HSBC plc - Global Businesses

The overview

HSBC Global Businesses is the investment banking arm of HSBC Holdings. HSBC has shifted its attention away from the saturated European and US markets towards the emerging markets in the east. The investment banking division changed its name to HSBC Global Businesses in 2008 to align with this new, global strategy of the business as a whole.

In keeping with this strategic shift in focus, rumours abound that the investment wing could move its major operations outside of the UK. Certainly, revenues in the Asia-Pacific region are a particular boon for HSBC Global Businesses, and also in Latin America. That said, the UK continues to provide a strong market base.

The Global Businesses arm of HSBC breaks down into five major divisions, with global private banking something of an individual offshoot:

• Global banking: relationship-management with major corporate clients, serving in areas of transaction banking and capital markets, among others.
• Global markets: the trading and sales division, working with a host of different clients. Structured derivatives, equity services and securities services are just a few of its responsibilities.
• Global asset management: working with corporate clients, individual investors and financial institutions, providing services relating to liquidity, equities and more.
• Global transaction banking: cash management, trade finance, supply chain and securities services for similar clients to global asset management.
• Global Research: specialised services in four primary areas: currencies, economics, equities and fixed income, with a particular focus on emerging markets.
• Global Private Banking: one-to-one services for affluent clients. This includes individuals, charities, corporate advisory services and foreign exchange products, among others.

Rankings and awards

• Best Emerging Markets Bank of the Year, Euromoney, 2010
• Best Bank for FX (Foreign Exchange) Research and Strategy, FX Week, 2010
• Part of a core group of Lead Underwriters, Global Finance Magazine, 2010
• Ranked 47 in the Guardian UK300, 2011

Salary and benefits

Available information suggests starting salaries and bonuses may eventually nudge up towards £35,000. Bonuses at HSBC are not considered especially high in the sector.

Benefits

These differ slightly across the streams, but the overall offerings are:

• Performance-related bonus scheme
• Pension
• Private healthcare
• Life assurance/insurance
• Preferential rates on a range of HSBC products
• Sports and social scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Corporate discounts