Hong Kong
HSBC launches new investment solution for unit trusts
                                                                                 
                    
                    	FundMax enables unlimited transactions and switching between funds for a single monthly fee.
                
                                
            HSBC launches new investment solution for unit trusts
                                                                                                                 
                            
                            	FundMax enables unlimited transactions and switching between funds for a single monthly fee.
                        
                                                
                        
    
                    HSBC introduces dedicated zones to China, Taiwan customers
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Section will offer account opening, financial planning and other banking transaction facilities.
                    
                                        
                    
                HSBC has no interest in Korea Exchange stake
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	CEO Michael Geoghegan no longer showed desire on Lone Star’s stake even as global economy rebounds.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hang Seng's banker shortage may hamper China expansion
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Lender will add personnel in several departments to meet its target 50 China branches.
                    
                                        
                    
                StanChart first in HK to facilitate renminbi trade locally
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Standard Chartered Bank completed the first domestic RMB trade settlement transaction outside Mainland China. It follows the latest elucidation of supervisory principles and operational arrangements regarding RMB business in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hang Seng sets RMB prime rate
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Hang Seng became the first bank in Hong Kong to set an RMB prime as the base rate for RMB finance.
                    
                                        
                    
                Bank of China to issue $7.7 billion HK shares
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Calculated as the biggest fund-raising plan in Hong Kong so far in 2010, the offering represents 20 percent of the bank's H-share capital.
                    
                                        
                    
                China Mobile to buy 20% of Pudong Bank
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Yet paying $5.8bln for investment in the bank to dominate country’s mobile market was greeted adversely.
                    
                                        
                    
                StanChart to seek Shanghai listing
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Lender capitalises on Beijing's encouragement for foreign firms to offer shares after regulations become clear.
                    
                                        
                    
                HSBC to join Bank of Communications' rights issue
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	HSBC sees BoCom's fundraising move as opportunity to add its 20% stake and increase China investments.
                    
                                        
                    
                HSBC pre-tax profits down 23.9% to US$7,079 million
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Group Chairman Stephen Green says the decrease is part due to the reversal of fair value accounting gains on the bank's own debt.
                    
                                        
                    
                Bank of East Asia posts $330.9mln 2009 profit
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Profit surge from US$5mln in 2008 is attributed to earnings in securities trading.
                    
                                        
                    
                BEA earns US$339.7M on operating income growth
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Bank of East Asia's consolidated profit after taxation reached US$339.7 million for 2009.
                    
                                        
                    
                StanChart to hire 500 in HK for wealth management
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Standard Chartered said it is planning to hire 500 more employees this year for its wealth management business in Hong Kong in time for Asia's wealth surge.
                    
                                        
                    
                BoCom shares dip after news on rights offer
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Following a newspaper article saying the lender may raise more than 20 billion yuan, or $2.9 billion, in a rights offer, Bank of Communications Co. shares dropped to their lowest in more than three months in Hong Kong trading.
                    
                                        
                    
                BOCHK’s subordinated notes rated 'BBB+'
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Standard & Poor's assigned its 'BBB+' rating to BOCHK’s proposed U.S. dollar-denominated subordinated notes due 2020.
                    
                                        
                    
                Michael Pratt appointed to Standard Chartered board
                                                                                                 
                        
                        	Michael Thomas Pratt will succeed Stefano Paolo Bertamini as Director of Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong effective 1 February.