London, January 25, 2026, 07:53 GMT — Market closed
- Hong Kong court approved the HSBC-backed Hang Seng Bank take-private deal, set to take effect Monday
- HSBC shares ended the session in London down roughly 1.1%, as investors grapple with the trade-offs involved in capital returns
- Attention shifts to the Hang Seng delisting schedule and the Fed’s rate decision set for midweek
HSBC shares are set to attract attention when London trading kicks off Monday, following a Hong Kong court’s approval of the group’s plan to privatise Hang Seng Bank. The court sanctioned the move via a “scheme of arrangement,” a legal route commonly used for take-privates. HSBC confirmed the scheme was approved “without modification” and will likely take effect on Jan. 26. Hang Seng’s Hong Kong listing is expected to be withdrawn the next day, assuming all other conditions are met. 1
HSBC closed Friday at 1,231 pence, slipping 13.20 pence, or roughly 1.1%, based on Refinitiv data shared by the bank. On the New York market, its ADRs edged up $0.19 to $83.94. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, shares ticked higher by HK$0.30 to HK$130.00. 2
The court’s approval turns a months-long plan into execution mode this week, and that’s the key for the stock now. Minority shareholders in Hang Seng will get HK$155 per share in cash, with payments scheduled by Feb. 4, HSBC confirmed. The final trading day for Hang Seng shares was Jan. 14, the bank added. HSBC also announced it won’t launch any new share buybacks for three quarters starting Oct. 9, 2025. 3
HSBC, which currently holds roughly 63% of Hang Seng, put forward an offer to acquire the remaining 36.5%, a deal Reuters pegged at about $13.6 billion. Hang Seng shareholders gave the green light to the plan on Jan. 8. At the time, HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery described the move as showing “strong confidence” in Hang Seng’s franchise and the potential benefits of full ownership. 4
The London stock remains near its recent high, making it vulnerable to shifts in sentiment. HSBC is trading roughly 2% under its 52-week peak of 1,254 pence, based on data from Hargreaves Lansdown. 5
The broader market showed little relief. London’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.07% on Friday, dragged down by renewed geopolitical tensions that dampened risk appetite. Banks bore the brunt as the biggest drags on the index, Reuters reported. “Gold ostensibly remains the preferred portfolio hedge amid ongoing geopolitical risk,” said Laura Cooper, senior macro strategist at Nuveen, pointing to a rotation into safer assets. 6
Bank stocks are gearing up for another week shaped by key macro factors. The Federal Reserve’s meeting on Jan. 27-28 is widely expected to result in a pause on rate changes. “It’s been a little bit of a short but steep roller-coaster ride,” said Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment strategist at PNC Financial Services, commenting on market swings tied to geopolitics and shifting rate expectations. Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, echoed the sentiment in a note, forecasting an “extended pause” as inflation peaks and labor-market risks ease. 7
For HSBC, the rate outlook remains crucial since it directly impacts net interest income — the gap between earnings on loans and costs on deposits. A steady-rate signal usually supports that spread, while chatter about cuts can tighten it, often before any official policy shift.
Investors are keen to see how HSBC positions the Hang Seng cash outlay in relation to dividends and a potential comeback of buybacks. The bank has aggressively repurchased its shares in recent years, so any pause—even if linked to a deal—could disrupt the short-term flow.
Still, risks linger. A hiccup in final procedures or last-minute issues with conditions might delay both the delisting and payment schedule. Plus, the stock could face sudden swings if geopolitical tensions reignite.
Monday brings the scheme’s expected effective date, with Hang Seng set to delist in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Then, all eyes turn to Wednesday’s Fed rate decision.
