Deposit Growth - Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of the current 5% underlying deposit growth, particularly in Hong Kong [38] Question: Drivers Behind Wealth Management Revenue Growth - Management noted strong investment distribution and equity volumes as key drivers of wealth management revenue growth, with a medium-term guidance of double-digit growth in fees [73][74] Question: Concerns Regarding Credit Risk - Management reassured that direct exposure to private credit is minimal, with strong credit underwriting principles applied [76][77] Question: Update on Madoff Litigation - Management provided insights on the ongoing litigation, confirming that the provision reflects their best judgment based on legal advice [59][90]

Core Viewpoint - HSBC is facing a financial impact of $1.1 billion due to a legal ruling related to the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, leading to a decline in its share price [1][2][4]. Financial Impact - HSBC announced it would set aside $1.1 billion in its third quarter results to cover the costs associated with the lawsuit [1][4]. - The lawsuit was initiated by Herald Fund SPC, which claimed losses from investments in Madoff's funds, amounting to $2.5 billion in securities and cash plus interest, or damages of $5.6 billion plus interest [8]. Legal Proceedings - The Luxembourg Court of Cassation rejected HSBC Securities Services Luxembourg's appeal regarding the restitution claim, prompting HSBC to set aside the financial impact [5][6]. - HSBC plans to pursue a second appeal before the Luxembourg Court of Appeal to contest the amount it may be required to pay [7]. Market Reaction - Following the announcement, HSBC's shares fell by as much as 2.4% on the FTSE 100 [1]. - Despite the recent decline, HSBC's shares have increased nearly 27% year-to-date due to a significant restructuring effort by its CEO [9]. Additional Context - HSBC is also dealing with the financial implications of a $13.6 billion deal to take its Hong Kong-listed business, Hang Seng Bank, private, which has led to the suspension of share buybacks for the next three quarters [8][9].

Core Insights - Challenges related to commercial property credit quality will persist for Hong Kong banks in the upcoming year, although there are positive prospects in capital markets and yuan business [1] - The residential property market in Hong Kong is showing signs of stabilization, with a modest price increase of 0.14% in August, reducing the overall price decline for the year to 0.24% [3] - The commercial real estate credit quality issues represent a small portion of the overall lending by Hong Kong banks, and sufficient provisions have been made to manage the risks [4][6] Commercial Property Sector - The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is closely monitoring the credit quality of the commercial property sector, which is expected to remain a challenge for banks [1] - HSBC and Hang Seng Bank reported a combined provision of US$500 million for office and retail properties in the first half of the year, marking a fivefold increase from the previous year [4] - The oversupply in the office commercial real estate market is exerting downward pressure on rents and capital values, as noted by HSBC's CEO [5] Residential Property Market - Hong Kong's lived-in home prices have recorded a modest gain for the fifth consecutive month, indicating a stabilizing residential market [3] - The overall price decline in the residential market has narrowed to 0.24% for the year, reflecting a positive trend [3] Banking Sector Resilience - The banking sector in Hong Kong is characterized by a strong capital ratio and profitability, which helps mitigate concerns regarding commercial real estate credit quality [6]

By Rishav Chatterjee and Selena Li (Reuters) -HSBC Holdings said on Monday it will book a $1.1 billion provision in its third-quarter results after losing part of an appeal in a long-running lawsuit tied to Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. HSBC acted as a service provider to several funds that invested with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. Herald Fund SPC sued HSBC's Luxembourg unit in 2009 seeking restitution of assets it said were lost in the fraud. Last Friday, the Luxembourg Court of Cassa ...