London, Jan 16, 2026, 07:54 GMT — Premarket
- HSBC has launched a strategic review of its Singapore insurance unit, keeping “all options” on the table.
- Shares listed in London ended up 1.96% at the last close; in Hong Kong, early trading showed gains of roughly 2%.
- Investors are awaiting more details from the review alongside the bank’s annual results due on Feb. 25.
HSBC Holdings Plc announced a strategic review of its insurance operations in Singapore, spotlighting potential asset disposals just ahead of Friday’s London market open. Shares of HSBC listed in Hong Kong rose roughly 2% in early trading. 1
A strategic review typically kicks things off. It might end with a sale, a partnership, or a choice to hold and invest—but it usually stretches over months, not days.
The development follows a Bloomberg News report on Wednesday revealing HSBC is weighing options for HSBC Life (Singapore) Pte, including a possible sale. The unit could fetch over $1 billion. 2
HSBC shares in London closed at 1,236.8 pence, gaining 1.96% on the day and hovering close to recent peaks, MarketWatch data shows. 3
UK bank shares mostly rose Thursday, boosted by stronger-than-expected domestic data that lifted risk appetite. The FTSE 100 closed at a new record after Britain’s economy expanded 0.3% in November. Axel Rudolph, senior financial analyst at IG, called the GDP surprise a “potential catalyst” for fresh market inflows. Traders continue to price in roughly 40 basis points of Bank of England cuts by September (one basis point equals 0.01%). 4
HSBC confirmed the review includes HSBC Life (Singapore), the unit offering life, health, personal accident, and savings insurance. The bank said it is “considering all options” but hasn’t made any decisions yet. Calling Singapore a “priority market,” HSBC emphasized its goal to speed up growth in wealth management and wholesale banking, targeting affluent clients and corporate institutions. 5
The review arrives about four years after HSBC acquired AXA’s Singapore operations. Analysts say there’s a solid pool of potential buyers should the bank choose to sell. On Jan. 15, Bloomberg Intelligence’s Steven Lam and Grace Huang noted that a sale would probably attract significant interest from global insurers. 6
Investors are now left wondering if HSBC will use the review to boost its Asia wealth strategy or to free up capital by selling assets. The bank hasn’t provided a timeline.
There’s a catch. Reviews don’t guarantee deals will follow. Any transaction depends on price, buyer interest, and regulatory approval in this closely watched sector, so talks could still fall apart.
HSBC is set to unveil its full-year results on Feb. 25, which should shed more light on its strategy and capital priorities. 7
