Break-up calls were resisted by HSBC today as the banking giant sought to win over shareholders with a big increase in dividend payments.
The bank, which is under pressure from Chinese insurer Ping An to spin off its Asian business, said it was more than two years into a transformation that will ultimately deliver higher returns for shareholders.
Today’s half-year results benefited from a 62% second quarter surge in profits as boss Noel Quinn promised to restore the dividend to pre-Covid levels as soon as possible.
Wider markets faltered as a series of weak-looking economic reports took the edge off the mood.
