LONDON, February 4, 2026, 07:58 GMT — Premarket
HSBC Holdings Plc shares looked poised for a steady open in London on Wednesday, trading at 1,301 pence on the bank’s investor page just before the market bell. In Hong Kong, shares slipped 0.6 Hong Kong dollars to HK$138.30, while the New York ADR fell 62 cents to $88.98. (HSBC)
Rates are driving the short-term moves. UK bank shares have acted like interest-rate gauges lately, with even minor adjustments in expected rate cuts reshaping forecasts for profits and dividends.
HSBC’s position across multiple markets and currencies makes this crucial. Investors keep a close eye on its net interest margin — the gap between loan earnings and deposit costs — looking for clues if the rate cycle shifts more quickly than anticipated.
HSBC slipped 0.31% to 1,301 pence on Tuesday, after hitting 1,309 pence during the session. The day before, it had risen 1.52% to 1,305 pence. (Investing)
In New York, the ADR closed at $88.98 and nudged higher to $88.99 in after-hours trading, according to MarketWatch. (MarketWatch)
The broader London market showed less resilience. The FTSE 100 dipped 0.26% on Tuesday after hitting a record high earlier, weighed down by a sharp tech sell-off and declines in bank-related stocks. “Risk appetite just isn’t fully restored,” noted Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. (Reuters)
Overnight, the global risk mood remained fragile. Asian shares jittered following declines in U.S. and European data-analytics and software stocks, weighed down by worries over AI-driven disruption. Oil prices edged higher amid fresh geopolitical strains. “The AI trade is splitting between relative winners and losers,” noted Ben Bennett, head of investment strategy for Asia at L&G Asset Management. (Reuters)
The Bank of England is set to hold its benchmark rate at 3.75% on Thursday, but traders will be parsing the statement and vote split for hints on when rate cuts might restart. “We expect Bank Rate to be cut twice this year,” said Deutsche Bank’s chief UK economist Sanjay Raja. Barclays economists and Capital Economics’ Paul Dales also see room for cuts later in 2026, though they differ on the exact timing. (Reuters)
Currency shifts have been modest but still noteworthy. On Tuesday, sterling held steady near $1.3672 and is up roughly 1.4% so far this year. MUFG’s Lee Hardman noted that markets now anticipate the Bank of England will hold off on further cuts until its May meeting, a change that has lent support to the pound. (Reuters)
HSBC’s next major update comes on Feb. 25, the date it confirmed in a London Stock Exchange notice. Investors will focus on any new guidance about costs, capital returns, and changes in regional focus. (London Stock Exchange)
The week could still pivot on macro moves. If rate cuts come faster than expected, bank margins might get squeezed. And a renewed global risk-off wave would probably drag down the entire sector, no matter the individual firms involved.
Thursday brings the Bank of England’s decision and its Monetary Policy Report, setting the tone. Then, all eyes shift to HSBC’s earnings on February 25. (Bankofengland)
