Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:
Business
英ＨＳＢＣ、中国とインドでさらに攻勢へ
2021.02.25 Thu posted at 12:15 JST
香港（ＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ） 英金融大手ＨＳＢＣが新型コロナウイルスのパンデミック（世界的大流行）後のビジネス強化を図る中、アジアでの攻勢をさらに強める。配当も再開する方針で、今後の経営のかじ取りに自信を深めている兆候と見られる。
同行の本社はロンドンだが、その収益の大半はアジアで稼ぐ。２２日の投資家に向けた財務報告で、アジア地域での投資を約６０億ドル拡大し、重要な人員の再配置を含め同地域にさらにリソースを振り向ける計画を発表した。
ＨＳＢＣは中国、東南アジア、インドを成長の「重要な原動力」と位置付ける。特に中国本土でのプレゼンス強化、香港での主導的地位の堅持、シンガポールの富裕層向け管理業務の拠点確立を図りたい考えだ。
アジアはパンデミック以前、ＨＳＢＣの利益の８割以上を稼いでいた。マーク・タッカー会長は昨年もアジアが「他をはるかにしのぐ、最も利益のある地域に再びなった」との声明を出した。
今回の計画はその他の市場における事業のスリム化も含む。フランスではリテール部門の売却を交渉中で、米国のリテール部門は売却も視野に検討を進めている。
ＨＳＢＣの昨年の税引き前利益は前年比３４％減の８８億ドルに、収益は同１０％減の５０４億ドルに落ち込んだ。
だが、そうした数値はアナリストの予測を上回っている。さらに、１株当たり１５セントの配当をできる限り早く復活させる方針も２２日に示された。
新型コロナ流行の経済状況に適応
ＨＳＢＣは昨年、他行と同様に英規制当局の要請で配当を見送った。英中央銀行のイングランド銀行は１２月にこの指針を部分的に緩和した。
タッカー氏は「あれは難しい決断だった。株主に与えた影響を申し訳なく思う」としたうえで、取締役会がその後「将来的に持続可能な配当を行えるような指針を採用した」と説明した。
マッコーリー・キャピタルのアジア金融調査部門トップ、スコット・ラッセル氏は、世界の他の大手行と同様、ＨＳＢＣも低金利の圧力や大手行間の厳しい競争、デジタル面での新興勢力の脅威にさらされていると言及。「トップダウンの風景はよくない」とも指摘する。
ＨＳＢＣのノエル・クイン最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）は同行が記録的な低金利で打撃を受けていると認め、２２日の財務報告で資金利益を５３億ドル逃したとの推計を示した。「金利がすぐに戻るとは予想していない」とも付言した。
コスト削減
１年前、ＨＳＢＣは約３万５０００人の人員削減を含む大規模な構造改革の計画を発表した。新型コロナ流行の中、一度は計画を停止したものの、その後は加速させた。
同行はこの数カ月、バックオフィスを自動化して手作業を削減する一方で、手数料ビジネスに注力する姿勢を示している。
クイン氏は「明日のＨＳＢＣはどのように見えるか。我々は実質的に次の３つに軸足を置こうとしている。アジア、富、手数料だ」と語る。
投資家に自信を示したい同行は２２日、費用削減をさらに１０億ドル進めると発表。２０２２年までに営業費用を３１０億ドルとする目標を掲げる。
同行は来年末までに１０００億ドルの資産圧縮を進めるとした従来の計画も引き続き進める。イーウェン・スティーブンソン最高財務責任者（ＣＦＯ）は目標達成まで「半分以上来た」と語る。
だが、先は長そうだ。前述のラッセル氏は、ＨＳＢＣには「費用ベースの削減に向けた構造改革でやるべき多くの課題があるのは明らかで、すぐには終わらない。今後２～３年はこの話をするだろう」と指摘する。
同行がアジアを強化するのは、これまでのつながりと好調な業績を考えれば自然だ。クイン氏は「全員に対して全ての存在になろうとすることはやめる。我々の持つ利点を生かしたものを鮮やかに行っていきたい」と語った。
Translation
Hong Kong (CNN Business) -- As British financial giant, HSBC sought to strengthen its business after the new coronavirus pandemic, it would further strengthen its offensive in Asia. Dividends would also be resumed, which seemed to be a sign of growing confidence in its future management leadership.
The bank was headquartered in London, but most of its revenue came from Asia. In a financial report to investors on the 22nd, it announced plans to increase investment in the Asian region by about $ 6 billion and to divert more resources to the region, including the relocation of important personnel.
HSBC positioned China, Southeast Asia and India as
"important drivers" of growth. In particular, it wanted to strengthen
its presence in mainland China, maintain its leading position in Hong Kong, and
establish a base for management operation that aimed at the wealthy class in
Singapore.
Before the pandemic, Asia earned more than 80% of HSBC's profits. Last year, Chairman Mark Tucker also stated that Asia "has become the most profitable region by far over others".
Its plan also included streamlining operations in other markets. In France it was negotiating the sale of its retail division, and in the US selling its retail division was under consideration.
HSBC's pre-tax profit last year fell 34% year-on-year to stand at $ 8.8 billion, and revenue fell 10% year-on-year to $ 50.4 billion.
But those numbers were higher than analysts had expected. In addition, the policy to revive the dividend of 15 cents per share as soon as possible was announced on the 22nd.
Adapt to the economic situation of the new corona pandemic
Last year, HSBC, like other banks, shelved dividends at the
request of British regulators. The Bank of England, England’s central bank,
partially relaxed this guideline in December.
Tucker on top of saying "that was a difficult decision. I'm sorry for the impact on shareholders”; and after the Board of direct meeting, he explained that "the board has since adopted guidelines for sustainable dividends in the future”.
Scott Russell, head of Asian financial research department at Macquarie Capital, said that HSBC, like other major banks in the world, was under pressure from low interest rates, fierce competition between major banks, and the threat of rising digital influence. He also pointed out that "the top-down scene is not good."
HSBC’s CEO Noel Quinn admitted that the bank was hit by record low interest rates, and in a financial report on the 22nd estimated that it had missed $ 5.3 billion in cash profits. He added that "I don't expect interest rates to return soon".
Cost reduction
A year ago, HSBC announced plans for major structural
reforms, including a reduction of approximately 35,000 jobs. Although in the
midst of the new corona epidemic, the plan was once suspended, but it was then
accelerated.
In recent months, while the bank was automating the supporting office in order to reduce manual labor, it had shown its willingness to focus on the commission business.
Quinn said, "What does HSBC look like tomorrow? We're effectively trying to focus on three pivot legs: Asia, wealth, and commission."
The bank, which wanted to show confidence to investors, announced on the 22nd that it would cut operating costs by another $ 1 billion. It had set a goal of operating expenses of $ 31 billion by 2022.
The bank would continue its previous plan to compress assets by $ 100 billion by the end of next year. Ewen Stevenson, chief financial officer, said he had achieved "more than half" of his goal.
However, the destination seemed to be long. Russell, mentioned above, pointed out that "obviously there are many challenges to be tackled in structural reforms to do cost-based savings, and it won't be over soon. We'll talk about this in the next couple of years."
The bank's strengthening of its Asia presence was natural given its
connections so far and its promising performance. Quinn said, "We will
stop trying to be everything for everyone. We want to do something vividly that
takes advantage of our strengths”.
So, the staff
and shareholders of HSBC should have an idea on what their bank will be doing in
the coming years. May I wish them good luck.
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