April newsletter

Our strong performance in 1Q25

We’re returning more capital to you, our shareholders, after a strong financial performance in the first quarter of this year.

An interim dividend of 10 US cents per share was approved this week as part of our 1Q 2025 results update and we also announced that we intend to initiate a further share buyback of up to $3bn.

Our results, announced on 29 April, show that for the quarter ended 31 March 2025, profit before tax was $9.5bn and revenue was $17.6bn. Excluding notable items, profit before tax and revenue grew by 11% and 7% respectively.

“Our strong results this quarter demonstrate momentum in our earnings, discipline in the execution of our strategy and confidence in our ability to deliver our targets,” said Georges Elhedery, our Group CEO.

“We continue to support our customers through this period of economic uncertainty and market unpredictability, which we enter from a position of financial strength.”

Find out more about our performance in our 1Q 2025 Quick Read.

It’s AGM time

We’re holding our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 2 May in London.

The digitally-enabled AGM is an opportunity for you to hear from our senior leaders about our financial performance and the reorganisation of the bank, which became effective on 1 January, to simplify our structure and align it to our strategy.

The meeting starts at 10am UK time (5pm Hong Kong time / 5am New York time) and you can find out all you need to know about the AGM here. Keep an eye on HSBC.com for updates once the meeting has finished.

The AGM follows our informal shareholders’ meeting, which took place on 1 April at the Hopewell Hotel, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Group Chairman Sir Mark Tucker (pictured) told the meeting that the bank had three key messages for shareholders.

“First, our strategy is continuing to deliver. That is demonstrated by the strong financial performance of the Group in 2024,” he said.

“Second, this performance has allowed us to reward you, our valued shareholders, with increased returns.

”And third, looking ahead, we are confident that we can continue to deliver strong performance and returns and stand behind a strong dividend outlook.”

Sir Mark thanked shareholders for their “continued, strong and loyal support over the last 12 months”, adding: “It is greatly appreciated and highly valued by us all.”

On stage alongside Sir Mark were Group CEO Georges Elhedery; Peter Wong, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation; David Liao, our Co-CEO, Asia and Middle East; and Luanne Lim, HSBC Hong Kong Chief Executive.

In his address, Georges said: “I am confident about our future and what we can achieve. As we celebrate our 160th anniversary, our history and heritage stand us in good stead.”

Read more about what Sir Mark, Georges and Peter had to say.

Our super-connector summit

More than 4,000 delegates brought the energy – and our Global Investment Summit (GIS) provided the platform to explore the new networks shaping the global economy.

For three days in Hong Kong, the summit – the largest of its kind in Asia – was the super-connector for corporate, institutional and wealth clients seeking opportunities and insight into today‘s trends in trade, finance and technology.

Our Group CEO Georges Elhedery called out the GIS‘s power to bring people together for agenda-setting discussions, igniting new insights, firing imaginations and inspiring ideas.

Across panel and breakout sessions, featuring more than 70 international leaders and experts – along with more than 7,000 client meetings and engagements – the summit offered a diverse range of solutions, perspectives and knowledge from markets worldwide.

Our Group Chairman Sir Mark Tucker introduced the GIS with reflections on this year‘s theme – ‘New Networks Connecting the Global Economy’ – identifying great opportunities, as well as risks, and considering a significant reconfiguration of globalisation as we know it.

Georges identified five factors shaping new networks of finance and trade in his remarks, while Michael Roberts, our CEO, HSBC Bank Plc, and CEO of Commercial and Institutional Banking, touched on the huge impact of AI on the corporate world, from the boardroom to the shop floor.

Later in the summit, our International Wealth and Premier Banking CEO Barry O‘Byrne addressed 460 clients at the GIS Private Wealth Sessions.

This was the second HSBC Global Investment Summit – an event launched in 2024 and built on the power of our international networks.

As Pam Kaur, our Group Chief Financial Officer, put it: “Nobody connects the world better than HSBC – it’s at the heart of who we are and what we’ve been doing for the last 160 years.”

Discover more about what happened at the GIS.

Building a community

This year’s HSBC Hong Kong Community Festival, held as part of our 160th anniversary celebrations, drew more than 10,000 people to Central Market.

During the two-day event, visitors got to learn firsthand how the charities we support are empowering so many people across Hong Kong.

There were live performances, workshops and games – and more than 30 inter-generational community projects were on show.

To mark the occasion, local artists and HSBC volunteers created four bamboo art installations, inspired by our bronze lion statues.

Check out our video to see how the sculptures were made, before they took pride of place at the festival.