HSBC Holdings plc 2008 Interi

RNS Number : 5242A
HSBC Holdings PLC
04 August 2008
 








4 August 2008                                        



HSBC HOLDINGS PLC

2008 INTERIM RESULTS - HIGHLIGHTS



  • Total operating income up 2 per cent to US$42,912 million (US$42,092 million in the first half of 2007).


For the half year:


  • Net operating income before loan impairment charges up by US$982 million, 3 per cent, to US$39,475 million (US$38,493 million in the first half of 2007). 

  • Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions up by US$3,712 million (58 per cent) to US$10,058 million (US$6,346 million in the first half of 2007).

  • Group profit before tax down by US$3,912 million (28 per cent) to US$10,247 million (US$14,159 million in the first half of 2007).

  • Profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company down by US$3,173 million, 29 per cent, to US$7,722 million (US$10,895 million in the first half of 2007).

  • Return on shareholders' equity of 12.1 per cent (19.1 per cent in the first half of 2007).

  • Earnings per share down 32 per cent to US$0.65 (US$0.95 in the first half of 2007).


Dividend and capital position:


  • Second interim dividend for 2008 of US$0.18 per ordinary share which, together with the first interim dividend for 2008 of US$0.18 per ordinary share already paid, represents an increase of 6 per cent over the first and second interim dividends for 2007.


  • Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.8 per cent and total capital ratio of 11.9 per cent.


  

HSBC Holdings plc



________________________________________________________________________________


HSBC HOLDINGS REPORTS PRE-TAX PROFIT OF US$10,247 MILLION


HSBC made a profit before tax of US$10,247 million, a decrease of US$3,912 million, or 28 per cent, compared with the first half of 2007.


Net interest income of US$21,178 million was US$2,948 million, or 16 per cent, higher than the first half of 2007.


Net operating income before loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions of US$39,475 million was US$982 million, or 3 per cent, higher than the first half of 2007.


Total operating expenses of US$20,140 million rose by US$1,529 million, or 8 per cent, compared with the first half of 2007. On an underlying basis, and expressed in terms of constant currency, operating expenses increased by 4 per cent.


HSBC's cost efficiency ratio was 51.0 per cent compared with 48.3 per cent in the first half of 2007.


Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions were US$10,058 million in the first half of 2008, US$3,712 million higher than the first half of 2007.


The tier 1 capital and total capital ratios for the Group remained strong at 8.8 per cent and 11.9 per cent, respectively, at 30 June 2008.


The Group's total assets at 30 June 2008 were US$2,547 billion, an increase of US$192 billion, or 8 per cent, since 31 December 2007.  

HSBC Holdings plc



________________________________________________________________________________


Geographical distribution of results


Profit/(loss) before tax







Half-year to


30 June 2008


30 June 2007


31 December 2007


US$m


%


US$m


%


US$m


%















Europe

5,177


50.5


4,050


28.6


4,545


45.2


Hong Kong

3,073


30.0


3,330


23.5


4,009


39.9


Rest of Asia-Pacific

3,624


35.4


3,344


23.6


2,665


26.5


North America

(2,893

)

(28.2

)

2,435


17.2


(2,344

)

(23.3

)

Latin America

1,266


12.3


1,000


7.1


1,178


11.7
















10,247


100.0


14,159


100.0


10,053


100.0















Tax expense

(1,941

)



(2,645

)



(1,112

)
















Profit for the period

8,306




11,514




8,941

















Profit attributable to













  shareholders of the













  parent company

7,722




10,895




8,238

















Profit attributable to













  minority interests

584




619




703




















Distribution of results by customer group and global business


Profit/(loss) 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


Other

(189

)

(1.8

)

1,070


7.5


2,465


24.5
















10,247


100.0


14,159


100.0


10,053


100.0



  

HSBC Holdings plc



________________________________________________________________________________


Statement by Stephen Green, Group Chairman


The first half of 2008 saw the most difficult financial markets for several decades, marked by significant declines in profitability throughout much of our industry, with consequent recapitalisation and restructuring. HSBC was not immune from the turmoil. Our pre-tax profit of US$10.2 billion was 28 per cent lower than in the first half of 2007. In the prevailing market conditions this is a resilient performance which enables us to maintain our capital strength, continue with our dividend policy and balance the need to conserve capital with our commitment to make it available for investment in our fast-growing businesses.

The Directors have approved a second interim dividend of US$0.18 per share, an increase of 6 per cent, which is payable on 8 October with a scrip alternative.


Resilient operating performance in the first half of 2008

In the first half of 2008 we remained profitable in all our customer groups. We also remained profitable in all of our geographical regions with the continuing exception of North America. Revenue rose by 3 per cent compared with the first half of 2007; loan impairments were up by 58 per cent but were 8 per cent lower than in the second half. Costs on an underlying basis were well contained, growing by only 4 per cent compared with the first half of 2007 and down by 2 per cent on the second half.

Compared with the second half of 2007, we improved profitability in all our customer groups and for the Group as a whole by 2 per cent. In particular, it is notable that profitability in Global Banking and Markets - where extremely difficult market conditions led to writedowns of US$3.9 billion - was 37 per cent higher than the second half of 2007. Meanwhile, our US consumer finance business continues to face difficulties, but performed within our expectations, with loan impairments of US$6.6 billion, lower than in the second half of 2007 by 17 per cent. The Group Chief Executive's Review covers our operational performance in more detail.


Financial strength maintained

HSBC's commitment to maintaining its financial strength is unwavering. HSBC remains both strongly capitalised and liquid. The tier 1 capital ratio was 8.8 per cent and tier 1 capital grew by US$6.2 billion during the period. We have maintained our key credit ratings, generated good profitability in adverse market conditions and continued to focus investment on our strategic priorities.

Our principal concerns in this environment have been risk management, strict cost control, supporting our customers and continued investment to support our long-term strategic ambitions. Our broad-based and resilient revenue streams continue to provide a stable platform from which to achieve strong, long-term performance.


Strategic changes to HSBC's shape

The sale of the regional bank network in France to Banque Populaire announced in February was completed on 2 July and a gain of US$2.1 billion will be recorded in our second half results. The HSBC business in France is now concentrated in France's major urban areas, particularly Paris; the business is focused primarily on Global Banking and Markets, Premier, private banking and commercial banking, specifically for businesses involved in international markets.


We acquired the assets, liabilities and operations of The Chinese Bank in Taiwan in March, adding 36 branches and over one million customers to our operations in Asia's fourth-largest banking market. In May, we announced an agreement to acquire 73.21 per cent of IL&FS Investsmart Ltd, a leading retail brokerage in India, for a total consideration of around US$260 million, giving us a securities presence alongside our banking and insurance businesses in Asia's third largest economy.


Turbulent environment

The economic and financial environment in the first half of the year deteriorated progressively. In the major developed economies where we operate, economic growth slowed as asset prices, particularly of residential property, declined; this in turn affected consumer confidence and hence spending. In credit markets, illiquidity remained a major issue, with trading volumes low and no sign of resumption of normal activity levels in the securitisation markets. As a consequence, the banking system continued to deleverage, putting further pressure on asset prices and raising credit default risk.

In the emerging markets, where HSBC is the leading international bank, growth remained strong in the period as real asset prices continued to rise and infrastructure development continued to boost economic growth, which supported consumer confidence and spending. However, a number of these economies are now facing increasing inflationary pressures as their consumption of commodities, energy and foodstuffs grows. 


Slowing global economy

The outlook for the near term remains highly challenging with significant uncertainty. Globally, consumer confidence is declining and despite the short-term success of the recent fiscal stimulus, the US economy continues to be weak, driven by continuing housing market difficulties. The UK and other economies in Europe which had enjoyed housing market booms, have also weakened. The decline in credit availability is accelerating this process.

We expect growth in emerging markets will hold up reasonably well, albeit with less momentum than in the recent past. In Asia, compared with the buoyant conditions of last year, it is apparent that corporate activity in some sectors is slowing and demand for equity-related and wealth products has reduced as equity markets have declined.


Positioning HSBC for long-term growth

It is clear that growth models in our industry based on high and increasing leverage will no longer be sustainable. It is also clear that complexity in financial services and the recent consequences of failed risk management need to be addressed. Along with its supervisors, our industry - including lenders, underwriters and investors - needs to reflect on the lessons for risk management, capital adequacy and funding. Ultimately, the real economy will recover from this crisis, although it may get worse before it gets better. Financial markets will not, and should not, return to the status quo ante.

Through this period of major uncertainty and beyond, we will continue to position HSBC for long-term growth. The major global long-term trends - the key drivers of change which underline our strategic thinking - remain intact. Emerging markets will grow faster than mature ones; world trade and investment will grow faster than world GDP; and the ageing of the world's population continues. All of these trends have significant implications for financial services. 


We will continue to build HSBC's platform to serve our customers as these trends shape their societies, their businesses and their own needs. We will focus investment primarily on the faster growing markets and on servicing developed market customers with international connectivity. Our capital and balance sheet strength, and a commitment to strict cost control, will continue to underpin our performance.

While the near term poses real uncertainties and difficulties, it may also create opportunities for HSBC to accelerate the execution of our strategy. In a stressed environment, HSBC has the advantages of a powerful brand; a strong capital and funding position; and the ability to service our international customers around the world. We continue to have the capacity to deploy capital at a time when others may be constrained. The strength of our funding base means that in many markets, we have an opportunity to attract new customers and deliver more for existing ones. We take a long-term view of our business and our customer relationships; we believe that this is the basis for sustainable long-term performance for our shareholders. We will never depart from this. With 335,000 colleagues, we will continue to serve our over 100 million customers around the world, working to fulfil their financial needs.

S K Green, Group Chairman
4 August 2008

  

HSBC Holdings plc



________________________________________________________________________________


Review by Michael Geoghegan, Group Chief Executive


Resilient performance in a challenging environment

HSBC is the 'world's local bank'. And we are the world's leading international bank in emerging markets. This gives us the opportunity to create value by focusing on faster growing markets, moving towards 60 per cent of our pre-tax profit coming from these economies over time. In developed markets, we are focusing both on businesses with international customers where emerging markets connectivity is critical and on businesses with local customers where our global scale means we can create efficiencies for them and us. Finally we have a suite of global products where we have a competitive advantage from scale, expertise and brand.

Our geographic balance and broad customer base is a protection which allowed us, in difficult markets, to achieve a pre-tax profit of US$10.2 billion, albeit 28 per cent lower than in the first half of 2007.

We measure our progress against key performance indicators. Our cost efficiency ratio of 51 per cent was within our range of 48-52 per cent, as we managed the balance between controlling costs and investing in the business.

Our total shareholder return was also on target for the period; top five in our peer group of 27 international banks. 

On capital ratios, which reflect HSBC's fundamental commitment to financial strength, our tier 1 ratio remained strong at 8.8 per cent, within the target range of 7.5-9 per cent.

Our return on total shareholders' equity at 12.1 per cent was below our target range of 15 to 19 per cent over the full cycle, but we would expect that in these difficult times.


Expanding Commercial Banking 

Commercial Banking is a core business for us and it again performed strongly with pre-tax profit up by 35 per cent to US$4.6 billion. This included a gain of US$425 million from the sale of the UK card-acquiring business to a joint venture with Global Payments Inc. Excluding this, the growth was 22 per cent.

In keeping with our strategy, around 70 per cent of the business growth - excluding the card-acquiring gain - came from emerging economies, which now account for 54 per cent of Commercial Banking's global profit before tax. Growth was strong in Asia-PacificBrazil and the Middle East, reflecting our established positions in these markets, particularly in mainland China, where we are substantially raising our commercial banking presence. In addition, profit before tax grew strongly in Brazil as transaction, lending and foreign exchange volumes grew, while loan impairment charges fell. 

In the UK, profit before tax grew by 23 per cent, excluding the card acquiring gain, as Commercial Banking continued to expand with strong deposit growth, and increased fee income from card-issuing and foreign-exchange initiatives. Despite a 13 per cent growth in lending, we kept loan impairment charges in the UK broadly unchanged. In North America, profitability was affected by the slowing economy and by market interest rates. Loan impairment charges increased in both the US and Canada, while in the US and Bermuda, net interest income on liabilities was adversely affected by lower US dollar interest rates.



Commercial Banking grew its small business customer base by 8 per cent to 2.9 million, with particular growth in TurkeyTaiwanIndia and mainland China. We are committed to the small business sector as a profit-growth opportunity, a strong source of deposits and fee income.

More and more of our commercial customers are now using our Business Direct service to do their banking online and by telephone. Since its launch in the UK two years ago, and in Brazil last year, over 150,000 businesses have signed up. We will launch in India and Northern Ireland in the second half.

We recognise that our particular advantage in the commercial markets sector is our ability to grow our cross-border income by being where our customers are, participating at both ends of international transactions. Our Commercial Banking revenues are growing at over four times the rate of world trade. 

We are further developing our Global Links customer referral system, and cross-border referrals increased by 126 per cent to 2,711. The aggregate value of these transactions increased by 83 per cent to US$5.6 billion. We continue to join up across functions, with revenues of Global Markets foreign exchange increasing by 44 per cent, and Commercial Banking referrals to Private Banking increasing net new money by 80 per cent.


Personal Financial Services: continued difficulties in the US, strength elsewhere

Profit before tax in Personal Financial Services fell by 51 per cent to US$2.3 billion. This was largely due to the higher loan impairment charges in the US consumer finance business. Elsewhere, the business performed strongly, with pre-tax profits excluding US consumer finance up by 23 per cent.

In emerging markets, we had a very strong six months. We maintained revenue momentum in Rest of Asia-Pacific as well as building out our branch network, with 63 new branches, notably in Greater China. We grew our business in the Middle East profitably on the back of balance sheet growth, and in Latin America with an increased share of credit cards in Mexico and strong deposit growth in Brazil.

We strengthened our position in the UK mortgage market with our successful RateMatcher campaign. Market share of new mortgage lending rose from 3 per cent in the first half of 2007 to 6 per cent in 2008, peaking at 12 per cent in May. We also grew our international customer base in France, through our Investor Services unit.

As part of our 'Joining up the company' strategy, we are focusing on attracting the affluent, high end, internationally mobile personal customers who we believe HSBC suits best. HSBC Premier was designed with these customers in mind. We attracted 208,000 new customers in the first half and now have close to 2.4 million in total. We are on track to achieve 2.6 million Premier customers by the end of the year.

We originally estimated that half of these customers would be new to HSBC but, in the period, over 80 per cent were new to the bank. Each customer generates an average annualised revenue of over US$2,000. This is further evidence that 'Joining up the company' is creating new revenue streams.

HSBC Direct, our online banking system, is also ahead of our expectations. In the face of the industry's desire to raise core deposits, we experienced stiff competition, particularly in the US, and it is testimony to our brand's strength that despite this, we increased our customer base by 15 per cent to 1.2 million customers and grew total deposits by 19 per cent to US$16.1 billion. The intrinsic value of HSBC Direct will increase further as we begin to achieve cross-sales of other products to these customers.


We continued to expand One HSBC cards, our global cards platform. In emerging markets, card growth was 5 per cent.


Personal Financial Services - US update

In the US, our Personal Financial Services business made a loss of US$2.2 billion. Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions rose by 85 per cent on the first half of 2007 to US$6.8 billion, but declined by 15 per cent compared with the second half. The US remains a difficult market, with rising unemployment and falling house prices, and we have recognised this with an impairment charge of US$527 million on the goodwill of our North American Personal Financial Services businesses at Group level. 

We continued to take decisive action to mitigate our position. In the first half of 2008, excluding goodwill impairment, we reduced costs by 12 per cent compared with the first half of 2007. We continued to shrink the consumer lending branch network, from 1,000 to 900 branches.

Today, we have announced the run-off of our vehicle finance business. Our vehicle finance portfolio actually improved credit quality over the period but the business does not have sufficient critical mass or the pricing power to provide an acceptable return to the Group, and so we will not be originating further loans. We expect an orderly run-off of about 80 per cent of the portfolio of US$13 billion to be achieved in 3 years, with the remaining balance trailing off after that time.

Our US-based consumer finance business will now be focused mainly on cards and consumer lending. 

In mortgage services, we reduced the portfolio outstandings by 13 per cent during the period, down from US$36 billion to US$31 billion, of which around 60 per cent was from repayments.


Emerging markets strength in Global Banking and Markets

Global Banking and Markets made a pre-tax profit of US$2.7 billion, down 35 per cent over the first half of 2007 but 37 per cent higher than in the second half. In emerging markets, profit before tax was up by 51 per cent.

We wrote down US$3.9 billion on credit trading, monoline exposures and leveraged acquisition financing loans. This reflected the effect of market illiquidity across all asset-backed and structured-product sectors. HSBC's exposure to illiquid markets and the consequent uncertainty over mark-to-market values remains modest with only 3 per cent of our assets having to be valued with reference to significant unobservable price inputs. We have no material exposure to collateralised debt obligations backed by US sub-prime mortgages. 

In the half, we created a stable funding basis for our Structured Investment Vehicles ('SIVs') by establishing new securities investment conduits. Since the end of 2007, assets held by the SIVs and the new conduits and consolidated on HSBC's balance sheet have declined by US$11 billion to US$29 billion, primarily as assets have been sold or run off. 

Our foreign exchange business reported record revenues. The gains reflected greater market volatility and higher customer volumes. Strong results were seen in Rates where increased customer activity and growth in deal volumes increased income. 

Global Transaction Banking operates across Commercial Banking and Global Banking and Markets. It generated US$4.6 billion of revenue in the first half of 2008, up by US$0.7 billion. Payments and cash management revenues were 10 per cent ahead of the first half of 2007, the strong liability growth offsetting the effect of declining spreads following rate cuts. Trade and supply chain performed strongly, increasing by 27 per cent despite retail weakness in the US and the UK.

We continued to concentrate on Global Banking and Markets' emerging market-led, financing-focused strategy. The relevance of that cross-border strategy and the strength of HSBC's corporate and institutional franchise was illustrated by the number of transactions in which we acted on behalf of clients. In the first half of 2008, HSBC acted for more than 700 clients in 29 sectors in some 60 countries. The notional value of these transactions amounted to more than a trillion US dollars. 

Recognition for what has been achieved included being awarded Best Emerging Market Bank by Euromoney. We closed a number of landmark cross-border deals, including Vale's US$12.2 billion global equity offering, the largest ever follow-on offering by a Latin American company. We advised Ford on the US$2.3 billion sale of its Jaguar and Land Rover businesses to Tata Motors and we were sole book runner of PetroRabigh's US$1.2 billion IPO, the first IPO by a Saudi Aramco affiliate.


Expanding Private Banking in emerging markets

Private Banking pre-tax profits increased by 5 per cent to US$822 million, primarily due to strong performances in Switzerland and Monaco. In difficult times, we increased total client assets by 1 per cent in the first half of 2008 to US$499 billion. Private Banking generates 59 per cent of its business from clients in emerging markets. We have recently opened three new Private Banking offices in mainland China

Overall, referrals to Private Banking from other customer groups have increased by 28 per cent. Net new money from referrals is up over 70 per cent, to US$3.4 billion.


Building our insurance proposition

We continue to develop our insurance business worldwide, which now represents 16 per cent of the Group's pre-tax profit. Premium growth was up by 30 per cent, driven mainly by Latin America, Hong Kong and Europe

Insurance extended its reach with the start of operations in India and the launch of our joint venture in South Korea. Our Preferred Strategic Providers now operate in 23 countries with 82 product launches under way, emphasising the power of HSBC's distribution capabilities.

We won several industry awards, including 'Best Life Insurance Provider' in Brazil and a Labels d'Excellence award in France


Transforming our customers' experience by Joining up the Company 

'Joining up the company' is about increasing revenues, particularly those which are new to the bank, and slowing cost growth. In previous paragraphs, I have outlined growth coming from Premier, Global Links and Private Banking and we expect this to continue. However, we are also working to develop the synergies that can be achieved by commonality of technology and process through 'One HSBC', particularly as it relates to reducing our cost base in developed markets. A slowing of the Group's cost growth is evident in our results for this half year.

One HSBC is our programme to re-engineer the company so that wherever possible we use global systems which provide leading customer experience and also drive down the cost of production. For example, One HSBC Call Centre is reducing call times for our customers' most frequent transactions. One HSBC Collections improves our service and contact capabilities through holistic customer level views versus individual account views. About three-quarters of the Group's global credit card base is now on the One HSBC Cards platform, and in 2008 we will be undertaking conversions in India and Indonesia. Standardising our service proposition under the One HSBC programme has cut our service interruptions in half.

We can now deploy One HSBC systems in a country as a fully integrated package. This is particularly beneficial in our emerging markets as the suite reduces bespoke software costs as well as producing operating benefits. In the first half of 2008, we deployed the One HSBC suite in seven countries (PolandBruneiAustraliaRussiaChileIndonesia and Slovakia). We aim to deploy it in another seven countries in the second half of the year. Migration to our standard One HSBC will play a major part in creating value for customers and shareholders in the coming years. I will update you on our further progress at year-end.


Continued focus on financial strength

We live in uncertain times, but we have a clear strategy that we are implementing in a focused and effective way. In April, HSBC was named the number one company in the Forbes 2000 list of the world's largest companies - the first time a non-US company has topped the list. We were also named the number one bank of The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks 2008, for total tier 1 capital.

Our current customers, and our new customers, know we are here to serve and support them, wherever they wish to do business under the HSBC brand in the 85 countries and territories in which we operate. 

We know that to extract HSBC's full value for shareholders, we must continue to Join up the Company for the benefit of all. We have a long way to go, but value can and will be created by staying focused on this objective.

I would like to thank all our 335,000 staff for serving our over 100 million customers and protecting the interests of our 200,000 shareholders by remaining true to the fundamental principles of HSBC.


M F Geoghegan, Group Chief Executive

4 August 2008

  

HSBC Holdings plc


Financial Overview

________________________________________________________________________________


Half -year to 



Half-year to 

30 June 



30 June


30 June

31 December


2008



2008


2007


2007


£m


HK$m



US$m


US$m


US$m






For the period







5,195



79,896


Profit before tax

10,247


14,159


10,053






Profit attributable to shareholders of the 







3,915


60,209


parent company

7,722


10,895


8,238


3,459



53,199


Dividends

6,823


6,192


4,049

















At the period-end







63,647


988,923


Total shareholders' equity

126,785


119,780


128,160


73,769



1,146,210


Total regulatory capital***

146,950


137,042


152,640


660,669



10,265,385


Customer accounts and deposits by banks

1,316,075


1,109,605


1,228,321


1,278,432


19,864,088


Total assets

2,546,678


2,150,441


2,354,266


618,203

 


9,605,552


Risk-weighted assets at period end

1,231,481


1,041,540


1,123,782













£


HK$



US$


US$


US$






Per ordinary share







0.33


5.07


Basic earnings

0.65


0.95


0.70


0.33


5.07


Diluted earnings

0.65


0.94


0.69



 

0.29

 


 

 

4.44

 


Dividends *

 

0.57

 


0.53

 


0.34

 


5.16


80.11


Net asset value at period end

10.27


10.10


10.72

















Share information











US$0.50 ordinary shares in issue (million)

12,005


11,713


11,829






Market capitalisation (billion)

US$185


US$215


US$198






Closing market price per share

£7.76


£9.15


£8.42


















Over 1
 year


Over 3 years


Over 5 years

















Total shareholder return to











  30 June 2008 **

90.1


102.3


141.0






Benchmarks: FTSE 100

88.4


122.2


166.0






  MSCI World

89.8


131.1


180.6 




*        Under IFRSs accounting rules, the dividend per share of US$0.57 shown in the accounts is the total of the dividends declared during the first half of 2008. This represents the fourth interim dividend for 2007 and the first interim dividend for 2008.

**    Total shareholder return ('TSR') is as defined in the Annual Report and Accounts 2007.

***    The calculation of capital resources, capital ratios and risk-weighted assets for 30 June 2008 is on a Basel II basis. Comparatives are based on Basel I..


  

HSBC Holdings plc


Financial Overview

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________



Half-year to


30 June


30 June

31 December 


2008


2007


2007


%


%


%

Performance ratios






Return on average invested capital1

11.9


18.4


12.4

Return on average total shareholders' equity

12.1


19.1


13.0

Post-tax return on average total assets

0.68


1.19


0.78

Post-tax return on average risk-weighted assets

1.39


2.30


1.63







Efficiency and revenue mix ratios






Cost efficiency ratio

51.0


48.3


50.4







As a percentage of total operating income:






- net interest income

49.4


43.3


43.0

- net fee income

25.6


24.9


25.3

- net trading income

8.9


13.1


9.5







Capital ratios 






- Tier 1 capital

8.8


9.3


9.3

- Total capital

11.9


13.2


13.6

 

1    Return on invested capital is based on the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders. Average invested
      capital is measured as average total shareholders' equity after adding back goodwill previously written-off
      directly to reserves, deducting average equity preference shares issued by HSBC Holdings and deducting/
      (adding) average reserves for unrealised gains/(losses) on effective cash flow hedges and available-for-sale
      securities. This measure reflects capital  initially invested and subsequent profit.

  

HSBC Holdings plc


Consolidated Income Statement

________________________________________________________________________________


Half-year to



Half-year to


30 June



30 June


30 June

31 December


2008



2008


2007


2007


£m


HK$m



US$m


US$m


US$m













23,912


367,738


Interest income 

47,164


43,567


48,792


(13,175

)

(202,613

)

Interest expense 

(25,986

)

(25,337

)

(29,227

)












10,737


165,125


Net interest income 

21,178


18,230


19,565













6,784


104,332


Fee income

13,381


12,488


13,849


(1,212

)

(18,635

)

Fee expense 

(2,390

)

(1,993

)

(2,342

)












5,572


85,697


Net fee income 

10,991


10,495


11,507













324


4,982


Trading income excluding net interest income

639


3,351


1,107


1,620


24,911


Net interest income on trading activities

3,195


2,160


3,216













1,944


29,893


Net trading income 

3,834


5,511


4,323

















Net income/(expense) from financial instruments 







(296

)

 

(4,553

 

)

 

 designated at fair value

 

(584

)

 

874


3,209

 


414


6,370

 


Gains less losses from financial investments

817


999


957

 






Gains arising from dilution of interests in 







-


-

 


 associates

 

-


1,076


16

 


45 


686

 


Dividend income

 

88


252


72

 


2,613


40,178

 


Net earned insurance premiums

 

5,153


3,977


5,099

 


727


11,189


Other operating income

 

1,435


678


761













21,756


334,585


Total operating income

 

42,912


42,092


45,509

















Net insurance claims incurred and 







(1,743

 

)

 

(26,798

 

)

 

 

movement in liabilities to policyholders

(3,437

 

)

 

 

(3,599

 

 

)

(5,009

 

)

 
















Net operating income before loan impairment







 

20,013


307,787


 charges and other credit risk provisions

 

39,475


 

38,493


40,500






Loan impairment charges and other credit 







(5,099

)

(78,422

)

 risk provisions

(10,058

)

(6,346

)

(10,896

)












 

14,914


229,365


Net operating income 

 

29,417


 

32,147


29,604













(5,539

)

(85,182

)

Employee compensation and benefits 

(10,925

)

(10,430

)

(10,904

)

(3,792

)

(58,314

)

General and administrative expenses 

(7,479

)

(7,022

)

(8,272

)





Depreciation and impairment of property, 







(438

)

(6,729

)

plant and equipment

(863

)

(817

)

(897

)

 

(175

)

 

(2,698

 

)

 

Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets

 

 

(346

 

)

 

 

(342

 

)

(358

 

)

 

(267

)

 

(4,109

 

)

 

Goodwill impairment

 

(527

)

 

-


-

 













(10,211

)

(157,032

)

Total operating expenses 

(20,140

)

(18,611

)

(20,431

)












4,703


72,333

 


Operating profit

 

9,277


13,536


9,173

 













 

492


 

7,563

 


Share of profit in associates and joint ventures

 

 

970


 

623


880

 













 

5,195


79,896


Profit before tax 

 

10,247


 

14,159


10,053













(984

)

(15,134

)

Tax expense 

(1,941

)

(2,645

)

(1,112

)












 

4,211


64,762


Profit for the period 

 

8,306


 

11,514


8,941

















Profit attributable to shareholders of the 







3,915


60,209

 


parent company

 

7,722


10,895


8,238

 













296


4,553

 


Profit attributable to minority interests

 

584


619


703

 


  

HSBC Holdings plc


Consolidated Balance Sheet

________________________________________________________________________________


At



At


At 


At


30 June



30 June


30 June

31 December


2008



2008


2007


2007


£m


HK$m



US$m


US$m


US$m

















ASSETS


















6,763


105,089


Cash and balances at central banks 

13,473


16,651


21,765






Items in the course of collection from other







8,393


130,408


 banks

 

16,719


23,152


9,777






Hong Kong Government certificates of







7,218


112,144


  indebtedness

 

14,378


12,947


13,893


237,716


3,693,589


Trading assets

 

473,537


424,645


445,968


20,475


318,131


Financial assets designated at fair value

40,786


34,849


41,564


130,853


2,033,180


Derivatives 

260,664


149,181


187,854


129,004


2,004,454


Loans and advances to banks 

256,981


214,645


237,366


 

526,698


 

8,183,762


Loans and advances to customers 

 

1,049,200


 

928,101


 

981,548


137,925


2,143,050


Financial investments 

 

274,750


233,001


283,000


 

5,652


 

87,820


Interests in associates and joint ventures

 

11,259


 

8,583


 

10,384


20,489


318,349


Goodwill and intangible assets

 

40,814


38,445


39,689


7,888


122,561


Property, plant and equipment

 

15,713


14,982


15,694


26,440


410,826


Other assets

 

52,670


30,164


39,493


724


11,255


Current tax asset

 

1,443


675


896


3,258


50,622


Deferred tax asset

 

6,490


3,327


5,284


8,936


138,848


Prepayments and accrued income 

17,801


17,093


20,091













1,278,432


19,864,088


Total assets 

 

2,546,678


2,150,441


2,354,266



  

HSBC Holdings plc


Consolidated Balance Sheet

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


At



At


At 


At


30 June



30 June


30 June

31 December


2008



2008


2007


2007


£m


HK$m



US$m


US$m


US$m

















LIABILITIES AND EQUITY











Liabilities







7,218


112,144


Hong Kong currency notes in circulation 

14,378


12,947


13,893


77,384


1,202,386


Deposits by banks 

154,152


128,773


132,181


583,285


9,062,999


Customer accounts 

1,161,923


980,832


1,096,140






Items in the course of transmission to other 







7,695


119,566


  banks

15,329


20,339


8,672


170,987


2,656,767


Trading liabilities 

340,611


313,193


314,580


45,059


700,113


Financial liabilities designated at fair value

89,758


75,966


89,939


126,180


1,960,585


Derivatives 

251,357


144,284


183,393


115,594


1,796,083


Debt securities in issue 

230,267


229,239


246,579


1,817


28,228


Retirement benefit liabilities 

3,619


2,984


2,893


24,314


377,793


Other liabilities 

48,435


31,937


35,013


1,547


24,040


Current tax liability

3,082


2,563


2,559


23,519


365,438


Liabilities under insurance contracts 

46,851


36,929


42,606


8,831


137,218


Accruals and deferred income 

17,592


16,857


21,766


940


14,602


Provisions

1,872


1,603


1,958


966


15,007


Deferred tax liability

1,924


2,000


1,859


15,822


245,833


Subordinated liabilities

31,517


23,504


24,819













1,211,158


18,818,802


Total liabilities 

 

2,412,667


2,023,950


2,218,850

















Equity







3,014


46,823


Called up share capital

6,003


5,857


5,915


4,065


63,157


Share premium account 

8,097


7,834


8,134


1,071


16,645


Other equity instruments

2,134


-


-


13,836


214,976


Other reserves 

 

27,561


31,838


33,014


41,661


647,322


Retained earnings 

 

82,990


74,251


81,097













63,647


988,923


Total shareholders' equity

 

126,785


119,780


128,160


3,627


56,363


Minority interests 

 

7,226


6,711


7,256













67,274


1,045,286


Total equity 

 

134,011


126,491


135,416













1,278,432


19,864,088


Total equity and liabilities 

 

2,546,678


2,150,441


2,354,266



  

HSBC Holdings plc


Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense

________________________________________________________________________________



Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m


Available-for-sale investments:







- fair value gains/(losses) taken to equity

(8,475

 

)

1,162


(406

 

)

- fair value gains transferred to income statement on disposal 

(920

)

(763

)

(1,011

)

- amounts transferred to the income statement in respect of impairment

384


 

(20

 

)

54


Cash flow hedges:







- fair value gains taken to equity

914


395


230


- fair value gains transferred to income statement

(1,134

)

(568

)

(1,318

)

Share of changes in equity of associates and joint ventures

(342

)

186


186


Exchange differences 

3,170


2,293


3,653


Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit plans

(910

)

2,028


139










(7,313

)

4,713


1,527


Tax on items taken directly to equity

936


(455

)

229


Total income and expense taken to equity







  during the period

(6,377

)

4,258


1,756


Profit for the period 

8,306


11,514


8,941









Total recognised income and expense for the period

1,929


15,772


10,697









Total recognised income and expense for the period attributable to:







- shareholders of the parent company

1,523


14,950


9,851


- minority interests 

406


822


846










1,929


15,772


10,697



  

HSBC Holdings plc


Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

________________________________________________________________________________



Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m


Cash flows from operating activities







Profit before tax

10,247


 

14,159


10,053









Adjustments for:







- non-cash items included in profit before tax

12,900


 

7,358


14,343


- change in operating assets

(101,131

)

(65,685

)

(110,853

)

- change in operating liabilities

69,395


 

123,248


126,847


- elimination of exchange differences

(11,632

)

(5,871

)

(12,731

)

- net gain from investing activities

(1,555

)

(1,149

)

(1,060

)

- share of profits in associates and joint ventures

(970

)

(623

)

(880

)

- dividends received from associates

 

405

 


 

146

 


217

 


- contribution paid to defined benefit plans

(416

)

(970

)

(423

)

- tax paid

(2,152

)

(2,217

)

(2,871

)








Net cash from operating activities

(24,909

 

)

 

68,396


22,642









Cash flows from investing activities







Purchase of financial investments 

(123,464

)

(126,316

)

(134,664

)

Proceeds from the sale and maturity of financial investments

126,384


 

115,063


123,584


Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(1,112

)

(965

)

(1,755

)

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment

2,156


 

1,368


1,810


Proceeds from the sale of loan portfolios

-


 

-


1,665


Net purchase of intangible assets

(553

)

(451

)

(499

)

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from acquisition of and increase







 in stake of subsidiaries

 

1,608

 


 

(323

 

)

 

(300

 

)

 

Net cash inflow from disposal of subsidiaries

440


 

-


187


Net cash outflow from acquisition of and increase in stake of associates

(122

)

(9

)

(342

)

Net cash inflow from the consolidation of funds

-


 

-


1,600


Proceeds from disposal of associates

(8

 

)

 

-


69









Net cash generated/(used) in investing activities

5,329


 

(11,633

)

(8,645

)








Cash flows from financing activities







Issue of ordinary share capital

52


 

116


358


Issue of other equity instruments

2,134


 

-


-


Net purchases and sales of own shares for market-making 







  and investment purposes

(202

 

)

 

220


(94

)

Purchases of own shares to meet share awards and share option awards

(783

 

)

 

(807

)

171


On exercise of share options

14


58


46


Subordinated loan capital issued

5,582


 

563


5,142


Subordinated loan capital repaid

6


 

(87

)

(602

)

Dividends paid to shareholders of the parent company

(3,825

)

(3,591

)

(2,412

)

Dividends paid to minority interests

(394

)

(460

)

(258

)








Net cash generated/(used) in financing activities

2,584


 

(3,988

)

2,351









Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 

(16,996

 

)

 

52,775


16,348









Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

297,009


 

215,486


272,284


Exchange differences in respect of cash and cash equivalents

7,525


 

4,023


8,377









Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

287,538


 

272,284


297,009






HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

________________________________________________________________________________


1. Basis of preparation and accounting policies


The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as published by the International Accounting Standards Board ('IASB') and endorsed by the EU.


The consolidated financial statements of HSBC at 31 December 2007 were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRSs') as endorsed by the EU. EU-endorsed IFRSs may differ from IFRSs, as published by the IASB if, at any point in time, new or amended IFRSs have not been endorsed by the EU. At 30 June 2008, there were no unendorsed standards effective for the period ended 30 June 2008 affecting the interim consolidated financial statements, and there was no difference between IFRSs endorsed by the EU and IFRSs issued by the IASB in terms of their application to HSBC. 


IFRSs comprise accounting standards issued by the IASB and its predecessor body as well as interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ('IFRIC') and its predecessor body.


The accounting policies adopted by HSBC for the interim consolidated financial statements are consistent with those described on page 347 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2007.



2. Dividends


The Directors have declared a second interim dividend for 2008 of US$0.18 per ordinary share, a distribution of approximately US$2,161 million. The second interim dividend will be payable on 8 October 2008 to holders of ordinary shares on the Register at the close of business on 22 August 2008. The dividend will be payable in cash, in US dollars, sterling or Hong Kong dollars, or a combination of these currencies, at the exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in London at or about 11.00 am on 29 September 2008, and with a scrip dividend alternative. Particulars of these arrangements will be mailed to shareholders on or about 3 September 2008, and elections must be received by 24 September 2008. As this dividend was declared after the balance sheet date, it has not been included in 'Other liabilities' at 30 June 2008.


The dividend will be payable on shares held through Euroclear France, the settlement and central depositary system for Euronext Paris, on 8 October 2008 to the holders of record on 22 August 2008. The dividend will be payable in cash, in euros at the exchange rate on 29 September 2008, and with a scrip dividend alternative. Particulars of these arrangements will be announced through Euronext Paris on 20 August 2008 and 28 August 2008.


The dividend will be payable on American Depositary Shares ('ADSs'), each of which represents five ordinary shares, on 8 October 2008 to holders of record on 22 August 2008. The dividend of US$0.90 per ADS will be payable in cash in US dollars and with a scrip dividend alternative of new ADSs. Particulars of these arrangements will be mailed to holders on or about 2 September 2008. Elections must be received by the depositary on or before 18 September 2008. Alternatively, the cash dividend may be invested in additional ADSs for participants in the dividend reinvestment plan operated by the depositary.


  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


HSBC Holdings' ordinary shares will be quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong, Paris and Bermuda on 20 August 2008. The ADSs will be quoted ex-dividend in New York on 20 August 2008.


Dividends to shareholders of the parent company were as follows:



Half-year to


30 June 2008


30 June 2007


31 December 2007


Per share US


Total US$m


Settled     in scrip US$m


    Per share US$


Total US$m


Settled     in scrip    US$m


    Per share US$


Total US$m


Settled     in scrip    US$m



















Dividends declared on ordinary


















  shares


















In respect of previous year:


















- fourth interim dividend 

0.39


4,620


2,233


0.36


4,161


2,116


-


-


-

In respect of current year:


















- first interim dividend 

0.18


2,158


256


0.17


1,986


712


-


-


-

- second interim dividend 

-


-


-


-


-


-


0.17


1,997


912

- third interim dividend

-


-


-


-


-


-


0.17


2,007


614




















0.57


6,778


2,489


0.53


6,147


2,828


0.34


4,004


1,526



















Quarterly dividends on 


















  preference shares classified 


















  as equity


















March dividend 

15.50


22




15.50


22




-


-



June dividend

15.50


23




15.50


23




-


-



September dividend

-


-




-


-




15.50


22



December dividend

-


-




-


-




15.50


23






















31.00


45




31.00


45




31.00


45





3. Earnings and dividends per ordinary share



Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$


US$


US$









Basic earnings per ordinary share

0.65


0.95


0.70


Diluted earnings per ordinary share

0.65


0.94


0.69


Dividends per ordinary share

0.57


0.53


0.34









Dividend pay out ratio1

87.7%


55.8%


48.6%



1    Dividends per ordinary share expressed as a percentage of basic earnings per ordinary share.


Basic earnings per ordinary share was calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the parent company of US$7,677 million by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, excluding own shares held, of 11,737 million (first half of 2007: profit of US$10,850 million and 11,463 million shares; second half of 2007: profit of US$8,193 million and 11,626 million shares).




HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


3. Earnings and dividends per ordinary share (continued)



Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$


US$


US$









Profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company

7,722


10,895


8,238


Dividend payable on preference shares classified as equity

(45

)

(45

)

(45

)








Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the parent company

7,677


10,850


8,193



Diluted earnings per ordinary share was calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the parent company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, excluding own shares held, plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be issued on conversion of dilutive potential ordinary shares, of 11,806 million (first half of 2007: 11,518 million shares; second half of 2007: 11,802 million shares).







4. Tax expense







Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









UK corporation tax charge

991


476


850


Overseas tax

1,306


1,937


1,942









Current tax

2,297


2,413


2,792


Deferred tax

(356

)

232


(1,680

)








Tax expense

1,941


2,645


1,112









Effective tax rate

18.9%


18.7%


11.1%



The UK corporation tax rate applying to HSBC Holdings plc changed from 30 per cent to 28 per cent with effect from 1 April 2008 (2007: 30 per cent). Overseas tax included Hong Kong profits tax of US$529 million (first half of 2007: US$495 million; second half of 2007: US$642 million). Subsidiaries in Hong Kong provided for Hong Kong profits tax at the rate of 16.5 per cent (2007: 17.5 per cent) on the profits for the period assessable in Hong Kong. Other overseas subsidiaries and overseas branches provided for taxation at the appropriate rates in the countries in which they operate.

  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________



Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Taxation at UK corporation tax rate of 28.5 per cent (2007: 30 per cent)1

2,920


 

4,248


3,016









Effect of taxing overseas profit in principal locations at different rates

(560

 

)

 

(459

)

(1,001

)

Tax-free gains

(267

)

(157

)

(139

)

Adjustments in respect of prior period liabilities

2


 

(152

)

(157

)

Low income housing tax credits

(51

)

(52

)

(55

)

Effect of profit in associates and joint ventures

(263

)

(185

)

(265

)

Effect of previously unrecognised temporary differences

(80

)

(211

)

(274

)

Release of deferred tax consequent on restructuring of Group's interests

-


 

-


(359

)

Impact of gains arising from dilution of interests in associates 

-


 

(250

)

(3

)

Other items

240


 

(137

)

349









Overall tax expense

1,941


 

2,645


1,112


1    The change in the UK corporation tax rate from 30 per cent to 28 per cent with effect from 1 April 2008 gave rise to a blended tax rate for 2008 of 28.5 per cent.






5. Analysis of net fee income







Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Cards

3,089


3,092 


3,404 


Account services

2,260


1,961 


2,398 


Funds under management

      1,572


     1,390


1,585 


Broking income

954


928 


1,084 


Insurance

942


804 


1,032 


Global custody

757


557 


847 


Credit facilities

639


672 


466 


Unit trusts

337


420 


455 


Imports/Exports

496


407 


459 


Remittances

307


273 


283 


Corporate finance

232


220 


189 


Underwriting

204


196 


171 


Trust income

164


146 


153 


Tax payer financial services 

154


234 


18 


Maintenance income on operating leases

70


69 

 


70


Mortgage servicing

56


53 


56 


Other

1,148


1,066 


1,179 









Total fee income

13,381


12,488 


13,849 


Less: fee expense

(2,390

)

(1,993

)

(2,342

)








Net fee income

10,991


10,495 


11,507 






HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


6. Loan impairment charge



Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m


By category:





















Individually assessed impairment allowances:







  - Net new allowances

390


442


483


  - Recoveries

(58

)

(57

)

(72

)









332


385


411


Collectively assessed impairment allowances:







  - Net new allowances

10,046


6,230


11,027


  - Recoveries

(421

)

(287

)

(589

)









9,625


5,943


10,438


Total charge for







  impairment losses

9,957


6,328


10,849



















7. Capital resources







At

At

At


At



30 June

31 December

31 December


30 June



2008


2007


2007


2007



Basel II


Basel II


Basel I


Basel I



Actual


Pro-forma

1

Actual


Actual



US$m


US$m


US$m


US$m











Composition of regulatory capital









Tier 1 capital:









Shareholders' equity2

126,785

 


128,160


128,160


119,780


Minority interests

4,076

 


4,059

 


4,059


3,542


Preference shares

2,170

 


2,181


2,181


2,126


Adjustment for:









Goodwill capitalised and intangible assets

(40,360

)

(38,855

)

(38,855

)

(37,547

)

Unrealised losses on available-for-sale debt securities3

9,075


2,445


2,445


265


Other regulatory adjustments4,5

(3,086

)

(2,309

)

(3,535

)

(696

)

Excess of expected losses over impairment allowances

(3,490

 

)

 

(4,508

 

)

 

-


 

-











Core tier 1 capital

95,170


 

91,173


 

94,455


 

87,470











Innovative tier 1 securities

12,681


 

10,512


 

10,512


9,874











Total Tier 1 capital

107,851


 

101,685


 

104,967


 

97,344













HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)




At

At

At


At



30 June

31 December

31 December


30 June



2008


2007


2007


2007



Basel II


Basel II


Basel I


Basel I



Actual


Pro-forma


Actual


Actual



US$m


US$m


US$m


US$m











Tier 2 capital









Reserves arising from revaluation of property and









  unrealised gains on available-for-sale equities

2,768


 

4,393


 

4,393


3,653


Collective impairment allowances6

3,564


 

2,176


 

14,047


11,735


Perpetual subordinated debt

3,113


 

3,114


 

3,114


3,387


Term subordinated debt

44,036


 

37,658


 

37,658


30,901


Minority and other interests in tier 2 capital

300


 

300


 

300


425











Total qualifying tier 2 capital before deductions

53,781


 

47,641


 

59,512


50,101











Unconsolidated investments7

(11,183


)

 

(11,092

 

)

 

(11,092

)

(9,883

)

Excess of expected losses over impairment allowances

(3,490

 

)

 

(4,508

 

)

 

-


-


Other deductions

(9

)

(747

)

(747

)

(520

)










Total deductions other than from tier 1 capital

(14,682

)

(16,347

)

(11,839

)

(10,403

)










Total regulatory capital

146,950


 

132,979


 

152,640


137,042











Risk-weighted assets









Credit and counterparty risk

1,071,482


 

1,011,343


 

-


-


Market risk

52,533


 

45,840


-


-


Operational risk

107,466


 

107,466


 

-


-


Banking book

-


 

-


 

1,020,747


949,958


Trading book

-


 

-


 

103,035


91,582












1,231,481


 

1,164,649


 

1,123,782


1,041,540











Capital Ratios

%


%


%


%


Core tier 1 ratio

7.7


7.8


8.4


8.4


Tier 1 ratio

8.8


8.7


9.3


9.3


Total capital ratio

11.9


 

11.4


 

13.6


13.2



1    As Basel II rules were implemented across the Group, adjustments to the previously published 31 December 2007 proߛforma risk-weighted assets were identified, amounting to US$35,198 million. The pro-forma position at 31 December 2007 has been adjusted accordingly.

2    Includes externally verified profits for the half year to 30 June 2008.

3    Under FSA rules, unrealised gains/losses on debt securities net of deferred tax must be excluded from capital resources.

4    Includes removal of the fair value gains and losses, net deferred tax, arising from the credit spreads on debt issued by HSBC Holdings and its subsidiaries and designated at fair value.

5    Includes tax credit adjustment in respect of the excess of expected losses over impairment allowances.

6    Under Basel II, only collective impairment allowances on loan portfolios on the standardised approach are included in tier 2 capital.

7    Mainly comprise investments in insurance entities.


  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


8. Notes on the cash flow statement



Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m


Non-cash items included in profit before tax







Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

1,766


1,184


1,338


Gain arising from dilution of interests in associates

-


(1,076

)

(16

)

Revaluations on investment property

(27

)

(48

)

(104

)

Share-based payment expense

427


413


457


Loan impairment losses gross of recoveries

10,436


6,635


11,547


Provisions for liabilities and charges

107


282


707


Impairment of financial investments

418


18


86


Charge for defined benefit plans    

234


342


385


Accretion of discounts and amortisation of premiums

(461

)

(392

)

(57

)









12,900


7,358


14,343









Change in operating assets







Change in prepayments and accrued income

2,294


(2,280

)

(2,789

)

Change in net trading securities and net derivatives

(29,675

)

10,487


(15,459

)

Change in loans and advances to banks

1,605


(357

)

(8,565

)

Change in loans and advances to customers

(76,452

)

(66,739

)

(65,147

)

Change in financial assets designated at fair value

2,923


(5,872

)

(7,488

)

Change in other assets

(1,826

)

(924

)

(11,405

)









(101,131

)

(65,685

)

(110,853

)








Change in operating liabilities







Change in accruals and deferred income

(4,219

)

547


4,572


Change in deposits by banks

20,947


29,661


2,933


Change in customer accounts

63,277


84,496


115,310


Change in debt securities in issue

(16,522

)

(1,086

)

(11,403

)

Change in financial liabilities designated at fair value

(181

)

5,755


6,549


Change in other liabilities

6,093


3,875


8,886










69,395


123,248


126,847









Cash and cash equivalents







Cash and balances at central banks

13,473


16,651


21,765


Items in the course of collection from other banks

16,719


23,152


9,777


Loans and advances to banks of one month or less

244,608


220,136


232,320


Treasury bills, other bills and certificates of deposit 







  less than three months

28,067


32,684


41,819


Less: items in the course of transmission to other banks

(15,329

)

(20,339

)

(8,672

)








Total cash and cash equivalents

287,538


272,284


297,009









Interest and dividends







Interest paid

(31,752

)

(31,002

)

(32,624

)

Interest received

53,945


47,423


55,970


Dividends received

1,339


1,426


407



  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


9. Distribution of results by customer group and global business


Personal Financial Services




Half-year to



30 June


30 June 

31 December



2008


2007


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









Net trading income

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 claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(3,206

)

(3,605

)

(4,542

)

Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







   and other credit risk provisions

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



  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


Commercial Banking




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


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









Net trading income

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

3


4


4


Net earned insurance premiums

360


205


528


Other operating income

718


2


163









Total operating income

8,346


6,536


7,805









Net insurance claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(190

)

44


(435

)

Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







   and other credit risk provisions

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




  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


Global Banking and Markets




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


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









Net trading income

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 claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(40

)

(38

)

(32

)

Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







  and other credit risk provisions

7,379


8,499


6,711









Loan impairment charges and other credit risk recoveries

(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





  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


Private Banking




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Net interest income

783


567


649


Net fee income

814


811


804









Net trading income

218


259


275


Net income/(expense) from financial instruments 







  designated at fair value

1


-


(1

)

Gains less losses from financial investments

80


45


74


Dividend income

4


5


2


Other operating income

16


31


27









Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







  and other credit risk provisions

1,916


1,718


1,830









Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions

4


(9

)

(5

)








Net operating income

1,920


1,709


1,825









Total operating expenses

(1,098

)

(929

)

(1,096

)








Operating profit

822


780


729









Share of profit in associates and joint ventures

-


-


2









Profit before tax

822


780


731





  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


Other




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Net interest expense

(375

)

(291

)

(251

)

Net fee income/(expense)

32


(7

)

(221

)








Net trading income/(expense)

(353

)

(49

)

175


Net income from financial instruments 







  designated at fair value

820


91


2,802


Gains less losses from financial investments

(283

)

101


(18

)

Gains arising from dilution of interests in associates

-


1,076


16


Dividend income

17


27


5


Net earned insurance premiums

(15

)

(9

)

(12

)

Other operating income

1,943


1,667


1,856









Total operating income

1,786


2,606


4,352









Net insurance claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(1

)

-


-


Net operating income before loan impairment charges







  and other credit risk provisions

1,785


2,606


4,352









Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions

-


(2

)

(9

)








Net operating income

1,785


2,604


4,343









Total operating expenses

(2,019

)

(1,650

)

(1,912

)








Operating profit/(loss)

(234

)

954


2,431









Share of profit in associates and joint ventures

45


116


34









Profit/(loss) before tax

(189

)

1,070


2,465




  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


10. Geographical distribution of results


Europe




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Interest income

18,126


15,217


17,927


Interest expense

(13,651

)

(11,297

)

(14,101

)








Net interest income

4,475


3,920


3,826









Fee income

5,666


5,382


5,591


Fee expense

(1,443

)

(1,238

)

(1,304

)








Net fee income

4,223


4,144


4,287









Net trading income

3,649


3,338


3,605


Net income/(expense) from financial instruments 







  designated at fair value

(659

)

348


878


Gains less losses from financial investments

608


790


536


Dividend income

20


161


10


Net earned insurance premiums

2,286


1,480


2,530


Other operating income

1,427


262


931









Total operating income

16,029


14,443


16,603









Net insurance claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(1,388

)

(1,146

)

(2,333

)

Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







  and other credit risk provisions

14,641


13,297


14,270









Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions

(1,272

)

(1,363

)

(1,179

)








Net operating income

13,369


11,934


13,091









Total operating expenses

(8,193

)

(7,972

)

(8,553

)








Operating profit

5,176


3,962


4,538









Share of profit in associates and joint ventures

1


88


7









Profit before tax

5,177


4,050


4,545



  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


Hong Kong




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Interest income

4,984


6,214


6,366


Interest expense

(2,149

)

(3,646

)

(3,451

)








Net interest income

2,835


2,568


2,915









Fee income

1,724


1,659


2,201


Fee expense

(255

)

(220

)

(278

)








Net fee income

1,469


1,439


1,923









Net trading income

314


469


773


Net income/(expense) from financial instruments 







  designated at fair value

(361

)

210


466


Gains less losses from financial investments

(98

)

32


62


Dividend income

20


17


14


Net earned insurance premiums

1,650


1,426


1,371


Other operating income

448


413


432









Total operating income

6,277


6,574


7,956









Net insurance claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(1,169

)

(1,512

)

(1,696

)

Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







  and other credit risk provisions

5,108


5,062


6,260









Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions

(81

)

(80

)

(151

)








Net operating income

5,027


4,982


6,109









Total operating expenses

(1,975

)

(1,665

)

(2,115

)








Operating profit

3,052


3,317


3,994









Share of profit in associates and joint ventures

21


13


15









Profit before tax

3,073


3,330


4,009




  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


Rest of Asia-Pacific (including Middle East)




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Interest income

5,747


4,662


5,496


Interest expense

(3,114

)

(2,761

)

(3,254

)








Net interest income

2,633


1,901


2,242









Fee income

1,686


1,174


1,535


Fee expense

(348

)

(164

)

(299

)








Net fee income

1,338


1,010


1,236









Net trading income

1,329


797


846


Net income/(expense) from financial instruments 







  designated at fair value

(88

)

78


33


Gains less losses from financial investments

33


26


12


Gains arising from dilution of interests in associates 

-


1,076


5


Dividend income

2


4


4


Net earned insurance premiums

114


109


117


Other operating income

484


360


438









Total operating income

5,845


5,361


4,933









Net insurance claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(4

)

(141

)

(112

)

Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







  and other credit risk provisions

5,841


5,220


4,821









Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions

(369

)

(308

)

(308

)








Net operating income

5,472


4,912


4,513









Total operating expenses

(2,784

)

(2,075

)

(2,689

)








Operating profit

2,688


2,837


1,824









Share of profit in associates and joint ventures

936


507


841









Profit before tax

3,624


3,344


2,665





  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


North America




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Interest income

13,797


14,958


15,225


Interest expense

(5,924

)

(7,651

)

(7,685

)








Net interest income

7,873


7,307


7,540









Fee income

3,245


3,307


3,426


Fee expense

(423

)

(403

)

(520

)








Net fee income

2,822


2,904


2,906









Net trading income/(expense)

(1,816

)

622


(1,164

)

Net income from financial instruments 







  designated at fair value

368


81


1,669


Gains less losses from financial investments

106


53


192


Dividend income

40


64


41


Net earned insurance premiums

203


231


218


Other operating income

115


342


18









Total operating income

9,711


11,604


11,420









Net insurance claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(112

)

(124

)

(117

)

Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







  and other credit risk provisions

9,599


11,480


11,303









Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions

(7,166

)

(3,820

)

(8,336

)








Net operating income

2,433


7,660


2,967









Total operating expenses

(5,334

)

(5,235

)

(5,321

)








Operating profit/(loss)

(2,901

)

2,425


(2,354

)








Share of profit in associates and joint ventures

8


10


10









Profit/(loss) before tax

(2,893

)

2,435


(2,344

)




  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


Latin America




Half-year to



30 June


30 June

31 December



2008


2007


2007



US$m


US$m


US$m









Interest income

5,785


4,376


5,095


Interest expense

(2,423

)

(1,842

)

(2,053

)








Net interest income

3,362


2,534


3,042









Fee income

1,418


1,234


1,413


Fee expense

(279

)

(236

)

(258

)








Net fee income

1,139


998


1,155









Net trading income

358


285


263


Net income from financial instruments 







  designated at fair value

156


157


163


Gains less losses from financial investments

168


98


155


Gains arising from dilution of interests in associates 

-


-


11


Dividend income

6


6


3


Net earned insurance premiums

900


731


863


Other operating income

130


153


75









Total operating income

6,219


4,962


5,730









Net insurance claims incurred and movement in liabilities to







  policyholders

(764

)

(676

)

(751

)

Net operating income before loan impairment charges 







  and other credit risk provisions

5,455


4,286


4,979









Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions

(1,170

)

(775

)

(922

)








Net operating income

4,285


3,511


4,057









Total operating expenses

(3,023

)

(2,516

)

(2,886

)








Operating profit

1,262


995


1,171









Share of profit in associates and joint ventures

4


5


7









Profit before tax

1,266


1,000


1,178




  

HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


11. Goodwill impairment


It is HSBC's policy to test goodwill for impairment annually, and to perform an impairment test more frequently for cash generating units ('CGUs') when there are indications that conditions have changed for those CGUs since the last goodwill impairment test that would result in a different outcome. 


As a result of the continued deterioration in economic and credit conditions in North America, and the resulting further restructuring in the Personal Financial Services - North America CGU, an impairment test was performed on this CGU at 30 June 2008. This involved comparing the recoverable amount of the CGU to its carrying value including goodwill. Recoverable amount is estimated using a value in use calculation including cash flow estimates based on management's cash flow projections, extrapolated in perpetuity using a nominal long-term growth rate based on current market assessment of GDP and inflation for the countries within which the CGU operates. Cash flows are extrapolated in perpetuity due to the long-term perspective within the Group of the business units making up its CGUs. The discount rate used is based on the cost of capital HSBC allocates to investments in North America, as well as the cost of capital for each type of business within the CGU. This testing confirmed that goodwill for the CGU was impaired and an impairment charge of US$527 million was recognised as goodwill impairment in the income statement. There was no prior impairment recognised on this CGU. 


The process of identifying and evaluating goodwill impairment is inherently uncertain because it requires significant management judgement in making a series of estimations, the results of which are highly sensitive to the assumptions used. The review of goodwill impairment represents management's best estimate of the factors discussed in detail on page 133 in the Annual Report and Accounts 2007.


The goodwill impairment testing performed for the Personal Financial Services - North America CGU is highly sensitive to the assumptions and estimates used, and it is possible that the outcomes within the second half of 2008 could be different from the assumptions and estimates made as at 30 June 2008. In the event of further significant deterioration in the economic and credit conditions beyond the levels already reflected by management in the cash flow forecasts for the CGU, a further special review would be made. If this review indicated that a further deterioration in economic and credit conditions and future outlook was sufficiently severe, this could result in a further material impairment to the carrying amount of goodwill.


Two key assumptions upon which management has based its determination of the recoverable amount of the Personal Financial Services - North America CGU are the discount rate and the long-term growth rate. The blended discount rate and the blended long-term growth rate used in the impairment testing at 30 June 2008 were 12.9 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively (31 December 2007: 12.3 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively). A 50 basis point increase in the discount rate, assuming no effects on other variables, would decrease the recoverable amount of goodwill by US$2 billion. A 50 basis point decrease in the long-term growth rate, assuming no effects on other variables, would decrease the recoverable amount of goodwill by US$1.1 billion.




HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


12. Foreign currency amounts


The sterling and Hong Kong dollar equivalent figures in the consolidated income statement and balance sheet are for information only. These are translated at the average rate for the period for the income statement and the closing rate for the balance sheet as follows:




Half-year to




30 June


30 June

31 December




2008


2007


2007










Closing :

HK$/US$

7.800


7.817


7.798



£/US$

0.502


0.499


0.498










Average :

HK$/US$

7.797


7.812


7.790



£/US$

0.507


0.508


0.492





13. Litigation


HSBC is party to legal actions in a number of jurisdictions including the UK, Hong Kong and the US, arising out of its normal business operations. HSBC considers that none of the actions is material, and none is expected to result in a significant adverse effect on the financial position of HSBC, either individually or in the aggregate. Management believes that adequate provisions have been made in respect of such litigation. HSBC has not disclosed any contingent liability associated with these legal actions because it is not practicable to do so, except as set out below. 


On 27 July 2007, the UK Office of Fair Trading issued High Court legal proceedings against a number of UK financial institutions, including HSBC Bank plc, to determine the legal status and enforceability of certain of the charges applied to their personal customers in relation to unauthorised overdrafts (the 'charges'). 


Certain preliminary issues in these proceedings were heard in a trial in the Commercial Division of the High Court on 17 January 2008 and judgment was given on 24 April 2008. This confirmed that HSBC Bank plc's current charges are capable of being tested for fairness but are not capable of being penalties. HSBC Bank plc is appealing the finding that the charges are capable of being tested for fairness. A further hearing took place on 7 to 9 July 2008, at which the Court considered certain further preliminary issues relating to HSBC Bank plc's historic charges. Judgment on these preliminary issues is awaited.


The proceedings remain at an early stage and may, allowing for appeals on the preliminary issues (and/or subsequently on substantive issues), take a number of years to conclude. A wide range of outcomes is possible, depending, initially, upon the outcome of the preliminary issues in the Commercial Court and/or Court of Appeal and, to the extent applicable, upon the Court's subsequent assessment of each charge across the period under review. Since July 2001, there have been a variety of charges applied by HSBC Bank plc across different charging periods under the then existing contractual arrangements. HSBC Bank plc considers the charges to be and to have been valid and enforceable, and intends strongly to defend its position. 




HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


If, contrary to HSBC Bank plc's current assessment, the Court should ultimately (after appeals) reach a decision adverse to HSBC Bank plc that results in a liability for it, a large number of different outcomes is possible, each of which would have a different financial impact. Based on the facts currently available, and a number of assumptions, HSBC Bank plc estimates that the financial impact could be approximately US$700 million. To make an estimate of the potential financial impact at this stage with any precision is extremely difficult, owing to (among other things) the complexity of the issues, the number of permutations of possible outcomes, and the early stage of the proceedings. In addition, the assumptions made by HSBC Bank plc may prove to be incorrect.




14. Events after the balance sheet date


On 2 July 2008, HSBC completed the sale of seven regional banks to Banque Fédérale des Banques Populaires for €2.1 billion (US$3.2 billion). At 30 June 2008 the aggregate third party total assets attributable to the French regional banking subsidiaries were €6,741 million (US$10,636 million), and they generated net profits after tax of €62 million (US$95 million) for the six months ended 30 June 2008. The Group's pre-tax profit on sale was US$2.1 billion.


In July 2008, HSBC decided to cease originating new business in the North American vehicle finance business of HSBC Finance and place the business in run-off. Total assets attributable to the HSBC Finance Corporation Vehicle Finance business at 30 June 2008, amounted to US$12.5 billion, and in the six months ended 30 June 2008, the business made profit before tax of US$27 million (year ended 31 December 2007: US$229 million). HSBC management estimate that some 80 per cent of the portfolio will be run off in the normal course of business in the next three years, with the remaining balance reducing thereafter.




15. Forward-looking statements


This media release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of HSBC. These forward-looking statements represent HSBC's expectations or beliefs concerning future events and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainty that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Certain statements, such as those that include the words 'potential', 'estimated', and similar expressions or variations on such expressions may be considered 'forward-looking statements'.




HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


16. Statutory accounts


The information in this media release does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 (the Act). The Interim Report 2008 was approved by the Board of Directors on 4 August 2008. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales in accordance with Section 242 of the Act. The auditor has reported on those accounts. Its report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Act.


The information in this media release does not constitute the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements which are contained in the Interim Report 2008. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been reviewed by the Company's auditor, KPMG Audit Plc, in accordance with the guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4: Review of interim financial information issued by the Auditing Practices Board. On the basis of its review, KPMG Audit Plc was not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the unaudited consolidated financial statements as presented for the six months ended 30 June 2008 in the Interim Report to the shareholders. The full report of its review is included in the Interim Report 2008.




17. Dealings in HSBC Holdings plc shares


Except for dealings as intermediaries by HSBC Bank plc, HSBC Financial Products (France) and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, which are members of a European Economic Area exchange, neither HSBC Holdings plc nor any subsidiary undertaking have bought, sold or redeemed any securities of HSBC Holdings plc during the six months ended 30 June 2008.




18. Registers of shareholders


The Overseas Branch Register of shareholders in Hong Kong will be closed for one day, on Friday 22 August 2008. Any person who has acquired shares registered on the Hong Kong Branch Register but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Hong Kong Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00pm on Thursday 21 August 2008 in order to receive the second interim dividend for 2008, which will be payable on 8 October 2008. Transfers may not be made to or from the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register while that Branch Register is closed.


Any person who has acquired shares registered on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Principal Registrar should do so before 4.00pm on Friday 22 August 2008 in order to receive the dividend.


Any person who has acquired shares registered on the Overseas Branch Register of shareholders in Bermuda but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Bermuda Branch Register should do so before 4.00pm on Friday 22 August 2008 in order to receive the dividend.


Transfers of American Depositary Shares should be lodged with the depositary by 12 noon on Friday 22 August 2008 in order to receive the dividend.



HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


19. Proposed interim dividends for 2008


The Board has adopted a policy of paying quarterly dividends on the ordinary shares. Under this policy it is intended to have a pattern of three equal interim dividends with a variable fourth interim dividend. The proposed timetables for dividends payable on the ordinary shares in respect of 2008 that have not yet been declared are:



Third interim dividend for 2008


Fourth interim dividend for 2008







Announcement

3 November 2008


2 March 2009







Shares quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong, Paris and





   Bermuda

19 November 2008


18 March 2009







ADSs quoted ex-dividend in New York

19 November 2008


18 March 2009







Record date and closure of Hong Kong Overseas 





  Branch register of shareholders for one day

21 November 2008


20 March 2009







Payment date

14 January 2009


6 May 2009





20. Final results for 2008


The results for the year to 31 December 2008 will be announced on 2 March 2009.




21. Corporate governance


HSBC is committed to high standards of corporate governance. HSBC Holdings plc has complied throughout the six months to 30 June 2008 with the applicable code provisions of the Combined Code on Corporate Governance issued by the Financial Reporting Council and the Code on Corporate Governance Practices in Appendix 14 to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.


The Board of HSBC Holdings plc has adopted a code of conduct for transactions in HSBC Group securities by Directors that complies with The Model Code in the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority and with The Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers ('Hong Kong Model Code') set out in the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited save that The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong has granted certain waivers from strict compliance with the Hong Kong Model Code, primarily to take into account accepted practices in the UK, particularly in respect of employee share plans. Following a specific enquiry, each Director has confirmed he or she has complied with the code of conduct for transactions in HSBC Group securities throughout the period. 





HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


21. Corporate governance (continued)


The Directors of HSBC Holdings plc as at the date of this announcement are:

S K Green, M F Geoghegan, S A Catz, V H C Cheng, J D Coombe, J L Durán, R A Fairhead, D J Flint, A A Flockhart, W K L Fung*, S T Gulliver, J W J Hughes-Hallett, W S H Laidlaw, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, G Morgan, N R N Murthy, S W Newton, S M Robertson and Sir Brian Williamson.


* Non-executive Director

† Independent non-executive Director


The Group Audit Committee has reviewed the results for the six months to 30 June 2008.




22. Interim Report


The Interim Report 2008 will be mailed to shareholders on or about 15 August 2008. Copies of the Interim Report and this Media Release may be obtained from Group Communications, HSBC Holdings plc, 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ, United Kingdom; Group Communications (Asia), The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, 1 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong; Internal Communications, HSBC-North America, 26525 N Riverwoods Boulevard, Mettawa, Illinois 60045, USA; or from the HSBC Group website www.hsbc.com. 


A Chinese translation of the Interim Report 2008 may be obtained on request from Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, Hopewell Centre, Rooms 1806-07, 18th Floor, 183 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong.


The Interim Report 2008 will be available from 14 August on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong's website www.hkex.com.hk.





HSBC Holdings plc


Additional Information

(continued)

________________________________________________________________________________


23. For further information contact:


Group Management Office - London

Richard Beck

Director of Group Communications

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7991 0633


Richard Lindsay

Head of Media Relations

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7992 1555



Danielle Neben

Manager Investor Relations

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7992 1938




Hong Kong 

David Hall

Head of Group Communications (Asia)

Telephone: +852 2822 1133


Gareth Hewett

Senior External Relations Manager

Telephone: +852 2822 4929



Chicago

Lisa Sodeika

Executive Vice President

Corporate Affairs

Telephone: +1 847 564 6394





Paris

Chantal Nedjib

Director of Communications

Telephone: +33 1 40 70 7729


Gilberte Lombard

Investor Relations Director

Telephone: +33 1 40 70 2257 










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