Foreign exchange market rigging: HSBC takes $378m charge over allegations

Posts mixed earnings for third quarter

HSBC bank on Monday took a $378 million charge linked to allegations of foreign exchange market rigging, and posted mixed earnings for the third quarter.

The Asia-focused lender added in a results statement that talks were ongoing with Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulator over the allegations and warned that a “significant” fine was likely.

The news comes after rivals Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland last week made huge provisions for possible costs and penalties arising from several probes into suspected price-rigging in the foreign exchange market.

“Discussions are ongoing with the UK FCA regarding a proposed resolution of their foreign exchange investigation with respect to HSBC Bank plc’s systems and controls relating to one part of its spot FX trading business in London,” the bank said Monday.

“Although there can be no certainty that a resolution will be agreed, if one is reached, the resolution is likely to involve the payment of a significant financial penalty.

“We continue to cooperate fully with regulatory and law enforcement authorities in the UK and other jurisdictions.”

HSBC added on Monday that its earnings after taxation climbed 7% to $3.431 billion in the three months to September 30 from a year earlier, boosted by falling impairments.

However, adjusted pre-tax profits sank 12% to $4.4 billion in the third quarter, as it set aside around $1.7 billion to cover a series of one-off charges. HSBC also took a $701 million provision to compensate customers for mis-sold products and $550 million for a settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Authority. In addition, restructuring costs were $68 million. Total revenues meanwhile were almost flat at $15.575 billion.

“The third quarter was a period of continued progress,” said chief executive Stuart Gulliver, adding that the bank had maintained a strong balance sheet and robust capital position. “Revenue continued to grow in Commercial Banking, dominated by growth in our home markets of Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Global Banking and Markets contributed a strong revenue performance.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2014.

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