Wednesday, May 23, 2012 10:18 AM SAST

HSBC

HSBC Holdings plc is a public limited company incorporated in England in 1990, and headquartered in London since 1993. As of 2009, it is both the world's largest banking group and the world's 6th largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine. Hong Kong served as the bank¹s headquarters until 1992 when it was forced to move to London as a condition of completing the acquisition of Midland Bank. Today, whilst no single geographical area dominates the group's earnings, Hong Kong still continues to be a significant source of its income. Recent acquisitions and expansion in China are returning HSBC to part of its roots. HSBC has an enormous operational base in Asia and significant lending, investment, and insurance activities around the world. The company has a global reach and financial fundamentals matched by few other banking or financial multinationals. Read More

Articles About HSBC

Nationwide lifts mortgage lending by 44 percent

By Reuters UK

Nationwide, Britain's biggest customer-owned financial services group, reported a 44 percent increase in loans to home buyers in its last fiscal year, including a sharp rise in the number of mortgages provided to first-time home buyers. (9:00 am)

MORE TOPICS: BARCLAYS, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, MORTGAGE

Flags of Australia and Malaysia
Australia, Malaysia Signs Free Trade Agreement

By IBTimes AU

Effective January 2013, exports of Australian products into Malaysia will get to enjoy 97.6 per cent tariff-free entry and will increase to 99 per cent by 2017. (5:31 am)

MORE TOPICS: AUSTRALIA, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INVESTMENT

Dollar
Australian Dollar Outlook - 05/22/2012

By IBTimes AU

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is just north of USD 0.9900 after sentiment was boosted slightly due to supportive comments from policymakers. (May 22)

MORE TOPICS: AUSTRALIA, FTSE, CHINA, EXISTING HOME SALES, PORTUGAL, GERMANY, MANUFACTURING

Sold
Existing Home Sales, Durable Goods, China PMI: Economic Events For May 21 - 25

By IBTimes

This week's economic calendar is relatively light in the U.S. with the releases of existing home sales, durable goods orders, and the University of Michigan consumer confidence survey. Attention will likely focus on data out of Europe. (May 21)

MORE TOPICS: CHINA, FEDERAL RESERVE, UNEMPLOYMENT, BANK OF AMERICA, BARCLAYS, MERRILL LYNCH

Australian Stock Exchange
Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 5/21/2012

By Comsec

The Australian sharemarket managed to improve for the first time in five sessions today, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) gaining by 0.6 pct or 25.6 pts to 4124.4. Shares were up by as much as 1 pct in early trade, fell by 0. (May 21)

MORE TOPICS: GOLD, FEDERAL RESERVE, WESTPAC, MANUFACTURING, TWITTER, FACEBOOK

Banks, commodities lead FTSE bounce after torrid week

By Reuters UK

Britain's top shares moved higher on Monday, recovering modestly after a torrid time last week, with banks and commodity stocks in the vanguard, although the underlying mood remained cautious as worries over the euro zone sapped overall investor sentiment. (May 21)

MORE TOPICS: ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, FTSE, GERMANY, COPPER, MORTGAGE, INVESTMENT

Asian Shares
Asian Stocks Rise After China Pledges To Boost Growth

By IBTimes

Asian stock markets rebounded Monday after suffering heavy losses last week amid ongoing worries over the euro zone crisis. (May 21)

MORE TOPICS: CHINA, SAMSUNG, SONY, INVESTMENT

Britain's FTSE 100 edges lower in early deals

By Reuters UK

Britain's leading share index slipped back modestly in early deals on Monday, steadying a touch after a torrid run of losses in the previous week, although the mood remained cautious as worries over the euro zone continued to sap investor sentim... (May 21)

MORE TOPICS: FTSE, GERMANY

Currencies
Australian Dollar Outlook - 05/21/2012

By IBTimes AU

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar continues in languish in the 0.9800's after the G8 meeting held on the weekend produced no "revelations" of how to deal with the economic woes of Europe. (May 21)

MORE TOPICS: AUSTRALIA, FTSE, GOLD, GERMANY, JAPAN, RUSSIA

Cautious positioning the name of the game as Europe's woes persist; A$ at 6-month lows

By GoMarkets

True to recent form, the US dollar continued its winning run through the course of last week with European debt concerns remaining the primary stumbling block. (May 21)

MORE TOPICS: CHINA, MANUFACTURING, MICHIGAN