HSBC share price ends near record — what investors watch before next week’s trading

HSBC Holdings Plc shares edged up roughly 0.2% to 1,272.3 pence in early London trading on Friday, after opening at 1,274.6p and closing at 1,270.0p the previous day. The stock remains close to its 52-week peak of 1,286.2p.

HSBC’s London-listed shares slipped 1.46% on Wednesday, finishing at 1,258.6 pence. The drop trimmed some of this week’s recent gains but kept the stock close to its year-to-date peak ahead of Thursday’s session.

HSBC shares grabbed attention ahead of the London open after a recent surge pushed the bank’s market capitalization just over $300 billion, nearly matching AstraZeneca for the FTSE 100 lead. Sources told Reuters that HSBC, NatWest, and other top British banks plan to raise profit targets—management’s guidance on returns—in their upcoming earnings reports.

HSBC Holdings’ shares are likely to grab early attention in London Monday after insiders indicated the bank plans to boost its key profitability target in next month’s annual results. The bank is tipped to raise its return-on-tangible-equity forecast beyond the current “mid teens or better” range. Some analysts suggest the upgrade could be around two percentage points. HSBC declined to comment. Peter Rothwell, KPMG UK’s head of banking, noted lenders are seeing “earnings resilience lasting longer than initially expected,” supported by higher rates, credit quality, and cost control.

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 Hang Seng’s Hong Kong listing is expected to be withdrawn the next day, assuming all other conditions are met.

HSBC shares held steady before Tuesday’s London open, following comments from a senior executive projecting a valuation topping 300 billion pounds for the lender.

HSBC shares dropped 1.2% to 1,216.9 pence just after London markets opened at 0801 GMT.

HSBC shares slipped in London on Friday following the bank’s announcement of a strategic review of its insurance operations in Singapore, part of a broader push to streamline and concentrate its business. The stock finished down 0.39% at 1,232 pence, after fluctuating between 1,226.6 and 1,240 pence during the session.