HSBC Holdings (HSBA)

As investors we’re used to looking at the price of indices like the FTSE 100 fairly regularly but it probably never occurs to most of us how the index is constructed or how its value is calculated. Like most indices, its value is calculated by taking the free float London adjusted market value of all the companies within the index and dividing it by a number to get an index value. When it ...

Avoiding bad stocks is equally as important as picking good ones. Investing must always involve a detailed research process rather than random selection as prospects which may seem enticing at first glance aren’t always up to scratch when you dig deeper. In the case of HSBC (HSBA), many investors look at its generous dividend payments and think it is a good business generating millions of ...

Investors appear to be on a hunt for UK bargains as exchange traded funds (ETFs) tracking the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices are among the most bought on investment platform Youinvest in January. This may be surprising as Brexit-related drama continues at Westminster as the UK government decides how to leave the EU – if they go through with it. Unfortunately, the prolonged negotiations have ...

Risk-averse investors unnerved by the return of volatility, not to mention slowing global economic growth and European political uncertainties, might view share price weakness at the Henderson High Income Trust (HHI) as a compelling entry point. We believe the outlook for income from this highly diversified portfolio is robust. Moreover, the historic dividend yield of 5.8% is attractive ...

UK stocks get off to a slow start on Monday after the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 racked up gains of over 2% last Friday. The main index is up 0.3% to 6,856 while the mid-cap index is 0.7% higher at 17,930. Most sectors are in positive territory with the exception of Banks, Household Goods, Pharmaceuticals and Utilities which due to their market weight are holding the FTSE back. Food retailers ...

The origins of the share ownership in the UK can tell us a plenty about how the stock market operates today and what exactly a ‘share’ is. The trade of stocks and shares in London began at the end of the 17th century with the need to finance two great voyages – the Muscovy Company’s attempt to reach China via the White Sea north of Russia and the East India company’s exploration of ...

The FTSE 100 is trading on a 4.9% yield, based on 2019 dividend forecasts, and total payouts are forecast to hit a new all-time high of £93.7bn next year, according to analysis by AJ Bell. Ten companies in the FTSE 100 are expected to pay out around half of the index’s total dividends including Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB), HSBC (HSBA), BP (BP.) and British American Tobacco (BATS). Some ...

UK blue-chip stocks make early gains in early trade on Wednesday with the FTSE 100 up 0.7%, or roughly 48 points, to 6,996 despite heavy losses in US and Asian markets overnight. Across the pond the US S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices both posted heavy declines, falling by about 1.8% a piece as leading global technology stocks, including Apple, Amazon and Facebook, continue to come under ...

As the third quarter reporting season for the banks draws to a close there is room for some optimism over the prospects of a sector which has been out of favour in 2018. The updates from Barclays (BARC), Lloyds Banking (LLOY) and HSBC (HSBA), in particular, were well received, with Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) faring rather less well. The question of why banks have underperformed – despite ...

UK stocks open firmer after a positive showing on Wall Street overnight led by techology stocks and a small rebound in Asian equities. Leading the FTSE100 higher in terms of contribution to the index are heavyweight oil producers BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch (RDSB) together with Asian-exposed banks HSBC (HSBA) and Standard Chartered (STAN). TRICK OR TREAT Standard Chartered shares put on ...

Shares in HSBC (HSBA), Europe’s largest bank, have risen by 4% to 630p on third-quarter profit which looks to be flattered by sharply lower restructuring costs. Today’s update sees adjusted pre-tax profit for the third quarter hit $6.2bn, an increase of 16% compared with last year’s third quarter profit of $5.3bn and well ahead of estimates of $5.75bn. This means that at the end of the ...

The FTSE 100 manages a solid start despite selling in Asia overnight. Ahead of the Budget later the index of leading UK shares is up 0.6% to 6,979.44. Index heavyweight and Europe’s largest bank HBSC (HSBA) reports higher profit in the third quarter of the year, supported by cost cuts and a rise in deposit revenue. Pre-tax profit rose 28% to $5.9bn in the three months to the end of ...

The high-profile launch of a new investment trust from star manager Terry Smith has turned investors’ attention to global smaller companies. Smith’s new trust, Smithson, will focus on companies across the globe that are too small for his flagship Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7) fund to invest in. He says the under-researched businesses, which typically have fewer investors watching them, provide ...

There are many ways to build a list that ranks the most important companies to people. In its most straightforward sense, for investors that are still in work, your employer or own business is almost certainly the most important company to you since they provide your source of income and contribute to your pension savings too. Those in retirement might equally argue the case for the holder of ...

As the UK prepares to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 at 11pm, there are many questions left unanswered for investors, businesses and the general public. Stock markets in recent months haven’t been troubled too much by the Brexit negotiations as investors have had plenty of other distractions such as the US/China trade war and volatility in emerging markets. The situation may ...

Challenger bank and mortgage specialist OneSavings Bank (OSB) has upgraded its growth forecast for its loan book on releasing its first half results. However despite posting a 17% hike in pre-tax profits to £91.8m, the bank’s share price falls 2.4% to 432.8p. Investors may be concerned with other metrics the bank released today, for instance its net interest margin (NIM) declined 23 basis ...

The main benchmark for shares listed on the London Stock Exchange is the FTSE 100. Widely quoted in reports on the financial markets, its constituents make up 80% of the UK market by valuation. But how much do you know about its composition? For example, upwards of 70% of its earnings are derived overseas despite the FTSE 100 being London’s flagship stock index. As a result, its relationship ...

Bank of Georgia's (BGEO) first half results show a 29% increase in pre-tax profits to 232.6m Georgian lari (£71.1m). A lot has happened in the six months to June 30 2018, not least the company splitting itself in two. This came into effect at the end of May, the original BGEO business separating its retail banking arm (Bank of Georgia) from its higher risk investment operation, now called ...

Price comparison websites could be the latest industry ripe for disruption as reports suggest that Amazon is mulling a move into the space. According to reports, the US online sales giant has been talking to some of Europe’s top insurance firms to see if they would contribute products to an Amazon UK price comparison website. This would be Amazon’s first major move into financial services ...

Despite an increase in interest rates and the biggest combined quarterly profit for the banks since 2013, the sector's reporting season got a lukewarm reception from the market. Against this backdrop, we take a look at key facts and figures which reveal how the big four of Barclays (BARC), HSBC (HSBA), Lloyds Banking (LLOY) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are getting on.The £2bn in litigation ...