TIDM63AS

RNS Number : 9129U

HSBC Bank plc

03 August 2020

3 August 2020

HSBC Bank plc

2020 Interim Report

In fulfilment of its obligations under sections 4.2.2, 6.3.3(2) and 6.3.5(1) of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, HSBC Bank plc (the "Company") hereby releases the unedited full text of its 2020 Interim Report for the half-year ended 30 June 2020.

The document is now available on the Company's website:

http://www.hsbc.com/investor-relations/subsidiary-company-reporting

The document has also been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism (NSM) and will shortly be available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism .

HSBC Bank plc

Interim Report 20 20

 
 Contents 
                                              Page 
 Presentation of information                   1 
------------------------------------------  ---- 
 Cautionary statement regarding 
  forward-looking statements                   1 
------------------------------------------ 
 Highlights                                    2 
------------------------------------------ 
 Key financial metrics                         3 
------------------------------------------  ---- 
 Purpose and strategy                          4 
------------------------------------------ 
 About HSBC Bank plc                           4 
------------------------------------------ 
 How we do business                            6 
------------------------------------------  ---- 
 Economic background and outlook               7 
------------------------------------------ 
 Interim management report - Financial 
  summary                                      8 
------------------------------------------  ---- 
 Review of business position                  12 
------------------------------------------ 
 Reported performance by country              13 
------------------------------------------ 
 Risk                                         14 
------------------------------------------ 
 Capital                                      34 
------------------------------------------ 
 Statement of Directors' Responsibilities     44 
------------------------------------------ 
 Independent Review Report to 
  HSBC Bank plc                               45 
------------------------------------------ 
 Condensed Financial Statements               46 
------------------------------------------  ---- 
 Notes on the Condensed Financial 
  Statements                                  53 
                                            ---- 
 
 
 Presentation of information 
 

This document comprises the

Interim Report 2020

for HSBC Bank plc ('the bank') and its subsidiaries (together 'the group'). 'We', 'us' and 'our' refer to HSBC Bank plc together with its subsidiaries. References to 'HSBC' or 'the Group' within this document mean HSBC Holdings plc together with its subsidiaries.

It contains the Interim Management Report and Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the group, together

with the Auditor's review report, as required by the Financial Conduct Authority's ('FCA') Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules ('DTR'). The Capital section also contains certain Pillar 3 disclosures which the bank considers require semi-annual disclosure.

Within the Interim Management Report and Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes, the group has presented income statement figures for the three most recent six-month periods to illustrate the current performance compared with recent periods.

Unless otherwise stated, commentary on the income statement compares the six months to 30 June 2020 with the same period in the prior year. Balance sheet commentary compares the position at 30 June 2020 to 31 December 2019.

In accordance with IAS 34, the Interim Report is intended to provide an update on the Annual Report and Accounts 2019 and therefore focuses on events during the first six months of 2020, rather than duplicating information previously reported.

Our reporting currency is GBP sterling. Unless otherwise specified, all $ symbols represent US dollars.

 
 Cautionary statement regarding forward- 
  looking statements 
 

This

Interim Report 2020

contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the group.

Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the group's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends', 'plans', 'believes', 'seeks', 'estimates', 'potential' and 'reasonably possible', variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. HSBC Bank plc makes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring or existing after the date of any forward-looking statement.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that a number of factors could cause actual results to differ, in some instances materially, from those anticipated or implied in any forward-looking statements.

 
 Highlights 
 

For the half-year ended 30 June 2020

 
 Reported (loss) / profit before 
  tax (GBPm) 
 

GBP

(1,283)m

(1H19: GBP151m)

 
 Reported revenue (GBPm) 
 

GBP

2,889m

(1H19: GBP3,137m)

 
 Reported risk-weighted assets at 
  period end (GBPbn) 
 

GBP138bn

(31 Dec 2019: GBP125bn)

 
 Adjusted (loss) / profit before 
  tax (GBPm) 
 

GBP

(459)m

(1H19: GBP290m)

 
 Total assets at period end (GBPbn) 
 

GBP

758bn

(31 Dec 2019: GBP636bn)

 
 Common equity tier 1 ratio at period 
  end (%) 
 

13.5

%

(31 Dec 2019: 14.2%)

 
 Key financial metrics 
 
 
                                                                             Half-year to 
                                                                      30 Jun    30 Jun      31 Dec 
                                                         Footnotes      2020      2019        2019 
 For the period (GBPm) 
 (Loss) / profit before tax (reported basis)                         (1,283)      151    (1,023) 
                                                                    -------   ------- 
 (Loss) / profit before tax (adjusted basis)                 1         (459)      290       313 
                                                                              ------- 
 Net operating income before change in expected 
  credit losses and other credit impairment charges          2        2,889     3,137     2,907 
                                                                              ------- 
 (Loss) / profit attributable to the parent 
  company                                                            (1,230)       23    (1,036) 
                                                                              ------- 
 At period end (GBPm) 
                                                                              -------- 
 Total equity attributable to the parent company                     24,623    25,917    23,503 
                                                                              ------- 
 Total assets                                                       757,819   673,008   636,491 
                                                                              ------- 
 Risk-weighted assets                                        3      138,378   148,817   125,413 
                                                                    -------   -------   ------- 
 Loans and advances to customers (net of impairment 
  allowances)                                                       115,164   114,906   108,391 
                                                                    -------   -------   ------- 
 Customer accounts                                                  207,089   183,084   177,236 
                                                                    -------   -------   ------- 
 Capital ratios (%)                                          3 
                                                                    --------  -------- 
 Common equity tier 1                                                  13.5      13.3      14.2 
                                                                    -------   ------- 
 Tier 1                                                                16.5      15.4      17.6 
------------------------------------------------------  ----------  -------   -------   ------- 
 Total capital                                                         25.6      24.8      27.9 
                                                                    ------- 
 Performance, efficiency and other ratios (annualised 
  %) 
                                                        ----------  --------  --------  ---------- 
 Return on average ordinary shareholders' equity             4        (10.4)     (0.1)     (9.2) 
------------------------------------------------------  ----------  -------   -------   ------- 
 Return on tangible equity                                   5         (5.3)     (0.7)      0.6 
                                                                    ------- 
 Cost efficiency ratio (reported basis)                      6        120.6      92.6     133.3 
                                                                    ------- 
 Cost efficiency ratio (adjusted basis)                      6         92.1      88.3      87.4 
                                                                    ------- 
 Jaws (adjusted basis)                                       7         (4.0)    (12.6)      1.1 
                                                                    ------- 
 Ratio of customer advances to customer accounts                       55.6      62.8      61.2 
------------------------------------------------------  ----------  -------   -------   ------- 
 

1 Adjusted performance is computed by adjusting reported results for the effect of significant items as detailed on pages 10 and 11.

2 Net operating income before change in expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges is also referred to as revenue.

   3   For further information, refer to the Capital section on pages 34 to 43. 

4 The return on average ordinary shareholders' equity is defined as profit attributable to the parent company divided by the average total shareholders' equity.

5 RoTE is calculated as reported profit attributable to ordinary shareholders less changes in impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and present value of in-force long-term insurance business divided by average tangible shareholders' equity.

6 Reported cost efficiency ratio is defined as total operating expenses (reported) divided by net operating income before change in expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges (reported), while adjusted cost efficiency ratio is defined as total operating expenses (adjusted) divided by net operating income before change in expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges (adjusted).

   7   Adjusted jaws measures the difference between adjusted revenue and adjusted cost growth rates. 
 
 HSBC at a glance 
 

HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world, with operations in 64 countries and territories.

 
 Purpose and strategy 
 
 
 Our purpose 
 

Our purpose is to be where the growth is, connecting customers to opportunities. We help enable businesses to thrive and economies to prosper, helping people to fulfil their hopes, dreams and realise their ambitions.

HSBC values

HSBC values define who we are as an organisation and what makes us distinctive.

Open

We are open to different ideas and cultures and value diverse perspectives.

Connected

We are connected to our customers, communities, regulators and each other, caring about individuals and their progress.

Dependable

We are dependable, standing firm for what is right and delivering on commitments.

Our role in society

How we do business is as important as what we do. We seek to build trusting and lasting relationships with our many stakeholders, including customers, employees and shareholders to generate value in society.

HSBC in Europe

HSBC Bank plc is responsible for our European business, excluding UK retail and most commercial banking activity which has been ring-fenced. In the February 2020 business update, the Group announced plans to remodel our European business to focus on our strengths. As a part of our plan to transform, HSBC Bank plc is now managed as one integrated business with two main hubs in London and Paris. This is complemented by our subsidiary in Germany, which serves the European Union's largest economy.

HSBC Bank plc operates in 20 markets(1) . Our operating entities represent the Group to customers, regulators, employees and other stakeholders. We are organised around the principal operating units detailed below.

The London hub consists of the UK non-ring fenced bank, which provides overall governance and management for the Europe region as a whole and is a global centre of excellence for wholesale banking for the Group. In addition, the management team directly oversees our businesses in Armenia, Channel Islands & Isle of Man, and Malta.

HSBC France, comprises our Paris hub and its European Union branches (Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden). We are creating an integrated Continental European bank anchored on Paris to better serve our clients, and simplify our organisation.

HSBC Germany serves the European Union's largest economy and one of the leading export nations globally. HSBC Germany's business proposition mirrors the importance of trade and global connectivity with a clearly defined international Corporate and Institutional target clientele.

1 Full list of markets where HSBC Bank plc has a presence: Armenia, Belgium, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

 
 About HSBC Bank plc 
 

With assets of

GBP758bn

at 30 June

2020

, HSBC Bank plc is one of Europe's largest banking and financial services organisations. More than

1.3 million

customers bank with us

We employ around

17,200

people across our locations

 
 Our vision and strategy 
 

We have a clear vision, to build a strong and successful European business, focused on international wholesale banking clients linked to our global network and a targeted wealth franchise.

HSBC Bank plc's strategic vision is to be the leading international bank for international corporates in Europe, focused primarily on clients that value our network with a focus on transactional banking and financing. This is complemented by a targeted wealth offering, through our Wealth and Personal Banking business (see products and services). HSBC Bank plc will remain a key centre of excellence for risk management and product expertise, but at a reduced scale.

The impact of Covid-19 on our strategy

Consistent with the Group, HSBC Bank plc paused client and employee transformation actions from late March to mid-June 2020 - as a part of our support to customers, employees and society in navigating Covid-19. Further information as to how we have and will continue to support our stakeholders can be found on page 6.

In February 2020, our business update outlined plans to remodel our European business, enabling us to become simpler and more competitive. The transformation of Europe has begun and is now in full implementation and we strive to support colleagues closely through all organisational change.

Progress on our 2020 Business Update

Restructuring in Europe

We have commenced restructuring our business in Europe. In order to simplify our organisation, we have implemented a leaner management structure (see HSBC in Europe). This aligns with UK and European Union legal entity and regulatory requirements for financial services, following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.

We have reduced total operating expenses (on an adjusted basis, excluding impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets) by 4% compared to the same period last year. This was driven by cost discipline and reprioritisation of investments to partly mitigate revenue headwinds. Staff costs reduced by 4% as employee and contractor numbers were down since the end of 2019. Performance-related pay, marketing and consultancy expenditure was also reduced. Risk-weighted assets have increased by 10.3% since December 2019, as a result of the economic impact of Covid-19 (for detailed information, refer to risk-weighted assets on pages 34-35). The commitment announced in February 2020 to reduce RWAs remains unchanged.

We have previously announced a strategic review of our retail business in France; this is ongoing and no decisions have been made.

Investing in our opportunities and areas of strength

We were pleased to increase our shareholding in HSBC Germany to over 99%, increasing our participation in Europe's largest economy which enabled us to further establish our presence and our principal operating units.

We continue to invest in our strengths within Global Liquidity and Cash Management ('GLCM'), in particular enhancing our digital functionality for our clients during this time of accelerated change. Within our HSBCnet channel, we have introduced a soft token, enabling authentication with mobile, providing a cheaper, simpler, stronger and a more flexible alternative to a security device. GLCM plans to protect and grow its customer base by enhancing existing payments and liquidity capabilities in target markets.

Global Trade and Receivable Finance ('GTRF') Europe intends to build upon HSBC's leadership in trade finance whilst driving sustainable and profitable growth. GTRF Europe is an integral part of the Global Trade Transformation Programme. The programme is increasing investment in new product platforms (including block chain) and deployment of automated Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions controls which will result in improved risk management and efficiency.

 
 Products and services 
 

The Group manages its products and services through its three global businesses: GBM; CMB; WPB

(1)

; and Corporate Centre (Corporate Centre comprises Central Treasury, certain legacy assets, central stewardship costs, and interests in our associates and joint ventures).

 
 Our Global Businesses 
 

Our operating model consists of three global businesses and a Corporate Centre, supported by HSBC Operations, Services and Technology, and 11 global functions, including Risk, Finance, Compliance, Legal, Marketing and Human Resources.

 
 Global Banking and Markets        Commercial Banking              Wealth and Personal Banking 
  ('GBM')                           ('CMB')                         ('WPB')(1) 
 HSBC Global Banking and           We serve customers              In Europe, Wealth and Personal 
  Markets deliver tailored          ranging from small              Banking helps around 1.2 
  financial solutions to            enterprises to multinational    million customers with their 
  major government, corporate       corporates operating            financial needs through Private 
  and institutional clients         across borders. We              Banking, Retail Banking, 
  worldwide. Operating              provide the tools and           Wealth Management, Insurance 
  as a global business,             expertise that European         and Asset Management. 
  we also contribute significant    businesses need to              Our core retail proposition 
  revenues to other regions         thrive. Our network             offers a full suite of products 
  through our European              of relationship managers        including personal banking, 
  client base.                      and product specialists         mortgages, loans, credit 
  We provide a comprehensive        work closely to meet            cards, savings, investments 
  suite of services across          customer needs, from            and insurance. Alongside 
  capital financing, sales          term loans to region-wide       this, WPB offers various 
  and trading, transaction          treasury and trade              propositions in certain markets, 
  and advisory banking              solutions. We are fully         including Jade, Premier, 
  services, trade services,         committed to helping            and Advance; as well as wealth 
  research, securities              European businesses             solutions, financial planning 
  services and global liquidity     navigate change and             and international services. 
  and cash management.              seize export opportunities      Our Private Banking proposition 
  Our European teams bring          as the EU strikes new           serves high net worth and 
  together relationship             trade agreements. CMB           ultra high net worth clients 
  managers and product              is at the centre of             with investable assets greater 
  specialists to deliver            creating revenue synergies      than $5m in Channel Islands 
  financial solutions customised    within the Group. We            and Isle of Man, France and 
  to suit our clients'              work closely with our           Germany, including those 
  business-specific growth          GBM colleagues to provide       with international banking 
  ambitions and financial           expertise in capital            needs. The range of services 
  objectives. We continue           finance and advisory            available to private banking 
  to work closely with              solutions to support            clients includes investment 
  colleagues in CMB to              our CMB clients. Our            management (comprising of 
  provide a range of tailored       trade teams within              discretionary, advisory and 
  products and seamless             CMB also provide import         brokerage services), Private 
  services that meet the            and export finance              Wealth Solutions (including 
  needs of clients across           solutions to GBM clients.       trusts and estate planning) 
  the bank.                         With major operations           and bespoke lending such 
  Our business is underpinned       in France and Germany,          as lending against financial 
  by a focus on the highest         and full-service centres        assets and residential mortgage 
  standards of conduct              in hubs such as Ireland,        financing for high-end properties. 
  and financial crime risk          the Netherlands and             WPB collaborates with all 
  management. We remain             Switzerland, we provide         Global Businesses across 
  committed to deepening            corporates with the             the Group to provide financial 
  client relationships,             means to consolidate            solutions across all stages 
  improving synergies across        and simplify their              of the client continuum, 
  HSBC Global Businesses.           European operations,            from supporting small business 
  We continue to invest             enabling our customers          owners within France and 
  in digital programmes             to have greater visibility      Malta through HSBC Fusion 
  focused on clients such           over their liquidity            to our Private Banking service 
  as HSBCnet, streamlining          position and unlock             where we aspire to be the 
  the platform and improving        efficiencies in their           bank of choice to our best 
  customer experience.              treasury structures.            corporate clients. 
                                    Our customers expect            The depth of our global business 
                                    us to be innovative,            service matches that of our 
                                    whether it's a receivables      diverse client needs: from 
                                    finance solution to             branches, self-service terminals, 
                                    optimise working capital        telephone service centres 
                                    or support in pursuing          and digital services (internet 
                                    the sustainability              and mobile banking). Private 
                                    agenda.                         Banking hosts a 'Next Generation' 
                                                                    programme of events to support 
                                                                    our client's next generation 
                                                                    and offers philanthropy advisory 
                                                                    to their clients. We continue 
                                                                    to focus on meeting the needs 
                                                                    of our customers, the communities 
                                                                    we serve, and our people, 
                                                                    whilst working to build the 
                                                                    bank of the future. We aim 
                                                                    to deliver growth and target 
                                                                    to grow revenue faster than 
                                                                    costs, increasing return 
                                                                    on equity over time. 
--------------------------------  ------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
 Adjusted (loss)/profit before tax 
 GBP(214)m                         GBP48m                          GBP(148)m 
 (1H19: GBP132m)                   (1H19: GBP255m)                 (1H19: GBP116m) 
--------------------------------  ------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
 Risk-Weighted Assets 
 GBP87,555m                        GBP32,053m                      GBP9,831m 
 (31 Dec 2019: GBP81,466m)         (31 Dec 2019: GBP28,750m)       (31 Dec 2019: GBP9,119m) 
--------------------------------  ------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
 

1 Global Private Banking and Retail Banking and Wealth Management have been merged to form WPB. Refer to Note 3 Segmental analysis.

Our Global Businesses are presented on an adjusted basis, which is consistent with the way in which we assess the performance of our Global Businesses.

 
 How we do business 
 

Europe (inclusive of the UK) as a region is a fundamental part of the global economy, representing 25% of global Gross Domestic Product ('GDP') and nearly 40% of global trade. It's the largest integrated trading bloc in the world and a key trading partner with Asia, the Middle East, the US, Canada and Latin America. Europe is therefore critical to the Group as a key hub for our global network and capabilities.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created a great deal of uncertainty. It is affecting everyone in different ways, with markets at different stages of the crisis. We are tailoring our response to the different circumstances and situations in which our stakeholders find themselves.

Customers

Europe is home to some of the best performing, forward-thinking companies, ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to large multinationals. HSBC supports businesses of all sizes across Europe and offers a wide range of banking services with a focus on wholesale banking.

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, governments and regulators around the world have introduced a number of support measures. We are participating in market-wide schemes with GBP2.1bn of financing raised for wholesale clients in our major markets. We have GBP 3.4bn of exposure (including undrawn commitments) through government-guaranteed loan schemes attracting GBP1.8bn RWAs at 30 June 2020.

In June 2020 HSBC Bank plc was announced as an accredited lender for the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme ('CLBILS'). This accreditation is jointly held by our Commercial Banking and Global Banking businesses.

HSBC has produced forward-thinking, innovative content to guide clients in navigating the new normal, sharing HSBC's expertise around the world. Examples of these can be found here:

https://www.business.hsbc.ie/en-gb/generic/security-centre https://www.hsbcprivatebank.com/en/about-us/video-gallery?vid=%7BBB2189F9-E2EF-4C0B-9DDC-4E189F960B16%7D

In July 2020 HSBC was voted #1 Standout Dealer for global corporates (Greenwich), Global Market Share Leader for Corporates (2020 Euromoney FX Survey).

Sustainability

Europe is at the forefront of international efforts to fight climate change and is a world leader in sustainable finance. We share these values and want to help governments and businesses achieve their aims of developing a sustainable future for all. In 2020 Euromoney named HSBC as 'Western Europe's Best Bank for Sustainable Finance', building on our position as market leader.

Case Studies:

HSBC Bank plc jointly led in the management of issuing an Inaugural Response Bond by Nordic Investment Bank. EUR1bn has been pledged over three years, to finance projects that aim to alleviate the social and economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

HSBC Bank plc assisted Neoen (a leading international producer of renewable energy) with issuing the first ever 'green' convertible bond in Europe. HSBC Bank plc acted as an active lead underwriter for Neoen, proceeds from the new issuance will be used to finance renewable energy production or storage activities.

Communities

To deal with the immediate and pressing impact of the Covid-19 outbreak in Europe, we have focused our efforts on our community to provide support to leading Non-Governmental Organisations, ultimately providing medical response, food security and access to support for vulnerable people.

To date, our business has committed more than $3.6m of the total $25m Group pledge, to programmes and partners across Europe, such as the UK National Emergencies Trust, Cresus in France, Caritas in Malta and Red Cross across many countries.

Employees

Our people at HSBC span many cultures, communities and continents. HSBC want to build trusted relationships, where our people feel empowered in their roles and inspired to grow. We are focussed on ensuring our employees are valued, respected and supported to fulfil their potential and thrive. HSBC understands the importance of building a diverse and inclusive workforce, valuing individuals and their contribution. This allows us to better represent our customers and the communities we serve.

In times of uncertainty during the Covid-19 pandemic, our focus has been on ensuring the wellbeing and safety of our employees. A healthy and happy workforce is essential for a positive working environment and our priorities for our people are mental health, flexible working and financial well-being. 90% of our staff felt that HSBC was providing them with the information needed to work as effectively as possible during the Covid-19 situation. 85% of our staff felt that their line manager was providing them with the support they need to work through the impact of Covid-19.

In March, we paused the redundancy programme intended to deliver the reduction in headcount we announced in February, because of the high degree of uncertainty created by the escalating impact of Covid-19. We decided in June to lift the pause on redundancies, proceeding thoughtfully but purposefully, while taking local considerations into account.

We strive to support colleagues closely through all organisational change. Our focus is to prioritise retention of our permanent employees through mechanisms such as redeployment. Where redundancies were necessary in the first half of 2020 we sought to treat people fairly and responsibly. Where appropriate, we provided suitable notice periods and consulted with employee representative bodies. We use objective and appropriate selection criteria for redundancies. We prohibit selection on grounds linked to personal characteristics, for example gender, race, age or having raised past concerns, except as required by law. In many markets our discretionary severance payments exceed statutory minimums and our employees are additionally provided with access to counselling via employee assistance programmes and career transition support.

Our approach to Diversity

Our actions are focused on ensuring our people are valued, respected and supported to fulfil their potential and thrive. Our global ethnicity inclusion programme, which launched in May, will help us take targeted actions to ensure we enable the careers and career progression of all our colleagues in a supportive and inclusive way. It will also help us improve the data and reporting of our people's ethnic backgrounds globally.

We are listening to what our colleagues are telling us in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and in Europe there is active commitment to, and sponsorship of the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) agenda from senior management, through:

   --    Ensuring our approach is adapted and relevant to our local markets 
   --    Increasing awareness through communications and podcasts 
   --    Regular Exchange meetings to encourage open dialogue on current D&I topics 

Details of the Group D&I strategy, purpose and resources are available on the website at www.hsbc.com/our-approach/culture-and-people/diversity-and-inclusion.

A further update to our plans and progress will be included in our Annual Report and Accounts 2020.

Investors

HSBC Bank plc maintains an active dialogue with its investors. The bank's relationship with its debt investors is held via HSBC Group Investor Relations as many of these relationships span

investments across multiple entities within the broader HSBC Group.

Regulators and Governments

HSBC Bank plc has proactively engaged with relevant regulators and standards setters regarding the numerous policy changes issued in response to the pandemic, to help our customers, to contribute to normalisation and recovery and to manage the operational capacity at both banks and regulators. We have continued to uphold our standards, track and document any changes and maintained our transparency with regulators. We have also engaged extensively with relevant regulators and central banks globally in pursuit of their supervisory objectives and other activities aimed at maintaining the health of the economy, the stability of the financial system and the safety and soundness of individual financial institutions.

Suppliers

Across our 20 European markets (see page 4 for further detail), we have maintained our commitment to supporting suppliers when they may need it most.

 
 Economic background and 
  outlook 
 
 
 UK 
 

Counting the cost of Covid-19

UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell by 19.1% in the three months to May - a far sharper drop than anything seen during the Global Financial Crisis - as the fallout from Covid-19 weighed on economic activity. Job losses have already been widespread, with the 'claimant count' unemployment rate standing at 7.3% in June from a February level of 3.4%. Meanwhile, lower energy prices and the broader downturn are weighing on inflation - the consumer price inflation rate was 0.6% in June, having started the year at 1.8%.

The economic lockdown has been unwinding gradually. Most sectors of the economy have reopened. Alongside the economic reopening, some activity indicators have come off their trough. Having slumped by over 20% across March and April, retail sales rose by 12% in May and by 14% in June.

To mitigate some of the economic impact of the pandemic, fiscal and monetary policies have been loosened considerably. On the fiscal side, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which provides wage subsidies to 'furloughed' employees, has covered over 9 million people. But the scheme is set to end in October. Meanwhile, the Bank of England has cut Bank Rate to 0.10% and announced GBP300bn of additional asset purchases under its Quantitative Easing programme since March.

Even so, given widespread job losses, continued social distancing measures and broader economic uncertainty, the recovery in economic activity to pre-crisis levels is set to be a protracted one. Unemployment is set to remain elevated and inflation is likely to remain subdued.

Risks to the outlook

The UK's economic outlook faces two key risks. First, the recovery from Covid-19 might be more protracted, particularly if a 'second wave' of the virus brings about the need for renewed lockdowns. Second, significant uncertainty continues to surround the UK's future relationship with the EU. The 'status quo' transition period is set to expire at the end of this year, and further talks are required to find an accord that avoids a potentially disorderly rupture of economic ties. Further stimulus measures - including a cut in Bank Rate below zero - cannot be ruled out if downside economic risks crystallise.

 
 Eurozone 
 

Unprecedented downturn, uncertain recovery

Eurozone real GDP fell by 12.1% q-o-q in the second quarter of 2020, following a 3.6% drop in the first quarter. This is an unprecedented downturn for the eurozone, reflecting the economic shock from Covid-19 and associated lockdown measures. The eurozone jobless rate has started to creep up (7.8% in May versus a March trough of 7.2%) and substantial further rises seem likely. Meanwhile, mainly as a result of lower energy prices, but also due to the slump in economic demand, inflation has fallen sharply - having started the year at a rate of 1.4% annual eurozone consumer price inflation stood at 0.4% in July (initial estimate).

With the phased reopening of European economies, leading indicators point to a recovery in economic activity. But although lockdown measures have eased, the lingering effects of Covid-19 (social distancing, joblessness and corporate failures) will likely see the activity struggling to return to pre-crisis levels. As a result, HSBC Research's view is that the economy is likely to run persistently below capacity and annual inflation is likely to stay well below the European Central Bank's ('ECB') target of 'below, but close to, 2%'.

Policy challenges ahead

Significant fiscal and monetary policy challenges lie ahead. A big step was taken in June, with EU leaders agreeing on a EUR750bn recovery fund to help finance the recovery from Covid-19. However, many economies are nevertheless likely to be left with substantial debt burdens which might constrain fiscal policy in the long run.

Meanwhile, the prospect of persistently subdued inflation is likely to keep monetary policy very loose. The ECB has so far announced EUR1.35tn of asset purchases under its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme. Further expansion of ECB asset purchases seems likely, given the weak inflation outlook and large volume of public debt issuance this year and next.

 
 Financial summary 
 
 
 Use of non-GAAP financial measures 
 

Our reported results are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRSs') as detailed in the Financial Statements starting on page

46

. In measuring our performance, the financial measures that we use include those derived from our reported results in order to eliminate factors that distort period-on-period comparisons. These are considered non-GAAP financial measures.

Non-GAAP financial measures are described and reconciled to the closest reported financial measure when used.

Change in reportable segments since year end 2019

Effective from the second quarter in 2020, we simplified our organisational structure by merging Global Private Banking ('GPB') and Retail Banking and Wealth Management ('RBWM') to form Wealth and Personal Banking ('WPB'). This followed realignments within our internal reporting and includes the reallocation of Balance Sheet Management from Corporate Centre to the global businesses. Comparative data has been re-presented accordingly and reflected in all the business performance commentary.

The global business segmental results are presented on an adjusted basis in accordance with IFRS 8 'Operating Segments', as detailed in 'Basis of preparation' in Note 3: Segmental analysis on page 54. Reconciliations of reported and adjusted performance are presented on pages 10 and 11.

Adjusted performance

Adjusted performance is computed by adjusting reported results for the period-on-period effects of significant items that distort period-on-period comparisons.

We use 'significant items' to describe collectively the group of individual adjustments excluded from reported results when arriving at adjusted performance. These items, which are detailed below, are ones that management and investors would ordinarily identify and consider separately when assessing performance to understand better the underlying trends in the business.

We consider adjusted performance provides useful information for investors by aligning internal and external reporting, identifying and quantifying items management believes to be significant and providing insight into how management assesses period-on-period performance.

 
 Summary consolidated income statement 
                                                              Half-year to 
                                                       30 Jun   30 Jun     31 Dec 
                                                         2020     2019       2019 
                                                         GBPm     GBPm       GBPm 
                                                      -------  -------  --------- 
 Net interest income                                     917      670      813 
 Net fee income                                          697      679      665 
 Net income from financial instruments measured 
  at fair value                                          499    2,273    1,609 
----------------------------------------------------           ------   ------ 
 Gains less losses from financial investments             82       41       (3) 
                                                      ------ 
 Net insurance premium income                            764    1,248      899 
                                                      ------ 
 Other operating income                                  116      254      262 
                                                      ------ 
 Total operating income(1)                             3,075    5,165    4,245 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Net insurance claims, benefits paid and movement 
  in liabilities to policyholders                       (186)  (2,028)  (1,338) 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Net operating income before change in expected 
  credit losses and other credit impairment charges    2,889    3,137    2,907 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Change in expected credit losses and other credit 
  impairment charges                                    (651)     (84)     (40) 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Net operating income                                  2,238    3,053    2,867 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Total operating expenses excluding impairment of 
  goodwill and other intangible assets(1)             (2,711)  (2,902)  (2,713) 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets     (772)      (4)  (1,163) 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Operating (loss)/profit                              (1,245)     147   (1,009) 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Share of (loss) / profit in associates and joint 
  ventures                                               (38)       4      (14) 
 (Loss)/profit before tax                             (1,283)     151   (1,023) 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 Tax expense                                              63     (118)      (1) 
 (Loss)/profit for the period                         (1,220)      33   (1,024) 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 (Loss)/profit attributable to the parent company     (1,230)      23   (1,036) 
                                                                        ------ 
 Profit attributable to non-controlling interests         10       10       12 
----------------------------------------------------  ------   ------   ------ 
 
   1   Total operating income and expenses include significant items as detailed on pages 10 and 11. 
 
 Reported performance 
 

The following commentary reflects the newly formed Wealth and Personal Banking ('WPB') business segment following the simplification of our organisational structure.

Performance in the first half of 2020 was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and heightened levels of market volatility. This resulted in lower revenue and higher Expected Credit Losses ('ECL').

Reported loss before tax of GBP1,283m compared with a profit before tax of GBP151m in the first half of 2019, down GBP1,434m. This was primarily due to higher ECL mainly driven by charges related to specific wholesale exposures, and charges related to the impact of Covid-19 on the economic outlook. The decrease included an impairment and write-off of capitalised software related principally to our businesses in the UK and France. This reflected

underperformance and deterioration in the future forecasts of these businesses, substantially relating to prior periods. However, this was partially offset by a reduction in performance-related pay. In addition, revenue was lower, impacted by the sharp fall in equity markets and widening of credit spreads towards the end of the first quarter of 2020, and then by the effect of interest rate reductions on our deposit franchises in the second quarter. There were market impacts on the present value of in-force long-term insurance contracts ('PVIF') in insurance manufacturing in WPB, while GBM revenue included an adverse movement in valuation adjustments and valuation losses in Principal Investments ('PI').

Net interest income ('NII') increased by GBP247m or 37%. NII was lower in WPB, CMB and GBM compared with the first half of 2019, mainly driven by the impact of the lower interest rate environment. This decrease in NII was more than offset by a reduction in the funding cost of trading assets, and through

initiatives to reduce the overall funding costs of the bank through retiring more expensive wholesale funding.

Net fee income increased by GBP18m or 3%, mainly in Global Banking due to higher transaction volumes in the Capital Markets businesses primarily from market activity driven by the impact of Covid-19. This was partly offset by a decrease in net fee income in WPB, primarily in Retail Banking and Asset Management due to the adverse market conditions, lower levels of customer activity and Assets Under Management ('AUM') reflecting the impact of Covid-19.

Net income from financial instruments measured at fair value decreased by GBP1,774m or 78%. In WPB, revenue decreased mainly in insurance manufacturing primarily from the effect of a fall in equity markets and higher credit spread. This adverse movement resulted in a corresponding movement in liabilities to policyholders, reflecting the extent to which policyholders participate in the investment performance of the associated asset portfolio. In GBM, revenue increased due to a strong performance in Global Markets, partly offset by adverse credit and funding valuation adjustments and adverse bid-offer spread reflecting the impact of Covid-19. Revenue also decreased in Principal Investments ('PI') which included the impact of Covid-19-related valuation losses in the first half of 2020.

Gains less losses from financial investments increased by GBP41m, mainly driven by higher gains on the disposal of bonds held at fair value through other comprehensive income ('FVOCI') in Balance Sheet Management ('BSM').

Net insurance premium income decreased by GBP484m or 39%, mainly in WPB, driven by a reduction in insurance revenue in France due to lower business volumes.

Other operating income decreased by GBP138m or 54%, mainly driven by market impacts on PVIF in insurance manufacturing within WPB. This reflected the impact of a fall in equity markets and lower interest rates on the valuations of the liabilities under insurance contracts. In addition, revenue was lower due to a decrease in the fair value of preference share holdings in Visa.

Net insurance claims, benefits paid and movement in liabilities to policyholders decreased by GBP1,842m or 91%, primarily in insurance manufacturing within WPB. This decrease was driven by lower returns on financial assets supporting contracts where the policyholder is subject to part or all of the investment risks and also lower new business volumes. The losses recognised on the financial assets measured at fair value through profit and loss held to support these insurance contract liabilities are reported in 'Net income from financial instruments designated at fair value'. This was partly offset by a decrease in premium income.

Changes in expected credit losses and other impairment charges ('ECL') were GBP567m higher compared with the first half of 2019. This was mainly driven by an increase in charges relating to a small number of wholesale exposures, notably in GBM and CMB, and higher charges related to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the forward economic outlook.

Total operating expenses excluding impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets decreased by GBP191m or 7%, as we re-prioritised costs and investments to mitigate revenue headwinds, resulting in lower staff costs, performance-related pay and marketing and consultancy expenditure. The decrease also reflects a number of significant items including:

-- the non-recurrence of costs of GBP58m associated with the group's preparation for the UK's exit from the European Union booked in the first half 2019, and

-- a reduction of GBP43m in expenses related to severance costs arising from cost efficiency measures across our global businesses and functions.

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets in the first of 2020 includes a GBP770m impairment and write-off of capitalised software related principally to our businesses in the UK and France. This reflected the underperformance and deterioration in the future forecasts of these businesses, substantially relating to prior periods.

Share of (loss)/profit in associates and joint ventures was a loss of GBP38m compared to a profit of GBP4m in the first half of 2019. This reflected the impact of Covid-19 and the lower interest environment on the share of profit recognised from our associates.

For further details of significant items affecting revenue and costs, please refer to significant revenue/cost items by business segment on pages 10 and 11.

Tax credit was GBP63m compared to a tax expense of GBP118m in the first half of 2019. The effective rate for the first half of 2020 of 4.9% was primarily due to the non-recognition of deferred tax on the loss recorded in the UK for the period. The effective tax rate for the first half of 2019 of 78.1% was higher due to charges in respect of prior years.

 
 Adjusted performance 
 
 
 Significant revenue items by business segment - gains/(losses) 
                                                                          Half-year to 30 Jun 
                                                                                  2020 
                                                                                 Corporate 
                                                              WPB   CMB     GBM     Centre     Total 
                                                             GBPm  GBPm    GBPm       GBPm      GBPm 
                                                             ----  ----  ------  --------- 
 Reported revenue                                             424   578  1,962        (75)  2,889 
                                                             ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
 Significant revenue items                                      -     -     18         (1)     17 
                                                             ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
 
   *    debit valuation adjustment on derivative contracts      -     -    (22)         -     (22) 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
 
   *    fair value movement on non-qualifying hedges            -     -      2         (1)      1 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
 
   *    restructuring and other related costs                   -     -     38          -      38 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
 Adjusted revenue                                             424   578  1,980        (76)  2,906 
-----------------------------------------------------------  ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
                                                                          Half-year to 30 Jun 
                                                                                 2019(1) 
-----------------------------------------------------------  ---- 
 Reported revenue                                             681   616  1,994       (154)  3,137 
                                                             ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
 Significant revenue items                                      -     1     24         (6)     19 
                                                             ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
 
   *    debit valuation adjustment on derivative contracts      -     -     21          -      21 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
 
   *    fair value movement on non-qualifying hedges            -     1      3         (6)     (2) 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
 Adjusted revenue                                             681   617  2,018       (160)  3,156 
-----------------------------------------------------------  ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
                                                                          Half-year to 31 Dec 
                                                                                 2019(1) 
-----------------------------------------------------------  ---- 
 Reported revenue                                             675   595  1,749       (112)  2,907 
                                                             ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
 Significant revenue items                                      1     -      6         (1)      6 
                                                             ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
 
   *    customer redress programmes                             1     -      -          -       1 
 
   *    debit valuation adjustment on derivative contracts      -     -      6          -       6 
 
   *    fair value movement on non-qualifying hedges            -     -      -         (1)     (1) 
 Adjusted revenue                                             676   595  1,755       (113)  2,913 
-----------------------------------------------------------  ----  ----  -----   --------   ----- 
 

1 A change in reportable segments was made in 2Q20. Comparative data have been re-presented accordingly. For further guidance, refer to Note 3 on page 54.

 
 Significant cost items by business segment - (recoveries)/charges 
                                                                                Half-year to 30 Jun 
                                                                                        2020 
                                                              ------- 
                                                                                       Corporate 
                                                                  WPB    CMB      GBM     Centre      Total 
                                                                 GBPm   GBPm     GBPm       GBPm       GBPm 
                                                              ------- 
 Reported operating expenses                                    (635)  (418)  (2,266)      (164)  (3,483) 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 Significant cost items                                           91     82      495        139      807 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 
   *    costs of structural reform(1)                              -      -        -          -        - 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    UK customer redress programmes                             -      -        -          -        - 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    restructuring and other related costs(2)                  56     49       37         30      172 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    settlements and provisions in connection with legal 
        and regulatory matters                                     -      -        2          2        4 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    impairment of other intangible assets                     35     33      456        107      631 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 Adjusted operating expenses                                    (544)  (336)  (1,771)       (25)  (2,676) 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 
                                                                                Half-year to 30 Jun 
                                                                                      2019(3) 
                                                              ------- 
 Reported operating expenses                                    (570)  (331)  (1,885)      (120)  (2,906) 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 Significant cost items                                            2      4       62         52      120 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 
   *    costs of structural reform(1)                              -      3       18         37       58 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    UK customer redress programmes                             -      -       (3)         -       (3) 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    restructuring and other related costs                      2      1       47         16       66 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    settlements and provisions in connection with legal 
        and regulatory matters                                     -      -        -         (1)      (1) 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 Adjusted operating expenses                                    (568)  (327)  (1,823)       (68)  (2,786) 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 
                                                                                Half-year to 31 Dec 
                                                                                      2019(3) 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------- 
 Reported operating expenses                                  (1,159)  (844)  (1,793)       (80)  (3,876) 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 Significant cost items                                          650    525       85         70    1,330 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 
   *    costs of structural reform(1)                              -      -       11         18       29 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    UK customer redress programmes                             -      -        3          -        3 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    restructuring and other related costs                     18      5       70         45      138 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    settlements and provisions in connection with legal 
        and regulatory matters                                     -      -        1          7        8 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
   *    impairment of goodwill                                   632    520        -          -    1,152 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 Adjusted operating expenses                                    (509)  (319)  (1,708)       (10)  (2,546) 
------------------------------------------------------------  ------   ----   ------   --------   ------ 
 
   1   Costs of structural reform includes costs associated with the UK's exit from the EU. 
   2   Includes the write down of software GBP139m. 

3 A change in reportable segments was made in 2Q20. Comparative data have been re-presented accordingly. For further guidance, refer to Note 3 on page 54.

 
 Net impact on profit before tax by business segment 
                                                        Half-year to 30 Jun 
                                                                2020 
                                         ----- 
                                                              Corporate 
                                           WPB    CMB    GBM     Centre      Total 
                                          GBPm   GBPm   GBPm       GBPm       GBPm 
 Reported (loss)/profit before tax       (239)   (34)  (727)      (283)  (1,283) 
                                         ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 Net impact on reported profit or loss     91     82    513        138      824 
--------------------------------------- 
 
   *    significant revenue items           -      -     18         (1)      17 
 
   *    significant cost items             91     82    495        139      807 
                                         ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 Adjusted (loss)/profit before tax       (148)    48   (214)      (145)    (459) 
---------------------------------------  ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 
                                                        Half-year to 30 Jun 
                                                              2019(1) 
                                         ----- 
 Reported profit/(loss) before tax        114    250     46       (259)     151 
                                         ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 Net impact on reported profit or loss      2      5     86         46      139 
                                         ----   ----   ----   -------- 
 
   *    significant revenue items           -      1     24         (6)      19 
 
   *    significant cost items              2      4     62         52      120 
                                         ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 Adjusted profit/(loss) before tax        116    255    132       (213)     290 
---------------------------------------  ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 
                                                        Half-year to 31 Dec 
                                                              2019(1) 
                                         ----- 
 Reported profit/(loss) before tax       (490)  (323)   (22)      (188)  (1,023) 
                                         ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 Net impact on reported profit or loss    651    525     91         69    1,336 
                                         ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 
   *    significant revenue items           1      -      6         (1)       6 
 
   *    significant cost items            650    525     85         70    1,330 
                                         ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 Adjusted profit/(loss) before tax        161    202     69       (119)     313 
---------------------------------------  ----   ----   ----   --------   ------ 
 

1 A change in reportable segments was made in 2Q20. Comparative data have been re-presented accordingly. For further guidance, refer to Note 3 on page 54.

Adjusted performance

The following commentary reflects the newly formed WPB business segment following the simplification of our organisational structure.

Adjusted loss before tax of GBP459m compared to a profit before tax of GBP290m in the first half of 2019, down GBP749m. This was largely driven by higher ECL and lower revenue. ECL was higher mainly due to charges relating to a small number of wholesale exposures, and higher charges related to the ongoing global impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the forward economic outlook and on our customers. Revenue decreased primarily from the effects of a sharp fall in equity markets and widening of credit spreads towards the end of the first quarter of 2020 and also from the lower interest rate environment. This was partly offset by a reduction in operating expenses as we reviewed and re-prioritised spend to reflect the economic outlook. Performance-related pay was lower and we reduced discretionary expenditure across our businesses.

Adjusted revenue decreased by GBP250m or 8%, reflecting lower revenue in WPB, GBM and CMB, partly offset by lower losses in Corporate Centre.

The decrease in revenue included adverse market impacts on PVIF in insurance manufacturing within WPB following a weakening of equity prices and lower interest rates, as well as a decrease in GBM due to adverse credit and funding valuation adjustments and lower revenue in Principal Investments ('PI') which included the impact of Covid-19-related valuation losses. Revenue was also lower due to a decrease in the fair value of

preference share holdings in Visa and due to the impact of the lower interest rate environment on our businesses, particularly in GLCM (in GBM and CMB).

These reductions were partly offset by higher revenue in Global Markets, notably in the Foreign Exchange and Fixed Income ('FICC') businesses driven by strong trading performance and increased market volatility related to Covid-19 as well as an increase in client activity. Revenue also increased in Corporate Centre, primarily driven by the reallocation of certain internal liquidity charges to the global businesses in the first half of 2020.

Adjusted ECL were GBP567m higher, mainly reflecting charges relating to a small number of wholesale exposures (in both GBM and CMB) and higher charges related to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the forward economic outlook.

Adjusted operating expenses were lower by GBP110m or 4%, as we reviewed and re-prioritised costs and investments to partly mitigate revenue headwinds. The decrease primarily reflected lower performance-related pay, staff and consultancy costs, and lower marketing spend. This was partly offset by an increase in the Single Resolution Fund ('SRF') levy in France and Germany.

Share of (loss)/profit in associates and joint ventures was a loss of GBP38m compared to a profit of GBP4m in the first half of 2019. This reflected the impact of Covid-19 and the lower interest rate environment on the share of profit recognised from our associates.

Wealth and Personal Banking ('WPB')

Adjusted loss before tax of GBP148m compared with a profit before tax of GBP116m in the first half of 2019, down by GBP264m. This was primarily due to lower revenue and higher ECL, partly offset by lower operating expenses.

Revenue decreased by GBP257m or 38%, mainly in insurance manufacturing in France largely from negative market impacts following a sharp fall in equity markets and lower interest rates. The decrease in revenue included adverse market impacts on PVIF compared with favourable movements in the first half of 2019. Revenue also decreased in our Asset Management Group ('AMG') and Retail Banking businesses due to adverse market conditions, lower levels of customer activity and lower Assets Under Management ('AUM') reflecting the impact of Covid-19. In the UK, revenue was also lower due to a decrease in the fair value of preference share holdings in Visa and a decrease in revenue from the UK life insurance business, notably in onshore investment bonds following market and fund price decreases as a result of equity market volatility. In the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, there was a decrease in revenue from deposits due to the low interest rate environment.

ECL net charges of GBP29m compared to a net credit of GBP4m in the first half of 2019, an increase of GBP33m. This was driven by higher charges relating to the global impact of Covid-19 on the forward economic outlook compared to net releases in the first half of 2019.

Operating expenses decreased by GBP24m or 4%, mainly driven by lower staff costs and reductions in marketing and consultancy costs.

Commercial Banking ('CMB')

Adjusted profit before tax was GBP48m, a decrease of GBP207m compared with the first half of 2019. This was driven by higher ECL and lower revenue including the impact of lower interest rates.

Revenue decreased by GBP39m or 6%, primarily driven by a decrease in the fair value of preference share holdings in Visa. Revenue also decreased in GLCM due to the lower interest rate environment, partly offset by growth in average deposit balances.

ECL increased by GBP160m, driven by higher charges against specific customers in the first half of 2020, notably in the retail and automobile sectors in France and Germany. In addition, there were higher charges related to the global impact of Covid-19 on the forward economic outlook and on our customers.

Operating expenses increased by GBP9m or 3%, mainly driven by an increase in the Single Resolution Fund ('SRF') levy in France.

Global Banking and Markets ('GBM')

Adjusted loss before tax of GBP214m compared with a profit of GBP132m in the first half of 2019, a decrease of GBP346m. This was driven by higher ECL and lower revenue, partly offset by lower operating expenses.

Revenue decreased by GBP38m or 2%, mainly in Principal Investments ('PI') which included the impact of Covid-19-related valuation losses compared to a gain booked in the first half of 2019. In GLCM, revenue also decreased driven by margin compression following reductions in interest rates towards the end of the first quarter of 2020, although this was partly offset by growth in average balances. By contrast, Global Markets revenue grew, notably in the Foreign Exchange and Fixed Income ('FICC') businesses driven by strong trading performance, an increase in market volatility and higher client activity. This was partly offset by lower revenue in Equities, driven by weaker performance in Prime Finance which included the effect of dividend cancellation, as well as the non-repeat of a legal provision released in the first half of 2019. Markets also received a higher allocation of the bank's funding costs compared with the first half of 2019 to better reflect internal funding used to finance activities in the business.

ECL increased by GBP359m, driven by higher charges against a small number of clients in Global Banking within the oil and gas and real estate sectors. In addition, there was an increase in charges related to the impact of Covid-19 on the forward economic outlook.

Operating expenses decreased by GBP52m or 3% compared with the first half of 2019 mainly due to lower performance-related pay. This was party offset by an increase in SRF levy in France and the transfer of the levy from Corporate Centre in Germany in the first half of 2020.

Corporate Centre

Adjusted loss before tax of GBP145m was GBP68m lower than the loss of GBP213m in the first half of 2019. This was mainly driven by higher revenue and lower operating expenses partly offset by a loss in associates and joint ventures.

Revenue increased by GBP84m, primarily driven by the reallocation of certain internal liquidity charges to the global businesses in the first half of 2020. Revenue also increased in Legacy Credit driven by lower losses on portfolio disposals compared with the half of 2019.

ECL increased by GBP16m compared with the first half of 2019. There was a net charge of GBP5m in the first half of 2020 compared with a net credit of GBP11m in the first half of 2019. This was mainly driven by Legacy Credit portfolio disposals.

Operating expenses decreased by GBP43m or 63%, mainly driven by the transfer of the Single Resolution Fund levy in Germany to the global businesses in the first half of 2020. There was also lower mark-up on services provided by the Group's UK service company ('Servco').

Share of (loss)/profit in associates and joint ventures was a loss of GBP38m compared to a profit of GBP4m in the first half of 2019. This reflected the impact of Covid-19 and the lower interest rate environment on the share of profit recognised from our associates.

 
 Review of business position 
 
 
 Summary consolidated balance sheet 
                                                                 At 
                                                          30 Jun     31 Dec 
                                                            2020       2019 
                                                            GBPm       GBPm 
                                                                  --------- 
 Total assets                                            757,819  636,491 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Cash and balances at central banks                       94,247   51,816 
------------------------------------------------------- 
 Trading assets                                           86,038   98,249 
------------------------------------------------------- 
 Financial assets designated and otherwise mandatorily 
  measured at fair value through profit or loss           18,222   17,012 
 Derivatives                                             228,787  164,538 
 Loans and advances to banks                              14,258   11,467 
 Loans and advances to customers                         115,164  108,391 
 Reverse repurchase agreements - non-trading              62,842   85,756 
 Financial investments                                    56,452   46,464 
 Other assets                                             81,809   52,798 
                                                         -------  ------- 
 Total liabilities                                       733,003  612,479 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Deposits by banks                                        38,157   23,991 
 Customer accounts                                       207,089  177,236 
 Repurchase agreements - non-trading                      31,263   49,385 
 Trading liabilities                                      48,487   48,026 
 Financial liabilities designated at fair value           42,255   41,642 
 Derivatives                                             222,552  161,083 
 Debt securities in issue                                 24,159   25,039 
 Liabilities under insurance contracts                    22,192   21,509 
 Other liabilities                                        96,849   64,568 
                                                         -------  ------- 
 Total equity                                             24,816   24,012 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Total shareholders' equity                               24,623   23,503 
 Non-controlling interests                                   193      509 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 

Total reported assets were 19% higher than at 31 December 2019. The group maintained a strong and liquid balance sheet with the ratio of customer advances to customer accounts decreasing to 55.6% from 61.2% at 31 December 2019.

Assets

Cash and balances at central banks increased by 82% as a result of increased customer deposits.

Trading assets decreased by 12% due primarily to a reduction in equity shares positions.

Derivative assets increased by 39%. This was largely due to an increase in mark-to-market of interest rate contracts as a result of a downward shift of yield curves for major currencies.

Non-trading reverse repurchase agreements decreased by 27%, primarily due to a reduction in market activity relative to year-end.

Financial investments increased by 21% as a result of deploying surplus liquidity.

Liabilities

Customer accounts increased by 17%, this is consistent with our funding strategy to grow customer deposits and increase liquidity.

Trading liabilities and financial liabilities designated at fair value balances have remained broadly unchanged.

Debt securities in issue decreased by 4% due primarily to maturing longer term debt which is partially offset by the issuance of short-term commercial paper and certificates of deposits.

Derivative liabilities increased by 38%. This is in line with derivative assets as the underlying risk is broadly matched.

Equity

Total shareholders' equity increased by 5% due primarily to a capital injection by the Group.

 
 Reported performance by country 
 
 
 Profit/(loss) before tax by country within global businesses 
                                                     Half-year to 30 Jun 2020 
                                 --------- 
                                                                Corporate 
                                       WPB         CMB     GBM     Centre        Total 
                                      GBPm        GBPm    GBPm       GBPm         GBPm 
                                 ---------  ----------  ------  ---------  ----------- 
 United Kingdom                     36           -       (684)      (221)      (869) 
                                 -----      ------      -----   --------   -------- 
 France                           (270)       (102)      (164)       (54)      (590) 
                                 -----      ------      -----   --------   -------- 
 Germany                             9          (3)        87         (6)        87 
                                 -----      ------      -----   --------   -------- 
 Other                             (14)         71         34         (2)        89 
-------------------------------  -----      ------      -----   --------   -------- 
 Loss before tax(1)               (239)        (34)      (727)      (283)    (1,283) 
-------------------------------  -----      ------      -----   --------   -------- 
 
                                                    Half-year to 30 Jun 2019(2) 
-------------------------------  --------- 
 United Kingdom                     87         113         (8)      (216)       (24) 
-------------------------------                                 -------- 
 France                             10          68        (52)       (25)         1 
-------------------------------  -----                          -------- 
 Germany                             8          10         32         (9)        41 
-------------------------------                                 -------- 
 Other                               9          59         74         (9)       133 
-------------------------------  -----      ------              -------- 
 Profit/(loss) before tax          114         250         46       (259)       151 
-------------------------------  -----      ------      -----   --------   -------- 
 
                                                    Half-year to 31 Dec 2019(2) 
-------------------------------  --------- 
 United Kingdom                    105         104       (142)      (149)       (82) 
 France                             29          26          3        (35)        23 
 Germany                             6          27         42         11         86 
 Other(3)                         (630)       (480)        75        (15)    (1,050) 
-------------------------------  -----      ------      -----   --------   -------- 
 Loss before tax                  (490)       (323)       (22)      (188)    (1,023) 
-------------------------------  -----      ------      -----   --------   -------- 
 

1 Includes the impact of a GBP631m intangible impairment related to UK (GBP517m) and France (GBP114m) in 2020.

2 A change in reportable segments was made in 2Q20. Comparative data have been re-presented accordingly. For further guidance, refer to Note 3 on page 54.

   3   Includes GBP1.2bn of goodwill impairment related to WPB (GBP632m) and CMB (GBP520m). 
 
 Risk 
 
 
 Risk overview 
 

The group continually monitors and identifies risks. This process, which is informed by its risk factors and the results of its stress testing programme, gives rise to the classification of certain financial and non-financial banking risks. Changes in the assessment of these risks may result in adjustments to the group's business strategy and, potentially, its risk appetite. The risks we manage include credit risk, capital and liquidity risk, market risk, resilience risk, regulatory compliance risk, financial crime and fraud risk, and model risk. We also manage insurance risk.

In addition to these banking risks, we have identified top and emerging risks with the potential to have a material impact on our financial results or reputation and the sustainability of our long-term business model. A new risk has been added in respect of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The exposure to our risks and risk management of these are explained in more detail in the Report of the Directors on pages 20 to 74 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2019.

 
 
 Externally driven 
 Covid-19             --   Since the Covid-19 outbreak, we have worked with regulators, 
                            governments and our customers to implement measures to 
                            mitigate the financial, operational and other impacts 
                            of the outbreak on our clients, our businesses and the 
                            economies in which we operate. We have successfully invoked 
                            business continuity plans to effectively manage our operations 
                            under the constraints imposed by governments in response 
                            to the outbreak. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 UK exit from         p    The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and entered a transition 
  EU                        period until 31 December 2020. Any execution risks to 
                            our programme created by the Covid-19 outbreak, for example 
                            remote working, continue to be closely monitored and 
                            mitigated. We will continue to work with regulators, 
                            governments and our customers to manage the risks created 
                            by the UK's exit from the EU as they arise, particularly 
                            across those industry sectors most impacted. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Geopolitical         p    We monitor developments in geopolitical risk and assess 
  risk                      what impacts this may have on our portfolios. Covid-19 
                            has resulted in an unprecedented global economic slowdown 
                            with a significant increase in credit stress across our 
                            portfolios. We have increased the frequency and depth 
                            of our monitoring activities with Covid-19 vulnerability 
                            assessments performed as part of the customer reviews. 
                            Stress tests and other sectoral reviews were performed 
                            to identify portfolios or customers who were experiencing 
                            or were likely to experience financial difficulty as 
                            a result of Covid-19. We are also increasing resources 
                            to help address the increased level of credit defaults 
                            in the current environment. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Cyber threat         u    We endeavour to protect HSBC and our customers by strengthening 
  and unauthorised          our cyber defences, helping us to execute our business 
  access to                 priorities safely and keep our customers' information 
  systems                   secure. Our data-driven approach, grounded in strong 
                            controls that mitigate advanced cyber threats, enhances 
                            our capability in threat detection, access controls, 
                            and resiliency. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Regulatory           p    We continue to enhance our management of conduct in a 
  focus on                  number of areas, including the treatment of potentially 
  conduct of                vulnerable customers, market surveillance, employee training 
  business                  and performance. At the forefront of current conduct 
                            risk considerations is the fair treatment of customers 
                            in financial difficulty and ensuring state credit support 
                            provided as a result of the pandemic is not exploited. 
                            We are fully focussed on providing appropriate customer 
                            outcomes in all circumstances. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Financial            u    During the first half of 2020, the Global Standards programme 
  crime and                 was finalised with any residual aspects integrated into 
  fraud risk                the group's day-to-day operations. We continued to focus 
                            on enhancing our risk management capabilities and the 
                            effectiveness of our financial crime controls. The application 
                            of both advanced analytics and artificial intelligence 
                            remains a key element of our next generation of tools 
                            to fight financial crime, and our investment in these 
                            areas is ongoing. As fraudulent activity is often more 
                            prevalent in times of crisis, we have put in place additional 
                            measures to minimise and detect fraud. 
-------------------       ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Market illiquidity   p    The Covid-19 outbreak created significant volatility 
  and volatility            in global markets. Against this background we continue 
                            to monitor risks closely and report regularly on illiquidity 
                            and concentration risks to the Prudential Regulation 
                            Authority ('PRA'). 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Ibor transition      p    We are focused on developing alternative rate products, 
                            and the supporting processes and systems, to make these 
                            available to our customers. We are part of the HSBC Group 
                            programme that is concurrently developing the capability 
                            to transition, through repapering, outstanding Libor 
                            and Eonia contracts. The overall level of risk including 
                            operational, conduct and legal risk, has potentially 
                            increased as a result of a decline in our customers' 
                            appetite to transition and the changes in industry milestones 
                            due to the disruption of the Covid-19 outbreak. We continue 
                            to proactively engage with industry bodies, regulators 
                            and our customers to support an orderly transition. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Climate-related      u    We continue to improve how we identify, oversee and manage 
  risks                     climate-related risk, both physical and transition risk. 
                            Our risk management priorities focus on assessing the 
                            transition and physical risk in our wholesale credit 
                            portfolio, reviewing retail mortgage exposures in respect 
                            of natural hazard risk, and developing scenarios for 
                            internal use in risk management, planning and stress 
                            testing. We continue to proactively engage our customers, 
                            investors and regulators in order to support the transition 
                            to a low-carbon economy, in particular with regard to 
                            compiling the related data and disclosures. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Internally driven 
 People risk          p    We continue to monitor workforce capacity and capability 
                            requirements in line with our strategy and any emerging 
                            issues in the markets in which we operate. These issues 
                            can include changes to immigration and tax rules as well 
                            as industry-wide regulatory changes. We have put in place 
                            measures for our people to ensure that they are able 
                            to work safely and are properly supported in coping with 
                            Covid-19. We are also monitoring people risks that may 
                            arise due to business transformation, ensuring that we 
                            sensitively manage any redundancies and support impacted 
                            employees. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 IT systems           u    We actively monitor and improve service resilience across 
  infrastructure            our technology infrastructure. We are enhancing our service 
  and resilience            management disciplines and change execution capabilities 
                            to minimise service disruption to our customers. Our 
                            IT systems have been resilient and we have further improved 
                            them to support both our customers and our people in 
                            new ways of operating during the Covid-19 outbreak. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Execution            p    We continue to strengthen our prioritisation and governance 
  risk                      processes for significant strategic, regulatory and compliance 
                            projects. With business continuity plans in place across 
                            the markets in which we operate and significant remote 
                            working in place, the impact of Covid-19 on the bank's 
                            major change programmes is being closely monitored. 
-------------------  ---  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
 Internally driven 
 Model risk         p   We continue to strengthen our oversight of models and 
                         our second line of defence Model Risk Management function. 
                         The impact of Covid-19 on model performance has highlighted 
                         the importance of the increased controls and monitoring 
                         requirements being put in place, with several models 
                         requiring revisions to reflect the current extreme economic 
                         shocks and to be in line with the expectation of the 
                         future outlook perspective. 
                       --------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Data management    u   We continue to enhance and advance our insights, data 
                         aggregation, reporting and decisions through ongoing 
                         improvement and investments in data governance, data 
                         quality, data privacy, data architecture, machine learning 
                         and artificial intelligence capabilities. 
                       --------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Third-party        u   We continue to implement and embed changes though a Group-wide 
  risk management        third-party risk management programme so we can better 
                         identify, understand, mitigate and manage the risks that 
                         arise from the outsourcing of services. The programme, 
                         due to conclude in the second half of 2020, aims to ensure 
                         adherence to our internal third-party risk policy and 
                         framework. We have worked closely with our third-party 
                         providers, which have faced constraints and enhanced 
                         oversight on their operations during the Covid-19 outbreak. 
                         There has been no major impact to our services during 
                         the period. 
-----------------      --------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 p    Risk has heightened during 2020 
 u    Risk remains at the same level 
       as 31 December 2019 
 --   New risk introduced in 2020 
 
 
 Managing risk 
 

As a provider of banking and financial services, managing risk is at the core of our day-to-day activities. While the group's strategy, risk appetite, plans and performance targets are set top-down, responsibility for risk management is allocated through the delegation of individual accountability, with reporting and escalation facilitated through risk governance structures. Policies, procedures and limits are defined to ensure activities remain within an understood and appropriate level of risk. Identification, measurement, monitoring and reporting of risks inform regular and strategic decision making. This is supported by an effective system of controls to ensure compliance.

We use a comprehensive and newly updated risk management framework across the organisation and all risk types, underpinned by the Group's culture and values. This outlines the key principles, policies and practices that we employ in managing material risks, both financial and non-financial.

The first half of 2020 has been marked by unprecedented global economic events, leading to banks playing an expanded role to support society and customers. The Covid-19 outbreak and its impact on the global economy has impacted many of our customers' business models and income, requiring significant levels of support from both governments and banks. In response, to the Covid-19 outbreak, and other key areas, such as increased geopolitical and macroeconomic risks, we have changed our approach to the management of risk in this rapidly changing environment.

Throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, we have supported our customers and adapted our operational processes. Our people, processes and systems have responded to the changes needed and increased workload in serving our customers through this time.

To meet the additional challenges, we supplemented our existing approach to risk management with additional tools and practices to mitigate and manage risks. We increased our focus on the quality and timeliness of our management of information, through measures such as early warning indicators, prudent active risk management of our risk appetite, and ensuring regular communication with our Board and other key stakeholders.

Our risk appetite

Our risk appetite defines our desired forward-looking risk profile, and informs the strategic and financial planning process. It provides an objective baseline to guide strategic decision making, helping to ensure that planned business activities provide an appropriate balance of return for the risk assumed, while remaining within acceptable risk levels.

Our risk appetite also provides an anchor between our businesses and the risk and finance functions, helping to enable our senior management to allocate capital, funding and liquidity optimally to finance growth, while monitoring exposure and the cost impacts

of managing non-financial risks. It also helps to develop aligned people and system capabilities. Our risk appetite is articulated in our risk appetite statement, which is approved by the Board. Key elements include:

-- risks that we accept as part of doing business, such as credit risk, market risk, and capital and liquidity risk, which are controlled through both active risk management and our risk appetite;

-- risks that we incur as part of doing business, such as non-financial risks, which are actively managed to remain within an acceptable appetite; and

-- risks for which we have zero tolerance, such as knowingly engaging in activities where foreseeable reputational risk has not been appropriately considered.

We continued to evolve our risk appetite, by enhancing both the financial and non-financial aspects of our risk appetite statement, to ensure we remain able to support our customers and strategic goals against the backdrop of the Covid-19 outbreak. Specific emphasis was placed on capital risk to ensure the group had adequate capacity to provide financial support to customers, and a pragmatic approach to the management of non-financial risks, arising from large scale operational changes from amended working practices, such as widescale homeworking.

 
 Top and emerging risks 
 

The group aims to identify, monitor and, where possible, measure and mitigate large-scale events or sets of circumstances that may have the potential to have a material impact on our financial results or reputation, and the sustainability of our long-term business model. These events, giving risto additional banking risks, are captured together as the top and emerging risks. The group made a number of changes to its assessment of existing top and emerging risks to reflect their current effect on the group and changes in the scope of risk definitions, to ensure appropriate focus.

Further details on the group's top and emerging risks and other banking risks we manage are set out from page 14.

 
 Areas of special interest 
 

Risks related to Covid-19

The uncertainty of Covid-19 and its effect on the global economy has impacted our customers and our performance and the future effects of the pandemic are uncertain. Covid-19 has necessitated unprecedented levels of government response to protect public health, local economies and livelihoods. The Covid-19 outbreak has impacted countries and territories at different times and magnitudes as it has developed. The varying government measures in response to the outbreak have added challenges,

given the rapid pace of change and significant operational demands. The speed at which countries and territories will be able to unwind their lockdown measures and return to pre-Covid-19 economic levels will vary based on the levels of infection and local political decisions. The risk of subsequent waves of infection remain.

Restrictions implemented by governments the world over to limit the spread of Covid-19 resulted in a sharp contraction in global economic activity in the first half of this year. Economic activity is expected to gradually recover in the second half of the year but there is significant uncertainty associated with the pace and scale of resumption. As a result, 2020 is expected to see pronounced recession in many economies, including those in Europe. The extent of economic activity, and any reduction in unemployment rates across our major markets in 2021, is contingent on successful containment of the virus and the resolution of other top risks including what trade terms will be in place between the UK and the EU from 1 January 2021, following the end of the transition period.

The risk of renewed drops in economic activity is material, and the economic fallout from Covid-19 risks is exacerbating inequality across markets that had already suffered from social unrest. This will leave the burden on governments and central banks to keep up or increase fiscal and monetary stimulus. After a sharp fall in the early phases of the spread of Covid-19, financial markets have rebounded although they remain volatile. Depending on the degree to which global economic growth suffers permanent losses, financial asset prices may suffer a further, sharp fall.

Governments and central banks in major economies have deployed extensive measures to support households and corporates. Measures implemented by governments include income support to households and funding support to corporates, while measures taken by central banks include cuts to interest rates, support to funding markets and asset purchases. These measures are expected to be unwound gradually as government restrictions ease and as activity increases. Central banks are expected to maintain record-low interest rates for a considerable period of time and the debt burden of governments will rise significantly.

In many of our markets we have initiated market-specific measures to support our personal and business customers through these challenging times, including mortgage assistance, payment holidays, the waiving of certain fees and charges, and liquidity relief for businesses facing market uncertainty and supply chain disruption. We are also working closely with governments and supporting national schemes that focus on the parts of the economy most impacted by Covid-19. On 1 July 2020 HSBC Bank plc became an accredited lender under the UK's Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Scheme ('CLBILS'). For details of our customer relief programs see pages 28 and 29.

It is recognised that the above measures expose the group to heightened risks. The rapid introduction and varying nature of the government support schemes, as well as customer expectations, can lead to risks as the group implements large-scale changes in a short period of time. This has led to increased operational risks, including complex conduct considerations, increased reputational risk and increased risk of fraud. These risks are likely to be heightened further as and when the government support schemes are unwound.

At 30 June 2020, our common equity tier 1 ('CET1') ratio was 13.5%, compared with 14.2% at 31 December 2019, and our liquidity coverage ratio ('LCR') was 141%. Our capital, funding and liquidity position is expected to help us to continue supporting our customers throughout the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Covid-19 outbreak has led to a weakening in GDP in many of our major markets, a key input used for calculating ECL, and there remains the risk of more adverse economic scenarios given its ongoing impact. Furthermore, ECL will also increase from other parts of our business impacted by the disruption to supply chains. The impact will vary by sectors of the economy, with heightened risk to the oil and gas, transport and discretionary consumer sectors being observed in the first stages of the outbreak. The impact of the outbreak on the long-term prospects of businesses in these sectors is uncertain and may lead to significant ECL charges on specific exposures, which may not be fully captured in ECL estimates. In addition, in times of crisis, fraudulent activity is often more prevalent, leading to potentially significant ECL charges.

As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, business continuity plans have been implemented successfully. Despite high levels of working from home, the majority of our service level agreements, both internal and external, are being maintained. No major impacts to supply chain have been experienced from our third-party service providers. The risk of damage or theft to the group's physical assets or criminal injury to our employees remains unchanged; no significant incidents have impacted our buildings or staff. Expedited decisions to ensure the continuity of critical customer services are being documented through governance.

Process of UK withdrawal from the European Union

The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and entered a transition period until 31 December 2020, during which negotiations have been taking place on the future relationship between the UK and the EU. At this stage it remains unclear what that relationship will look like, potentially leaving firms with little time to adapt to changes, which may enter into force on 1 January 2021.

Our programme to manage the impact of the UK leaving the EU has now been largely completed. The programme base case scenario assumes the UK exits the transition period without the existing passporting or regulatory equivalence framework that supports cross-border business. Priority has been given to ensuring we can continue to service our European Economic Area ('EEA') based customers once this framework falls away, with three main areas of activity:

-- extension of our product and balance sheet capabilities in continental Europe, mainly in HSBC France and its branches in the Netherlands and Ireland;

   --    migration of HSBC's EEA clients to HSBC France and other affiliates within the EU; and 
   --    transferring HSBC's EEA branch businesses to HSBC France. 

These objectives were largely completed by the end of 2019. The current priority is to complete the migration of remaining customers to one of our entities in the EU.

Product offering and client migration

To accommodate customer migrations and new business after the UK's departure from the EU, we expanded and enhanced our existing product offering in France, the Netherlands and Ireland.

The UK's departure from the EU's financial services regulatory framework at the end of the transition period without alternative equivalence type arrangements, or a trade deal being in place, is likely to have an impact on our clients' operating models, including their working capital requirements, investment decisions and access to financial markets infrastructure. Our priority is to provide continuity of service, while minimising the level of change for our customers.

We are required to migrate some EEA-incorporated clients from the UK to HSBC France, or another EEA entity. This has now mostly been completed for clients we expect can no longer be serviced from the UK. We are working in close collaboration with any remaining clients to make the transition as smooth as possible before the end of December 2020. We have been in close contact with these clients since the beginning of the transition period and will support them in the final phase of their migration to one of our entities in the EU. We are also considering the application of regulatory regimes in certain EU member states that allow cross-border business with third country firms and the extent to which those may permit continued servicing of some EEA clients from the UK following the transition period.

Employees

The migration of EEA-incorporated clients requires us to strengthen our local teams in the EU, and France in particular.

Given the scale and capabilities of our existing business in France, we are well prepared to take on additional roles and activities. Looking beyond the transfer of roles to the EU, we are also providing support to our employees who are UK citizens resident in EEA countries, and employees who are citizens of an EU member state resident in the UK.

Across the programme, we have made good progress in terms of ensuring we are prepared for the UK leaving the EU under the terms described above. However, there remain execution risks, many of them linked to the uncertain outcome of negotiations.

Model Risk

The Covid-19 crisis has resulted in very significant movement in economic and market drivers, changes in retail and wholesale behaviours and a significant increase in government support programmes for businesses and consumers. All of these factors significantly impact the performance of financial models, including retail, wholesale, IFRS 9 and capital models. This has required more on-going monitoring and more frequent testing of models used across the group, particularly for credit models. It has also resulted in the use of compensating controls in a consistent and explainable manner for some models, such as overlays and overrides on top of model outputs to help protect the group from unwanted risks. The performance and usage of models over the next 12 to 18 months will continue to be impacted significantly by the consequences of Covid-19.

It is too early in the current situation to be certain of the magnitude of change required for models used by the group. However, it is likely that capital, credit risk, IFRS 9 models, and valuation models and financial reporting models, in other areas impacted by Covid-19, will need to be recalibrated or in some cases may need to be replaced with the development of new models. The effectiveness of these models will depend in large part on the depth and length of the economic downturn currently faced by the economies of the major markets in which we operate.

Ibor transition

The Financial Stability Board has observed that the decline in interbank short-term unsecured funding poses structural risks for interest rate benchmarks that reference these markets. In response, regulators and central banks in various jurisdictions have convened national working groups to identify alternative benchmark rates, near risk-free rates or Risk Free Rates ('RFRs') for these Ibors and, where appropriate, to facilitate an orderly transition to these rates.

Following the announcement by the FCA in July 2017 that it will no longer persuade or require banks to submit rates for Libor after 2021, the national working groups for the affected currencies were tasked with facilitating an orderly transition of the relevant Libors to their chosen RFRs. The euro working group is also responsible for facilitating an orderly transition of the Euro Overnight Index Average ('Eonia') to the euro short-term rate ('EURSTER') as a result of Eonia not being made compliant with the EU Benchmark Regulation.

Regulators have reiterated that firms cannot rely on Libor being published after the end of 2021, but acknowledge that Covid-19 may impact transition plans. Some delays in milestones were agreed in April 2020, in consultation with the industry groups.

National working groups, regulators and governments have also recognised that certain Libor contracts genuinely have no or inappropriate alternatives and no realistic ability to be renegotiated or amended prior to Libor's cessation. In response, the US Government intends to implement legislation that gives market participants the confidence to transition these 'tough legacy' contracts to the recommended benchmark replacement without the fear of legal repercussions. Similarly, in June 2020, the UK Government announced that it would grant powers to the FCA to enable continued publication of a Libor number using a different and more robust methodology and inputs, and therefore reduce disruption to any holders of these tough legacy contracts. There is, however, no certainty as to whether the FCA will exercise these powers or what form the revised methodology would take, and the FCA has consequently encouraged users of Libor to renegotiate or amend as many contracts as possible before Libor's cessation.

The HSBC Group established the Ibor transition programme with the objective of facilitating an orderly transition from Libor and Eonia for the Group and its clients. During the first half of 2020 the group's Libor transition has developed as follows:

Develop RFR product capabilities

Our global businesses continue to develop their capabilities to offer RFR-based products and the supporting processes and systems. The Covid-19 outbreak has impacted the appetite and readiness of many of our customers to adopt RFR-based products. Consequently, the sale of Libor and Eonia contracts with maturities beyond 2021, known as legacy contracts, will continue for longer than initially anticipated, to Q1 2021, as agreed by the industry-led Risk Free Rates Working Group. This is likely to increase the volume of legacy contracts that will need to be transitioned.

Transition legacy contracts

The programme is also continuing to develop the capability to transition legacy Libor and Eonia contracts at a larger scale. The Covid-19 outbreak has affected the pace with which many of our customers will have been preparing to adopt RFR-based products. Consequently, we expect legacy contract transition to occur over a shortened time period, largely in the second half of 2021. In combination with a potentially increased number of legacy contracts requiring transition, this may still increase the overall level of execution risk on the transition process, which could potentially increase the level of conduct and operational risks. Our plans have been adjusted to reflect the changed industry milestones, the greater effort required and associated risks. Critical focus remains on the conduct risk elements of the transition, specifically to address conduct considerations at a product level.

In addition to the heightened conduct and operational risks, the process of adopting new reference rates may expose the group to an increased level of financial risk, such as potential earnings volatility resulting from contract modifications and changes in hedge accounting relationships. Furthermore, the transition to alternative reference rates could have a range of adverse impacts on our business, including legal proceedings or other actions regarding the interpretation and enforceability of provisions in Ibor-based contracts and regulatory investigations or reviews in respect of our preparation and readiness for the replacement of Ibor with alternative reference rates. The FCA and PRA have highlighted that the transition remains a key priority with increased engagement now underway.

We continue to proactively engage with industry bodies, regulators and our clients to support an orderly transition and the mitigation of the risks resulting from the transition.

Interest rate environment

Central banks have reduced interest rates in most financial markets due to the adverse impact on the timelines and path for economic recovery, and the increased likelihood of negative interest rates. This raises a number of risks and concerns, such as the readiness of our systems and processes to accommodate zero or negative rates, the resulting impacts on customers, regulatory constraints and the financial implications given the significant impact that prolonged low interest rates are likely to have on our net interest income.

For some products, we have floored deposit rates at zero or made decisions to not charge negative rates. This, alongside loans repriced at lower rates, results in our commercial margins being compressed, which will be reflected in our profitability. The pricing of this risk will need to be considered carefully. If there is a rebalancing of portfolios toward fee-generating business and trading activities to offset reduced profits, we may become

exposed once rates start rising again. These factors may challenge the long-term profitability of the banking sector, including HSBC, and will be considered as part of the group's transformation programme.

 
 Key developments in the first half 
  of 2020 
 

We have been actively managing the risks resulting from Covid-19 and its impact on our customers and operations during the first half of 2020, as well as other key risks described in this Risk section.

We supplemented our existing approach to risk management with additional tools and practices to mitigate and manage risks. We increased our focus on the quality and timeliness of our management information through measures such as the introduction of early warning indicators and prudent active risk management of our risk appetite.

In the first half of 2020, we additionally continued to enhance our risk management in the following areas:

-- In January 2020 we simplified our approach and articulation of risk management, through the combination of the enterprise risk management framework and the operational risk management framework.

-- We continued to focus on simplifying our approach to non-financial risk management. We are driving more effective oversight and better end-to-end identification and management of non-financial risks.

-- We combined the second line of defence Operational Risk and second line of defence Resilience Risk sub-functions. By bringing the two teams together, we will benefit from improved stewardship, better risk management capabilities and better outcomes for our customers.

-- We continued to focus on enhancing our risk management capabilities and the effectiveness of our financial crime controls. The application of both advanced analytics and artificial intelligence remains a key element of our next generation of tools to fight financial crime, and our investment in these areas is ongoing.

-- We continued to promote and encourage good conduct through our people's behaviour and decision making to deliver fair outcomes for customers and preserve market integrity.

 
 Credit risk 
 
 
                                    Page 
 Summary of credit risk               19 
                                    ---- 
 Measurement uncertainty and 
  sensitivity analysis of ECL 
  estimates                           22 
                                    ---- 
 Reconciliation of changes in 
  gross carrying/nominal amount 
  and allowances for loans and 
  advances to banks and customers 
  including loan commitments 
  and financial guarantees            26 
                                    ---- 
 Customer relief programmes           28 
----------------------------------  ---- 
 

Overview

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss if a customer or counterparty fails to meet an obligation under a contract. Credit risk arises principally from direct lending, trade finance and leasing business, but also from certain other products, such as guarantees and derivatives.

Credit risk in the first half of 2020

During the first half of 2020, due to unique market conditions in the Covid-19 outbreak, we expanded operational practices to provide short-term support to customers under the current policy framework. For further details of market-specific measures to support our personal and business customers, see page 28. There have been no material changes to credit risk policy.

A summary of our current policies and practices for the management of credit risk is set out in 'Credit risk management' on pages 28 and 29 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2019.

Summary of credit risk

The following tables analyse loans by industry sector which represent the concentration of exposures on which credit risks are managed.

 
 Summary of financial instruments to which the impairment requirements 
  in IFRS 9 are applied 
                                                                          At 
                                                  30 Jun 2020                           31 Dec 2019 
                                      Gross carrying/nominal    Allowance  Gross carrying/nominal      Allowance 
                                                      amount   for ECL(1)                  amount     for ECL(1) 
                                                        GBPm         GBPm                    GBPm           GBPm 
                                      ----------------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------- 
 Loans and advances to customers at 
  amortised cost                                     116,698      (1,534)                 109,428      (1,037) 
 
   *    personal                                      26,720        (205)                  24,833        (173) 
 - corporate and commercial                           72,382      (1,200)                  66,990        (809) 
------------------------------------ 
 - non-bank financial institutions                    17,596        (129)                  17,605         (55) 
------------------------------------  ----------------------  ----------   ----------------------  ---------- 
 Loans and advances to banks at 
  amortised 
  cost                                                14,277         (19)                  11,471          (4) 
                                                                           ----------------------  ---------- 
 Other financial assets measured at 
  amortised cost                                     230,761         (11)                 181,755          (9) 
 - cash and balances at central 
  banks                                               94,249          (2)                  51,816           - 
 - items in the course of collection 
  from other banks                                       671           -                      707           - 
 - reverse repurchase agreements - 
  non-trading                                         62,842           -                   85,756           - 
 - financial investments                                  15           -                       13           - 
 - prepayments, accrued income and 
  other 
  assets(2)                                           72,984          (9)                  43,463          (9) 
------------------------------------  ----------------------  ---------- 
 Total gross carrying amount 
  on-balance 
  sheet                                              361,736      (1,564)                 302,654      (1,050) 
------------------------------------  ----------------------  ----------   ----------------------  ---------- 
 Loans and other credit related 
  commitments                                        159,864        (120)                 121,447         (54) 
                                                                           ----------------------  ---------- 
 - personal                                            2,347          (1)                   1,950          (2) 
 - corporate and commercial                           80,190        (103)                  68,893         (50) 
 - financial                                          77,327         (16)                  50,604          (2) 
                                      ----------------------  ----------   ----------------------  ---------- 
 Financial guarantees(3)                               4,365         (15)                   4,318          (9) 
                                                                           ----------------------  ---------- 
 - personal                                               39           -                       34           - 
 - corporate and commercial                            2,983         (13)                   2,849          (8) 
 - financial                                           1,343          (2)                   1,435          (1) 
                                      ----------------------  ----------   ----------------------  ---------- 
 Total nominal amount off-balance 
  sheet(4)                                           164,229        (135)                 125,765         (63) 
------------------------------------  ----------------------  ----------   ----------------------  ---------- 
                                                     525,965      (1,699)                 428,419      (1,113) 
------------------------------------  ----------------------  ----------   ----------------------  ---------- 
 
                                                                                                      Memorandum 
                                                               Memorandum                              allowance 
                                                                allowance                                    for 
                                                  Fair value   for ECL(5)              Fair value         ECL(5) 
                                                        GBPm         GBPm                    GBPm           GBPm 
                                      ----------------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------- 
 Debt instruments measured at fair 
  value 
  through other comprehensive income 
  ('FVOCI')                                           56,346         (32)                  46,360         (16) 
------------------------------------  ----------------------  ----------   ----------------------  ---------- 
 

1 The total ECL is recognised in the loss allowance for the financial asset unless the total ECL exceeds the gross carrying amount of the financial asset, in which case the ECL is recognised as a provision.

2 Includes only those financial instruments which are subject to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9. 'Prepayments, accrued income and other assets' as presented within the consolidated balance sheet on page 48 includes both financial and non-financial assets.

3 Excludes performance guarantee contracts to which the impairment requirements in IFRS 9 are not applied.

4 Represents the maximum amount at risk should the contracts be fully drawn upon and clients default.

5 Debt instruments measured at FVOCI continue to be measured at fair value with the allowance for ECL as a memorandum item. Change in ECL is recognised in 'Change in expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges' in the income statement.

The following table provides an overview of the group's credit risk by stage and industry, and the associated ECL coverage. The financial assets recorded in each stage have the following characteristics:

-- Stage 1: These financial assets are unimpaired and without a significant increase in credit risk for which a 12-month allowance for ECL is recognised.

-- Stage 2: A significant increase in credit risk has been experienced on these financial assets since initial recognition for which a lifetime ECL is recognised.

-- Stage 3: There is objective evidence of impairment and the financial assets are therefore considered to be in default or otherwise credit impaired for which a lifetime ECL is recognised.

-- POCI: Financial assets that are purchased or originated at a deep discount are seen to reflect the incurred credit losses on which a lifetime ECL is recognised.

 
 Summary of credit risk (excluding debt instruments measured at FVOCI) 
  by stage distribution and ECL coverage by industry sector at 
  30 June 2020 
                                                  Gross carrying/nominal 
                                                         amount(2)                             Allowance for ECL                          ECL coverage % 
                                           Stage   Stage  Stage                    Stage  Stage    Stage                      Stage  Stage  Stage 
                                               1       2      3  POCI(3)    Total      1      2        3    POCI(3)    Total      1      2      3  POCI(3)    Total 
                                            GBPm    GBPm   GBPm     GBPm     GBPm   GBPm   GBPm     GBPm       GBPm     GBPm      %      %      %        %        % 
                                         -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  -----  -----  -------  ---------  -------  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Loans and 
  advances 
  to customers 
  at amortised 
  cost                                    97,842  15,459  3,326       71  116,698  (132)  (289)  (1,080)   (33)      (1,534)    0.1    1.9   32.5     46.5    1.3 
 - personal                               25,125   1,059    536        -   26,720   (11)   (34)    (160)     -         (205)      -    3.2   29.9        -    0.8 
 
   *    corporate and commercial          57,951  11,926  2,434       71   72,382  (110)  (209)    (848)   (33)      (1,200)    0.2    1.8   34.8     46.5    1.7 
 
   *    non-bank financial institutions   14,766   2,474    356        -   17,596   (11)   (46)     (72)     -         (129)    0.1    1.9   20.2        -    0.7 
--------------------------------------- 
 Loans and 
  advances 
  to banks 
  at amortised 
  cost                                    13,065   1,205      7        -   14,277    (6)    (9)      (4)     -          (19)      -    0.7   57.1        -    0.1 
--------------------------------------- 
 Other financial 
  assets measured 
  at amortised 
  cost                                   230,644      83     34        -  230,761    (2)     -       (9)     -          (11)      -      -   26.5        -      - 
---------------------------------------                                   ------- 
 Loan and 
  other credit-related 
  commitments                            144,965  14,622    277        -  159,864   (21)   (62)     (37)     -         (120)      -    0.4   13.4        -    0.1 
--------------------------------------- 
 - personal                                2,222     113     12        -    2,347     -     (1)       -      -           (1)      -    0.9      -        -      - 
 
   *    corporate and commercial          67,706  12,221    263        -   80,190   (18)   (48)     (37)     -         (103)      -    0.4   14.1        -    0.1 
 - financial                              75,037   2,288      2        -   77,327    (3)   (13)       -      -          (16)      -    0.6      -        -      - 
--------------------------------------- 
 Financial 
  guarantees(1)                            3,112   1,127    125        1    4,365    (5)    (9)      (1)     -          (15)    0.2    0.8    0.8        -    0.3 
 - personal                                   37       1      1        -       39     -      -        -      -            -       -      -      -        -      - 
 
   *    corporate and commercial           2,028     836    118        1    2,983    (5)    (8)       -      -          (13)    0.2    1.0      -        -    0.4 
 - financial                               1,047     290      6        -    1,343     -     (1)      (1)     -           (2)      -    0.3   16.7        -    0.1 
--------------------------------------- 
 At 30 Jun 
  2020                                   489,628  32,496  3,769       72  525,965  (166)  (369)  (1,131)   (33)      (1,699)      -    1.1   30.0     45.8    0.3 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ------   ----       ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 

1 Excludes performance guarantee contracts to which the impairment requirements in IFRS 9 are not applied.

2 Represents the maximum amount at risk should the contracts be fully drawn upon and clients default.

   3   Purchased or originated credit-impaired ('POCI'). 

Unless identified at an earlier stage, all financial assets are deemed to have suffered a significant increase in credit risk when they are 30 days past due ('DPD') and are transferred from Stage 1 to Stage 2. The following disclosure presents the ageing of Stage 2 financial assets by those less than 30 and greater than 30 DPD and therefore presents those financial assets classified as Stage 2 due to ageing ('30 DPD') and those identified at an earlier stage (less than 30 DPD).

 
 Stage 2 days past due analysis at 30 June 2020 
                     Gross carrying                 Allowance for ECL                   ECL coverage % 
                            Of which:                          Of which:                       Of which: 
                -------                   -----------                            ------- 
                           1 to   30 and                                                     1 to 
                  Stage      29        >        Stage         1 to       30 and    Stage       29     30 and 
                      2  DPD(1)   DPD(1)            2    29 DPD(1)     > DPD(1)        2   DPD(1)   > DPD(1) 
                   GBPm    GBPm     GBPm         GBPm         GBPm         GBPm        %        %          % 
                -------  ------  -------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------  -------  --------- 
 Loans and 
  advances 
  to customers 
  at amortised 
  cost           15,459     104      111     (289)          (2)          (4)         1.9      1.9      3.6 
 - personal       1,059      51       86      (34)          (2)          (3)         3.2      3.9      3.5 
 - corporate 
  and 
  commercial     11,926      53       25     (209)           -           (1)         1.8        -      4.0 
 - non-bank 
  financial 
  institutions    2,474       -        -      (46)           -            -          1.9        -        - 
 Loans and 
  advances 
  to banks at 
  amortised 
  cost            1,205       -        -       (9)           -            -          0.7        -        - 
 Other 
  financial 
  assets 
  measured at 
  amortised 
  cost               83       -        -        -            -            -            -        -        - 
--------------  -------  ------  -------  -------      -------      -------      -------  -------  ------- 
 
   1   Days past due ('DPD'). Up-to-date accounts in Stage 2 are not shown in amounts presented above. 
 
 Summary of credit risk (excluding debt instruments measured at FVOCI) 
  by stage distribution and ECL coverage by industry sector at 
  31 December 2019 (continued) 
                                                  Gross carrying/nominal 
                                                         amount(2)                            Allowance for ECL                         ECL coverage % 
                                           Stage   Stage  Stage                    Stage  Stage  Stage                      Stage  Stage  Stage 
                                               1       2      3  POCI(3)    Total      1      2      3    POCI(3)    Total      1      2      3  POCI(3)    Total 
                                            GBPm    GBPm   GBPm     GBPm     GBPm   GBPm   GBPm   GBPm       GBPm     GBPm      %      %      %        %        % 
 Loans and 
  advances 
  to customers 
  at amortised 
  cost                                   100,077   7,238  2,043       70  109,428  (104)  (126)  (774)   (33)      (1,037)    0.1    1.7   37.9     47.1    0.9 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ----   ----       ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 - personal                               23,273   1,073    487        -   24,833    (6)   (23)  (144)     -         (173)      -    2.1   29.6        -    0.7 
--------------------------------------- 
 
   *    corporate and commercial          59,654   5,806  1,460       70   66,990   (85)  (100)  (591)   (33)        (809)    0.1    1.7   40.5     47.1    1.2 
--------------------------------------- 
 
   *    non-bank financial institutions   17,150     359     96        -   17,605   (13)    (3)   (39)     -          (55)    0.1    0.8   40.6        -    0.3 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ----   ----  ---  ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 Loans and 
  advances 
  to banks 
  at amortised 
  cost                                    11,408      63      -        -   11,471    (4)     -      -      -           (4)      -      -      -        -      - 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ----   ----  ---  ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 Other financial 
  assets measured 
  at amortised 
  cost                                   181,697      26     32        -  181,755     -      -     (9)     -           (9)      -      -   28.1        -      - 
 Loan and 
  other credit 
  related commitments                    118,078   3,235    129        5  121,447   (22)   (11)   (21)     -          (54)      -    0.3   16.3        -      - 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ----   ----  ---  ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 - personal                                1,859      88      3        -    1,950     -     (2)     -      -           (2)      -    2.3      -        -    0.1 
--------------------------------------- 
 
   *    corporate and commercial          65,796   2,967    125        5   68,893   (20)    (9)   (21)     -          (50)      -    0.3   16.8        -    0.1 
--------------------------------------- 
 - financial                              50,423     180      1        -   50,604    (2)     -      -      -           (2)      -      -      -        -      - 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ----   ----  ---  ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 Financial 
  guarantees(1)                            3,685     567     63        3    4,318    (2)    (6)    (1)     -           (9)    0.1    1.1    1.6        -    0.2 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ----   ----  ---  ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 - personal                                   33       -      1        -       34     -      -      -      -            -       -      -      -        -      - 
--------------------------------------- 
 
   *    corporate and commercial           2,352     433     61        3    2,849    (2)    (6)     -      -           (8)    0.1    1.4      -        -    0.3 
--------------------------------------- 
 - financial                               1,300     134      1        -    1,435     -      -     (1)     -           (1)      -      -  100.0        -    0.1 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ----   ----  ---  ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 At 31 Dec                               414,945  11,129  2,267       78  428,419  (132)  (143)  (805)   (33)      (1,113)      -    1.3   35.5     42.3    0.3 
---------------------------------------  -------  ------  -----  -------  -------  ----   ----   ----   ----       ------   -----  -----  -----  -------  ----- 
 

1 Excludes performance guarantee contracts to which the impairment requirements in IFRS 9 are not applied.

2 Represents the maximum amount at risk should the contracts be fully drawn upon and clients default.

   3   Purchased or originated credit-impaired ('POCI'). 
 
 Stage 2 days past due analysis at 31 December 2019 (continued) 
                                             Gross carrying 
                                                 amount               Allowance for ECL            ECL coverage % 
                                         ---------------------  ----------------------------  ----------------------- 
                                               Of which:                  Of which:                  Of which: 
                                                  1 to  30 and                1 to                     1 to 
                                         Stage      29       >     Stage        29    30 and  Stage      29    30 and 
                                             2  DPD(1)  DPD(1)         2    DPD(1)  > DPD(1)      2  DPD(1)  > DPD(1) 
                                          GBPm    GBPm    GBPm      GBPm      GBPm      GBPm      %       %         % 
                                         -----  ------  ------  --------  --------  --------  -----  ------  -------- 
 Loans and advances 
  to customers at amortised 
  cost                                   7,238      73     100  (126)       (1)       (3)       1.7     1.4     3.0 
                                         -----  ------  ------  ----      ----      ----      -----  ------  ------ 
 
   *    personal                         1,073      58      44   (23)       (1)       (1)       2.1     1.7     2.3 
 
   *    corporate and commercial         5,806      15      56  (100)        -        (2)       1.7       -     3.6 
 
   *    non-bank financial institutions    359       -       -    (3)        -         -        0.8       -       - 
                                         -----  ------  ------  ----      ----      ----      -----  ------  ------ 
 Loans and advances 
  to banks at amortised 
  cost                                      63       -       -     -         -         -          -       -       - 
                                         -----  ------  ------  ----      ----      ----      -----  ------  ------ 
 Other financial assets 
  measured at amortised 
  cost                                      26       5       -     -         -         -          -       -       - 
---------------------------------------  -----  ------  ------  ----      ----      ----      -----  ------  ------ 
 
   1   Days past due ('DPD'). Up-to-date accounts in Stage 2 are not shown in amounts presented above. 
 
 Measurement uncertainty and sensitivity 
  analysis of ECL estimates 
 

The recognition and measurement of ECL involves the use of significant judgement and estimation. We form multiple economic scenarios based on economic forecasts, apply these assumptions to credit risk models to estimate future credit losses, and probability-weight the results to determine an unbiased ECL estimate.

Methodology

Our methodology in relation to the adoption and generation of

economic scenarios is described on page 37 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2019. There have been no significant

changes during the first half of 2020. While in keeping with HSBC's methodology, the exceptional nature of the current economic environment has led to extensive application of management's judgement in determining the range of possible outcomes, the number and severity of scenarios selected and the probability weights assigned.

Description of consensus economic scenarios

The economic assumptions presented in this section have been formed by HSBC, with reference to external forecasts specifically for the purpose of calculating ECL. The emergent nature of the Covid-19 outbreak at the end of 2019 meant that, consistent with other banks, HSBC's view of the distribution of risks, as disclosed in the Annual Report and Accounts 2019, did not, on a forward-looking basis, consider the impact of the virus. Our consensus Central scenario at the 2019 year-end projected moderate growth over a five-year horizon, with strong prospects for employment and a gradual increase in policy interest rates by central banks in the major economies of Europe. The onset of the virus has led to a fundamental reassessment of our central forecast and the distribution of risks.

Economic forecasts are subject to a high degree of uncertainty in the current environment. Limitations of forecasts and economic models require a greater reliance on management judgement in addressing both the error inherent in economic forecasts and in assessing associated ECL outcomes. The main factors that affect uncertainty across our key markets are:

-- epidemiological concerns, including a possible resurgence of Covid-19 later in 2020 and in 2021;

-- the ability of new or continued restrictions in individual markets to affect global growth due to deep cross-border trade and financial linkages;

-- the ability of governments and central banks to continue to limit the economic damage through support measures;

-- the potential for other geopolitical and macroeconomic risks to affect growth and economic stability as the world recovers from Covid-19-related restrictions; and

-- market-specific differences in the progression of Covid-19 and the associated responses by public authorities that imply differentiation in the degree of uncertainty across our key markets.

Economic forecasts and data released since the creation of scenarios in May confirmed the view of elevated uncertainty in some markets such as in the UK, where monthly GDP and unemployment data suggested a larger degree of estimation error than usual in short-term forecasts. The volatility in economic data and forecasts received since the generation of scenarios has been considered by management and is reflected in management's choice of scenarios, in probability weights and in its assessment of ECL outcomes.

The scenarios used to calculate ECL in the Interim Report 2020 are described below.

The consensus Central scenario

HSBC's Central scenario features a 'V-shaped' shock to economic activity, as characterised by a deep, initial contraction in GDP, followed by a sharp recovery. This V-shape in activity reflects the unique nature of this downturn and is driven by restrictions on mobility and activity imposed by governments to reduce the spread of Covid-19. The Central scenario further assumes that the stringent restrictions on activity, employed across several countries and territories in the first half of 2020, will not be repeated, allowing economic activity to rebound. Minimal long-term damage to economic prospects is expected, allowing economic growth across our key markets to return to forecast trend rates. Cross-country differences in the depth of the contraction, and the speed and scale of subsequent recovery, reflect timing differences in the progression of the Covid-19 outbreak, national level differences in restrictions imposed and the scale of support measures.

Global GDP is expected to contract by 3.9% in 2020 and grow by 4.8% in 2021 in the Central scenario. The average rate of global GDP growth is expected to be 2.7% over the forecast period 2020-2025, which is slightly lower than the average growth rate over the 2015-2019 period.

The unique circumstances surrounding the current fall in economic activity make it difficult to compare current prospects for global economic activity with previous recessions. However, we note that the depth of the contraction in economic activity and the subsequent recovery are both expected to be sharper than experienced during the last global economic downturn of 2008-2009 across our key markets.

Across the key markets, we note:

-- Economic activity has fallen significantly in the first half of 2020 across our major markets. The Central scenario projects an annual contraction in GDP across almost all our major markets in 2020. GDP is expected to be positive across all our major markets in 2021.

-- The unemployment rate is expected to rise sharply in most of our major markets, before reverting gradually to pre-crisis levels over the forecast horizon.

-- Inflation is expected to fall sharply in 2020 in line with the slowdown in economic activity, before increasing to gradually converge to central bank targets in our key markets over the forecast period.

-- Governments have provided extensive support to households and corporates in our key markets. Fiscal deficits are expected to increase sharply in 2020 before reducing in the later years of the projection period. Sovereign indebtedness is expected to increase sharply as a result.

-- Major central banks have lowered their main policy interest rates, implemented emergency support measures for funding markets, and either restarted or increased quantitative easing programmes, in order to support economies and the financial system. Interest rate policy is expected to be highly accommodative over the projection horizon.

-- The West Texas Intermediate oil price is forecast to average $37 per barrel over the projection period.

The Central scenario was first created with forecasts available in May, and subsequently updated in June to reflect significant changes to forecasts. The UK unemployment rate was the only variable to have been amended as a result of this update. Probability weights assigned to the Central scenario reflect both the higher level of uncertainty in the current global economic environment and relative differences across markets. Weights assigned to the Central scenario vary from 55% to 70%.

The following table describes key macroeconomic variables and the probabilities assigned in the consensus Central scenario.

 
 Central scenario (3Q20-2Q25) 
                                       UK        France 
                                        %             % 
 GDP growth 
 Annual average growth 
  rate: 2020                     (7.8)         (8.7) 
                             -------- 
 Annual average growth 
  rate: 2021                      5.9           7.2 
--------------------------- 
 1Q22-2Q25: average growth        1.9           1.7 
--------------------------- 
                                    (8.6)         (8.9) 
 3Q20-2Q22: worst quarter          (3Q20)        (3Q20) 
---------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Unemployment rate 
 Annual average: 2020             6.8           9.8 
                             -------- 
 Annual average: 2021             6.3          10.0 
--------------------------- 
 1Q22-2Q25: average               4.7           8.9 
--------------------------- 
                                                   10.6 
 3Q20-2Q22: worst quarter      8.1 (3Q20)        (3Q20) 
---------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 House price index 
 Annual average growth 
  rate: 2020                     (2.2)         (0.5) 
                             -------- 
 Annual average growth 
  rate: 2021                      0.9          (0.3) 
--------------------------- 
 1Q22-2Q25: average growth        3.7           3.4 
--------------------------- 
                                    (3.4)         (3.9) 
 3Q20-2Q22: worst quarter          (4Q20)        (4Q20) 
---------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 10-year bond yield 
--------------------------- 
 Annual average: 2020             0.5               0.0 
                             -------- 
 Annual average: 2021             0.8           0.2 
--------------------------- 
 1Q22-2Q25: average               1.6           0.9 
--------------------------- 
 3Q20-2Q22: worst quarter      0.4 (3Q20)    0.0 (3Q20) 
---------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Probability                       60            70 
---------------------------  --------      -------- 
 

The consensus Upside scenario

Compared with the consensus Central scenario, the consensus Upside scenario features a faster recovery in economic activity during the first two years, before converging to long-run trends. Despite this feature, the scenario forecasts 2020 as a year in which global GDP growth contracts and several quarters elapse before economic activity reaches the level attained at the end of 2019, prior to the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The scenario is consistent with a number of key upside risk themes. These include orderly global abatement of Covid-19 via successful containment and/or the development of a vaccine, deescalation of tensions between the US and China, continued support from fiscal and monetary policy, positive resolution of economic uncertainty in the UK, stronger oil prices and deescalation of geopolitical tensions in Hong Kong.

Probability weights assigned to the Upside scenario range from 0% to 10%. These weights reflect management's view of the potential for more positive outcomes relative to the Central scenario in our key markets.

The consensus Downside scenario

Global real GDP growth contracts significantly in 2020 in the Downside scenario, accompanied by a sharp increase in unemployment, and falls in asset and consumer prices, before gradually recovering towards its long-run trend. Compared with the Central scenario, the recovery in economic activity is considerably weaker.

The scenario is consistent with our key downside risks. These include renewed outbreaks of Covid-19 and/or slower easing of restriction of travel and activity, an intensification of tensions between the US and China, a worsening of economic uncertainty in the UK, further risks to economic growth in Hong Kong and weaker commodity prices.

A broad range of weights has been assigned to the consensus Downside scenario. These range from 0% to 35% and reflect management's view of the dispersion of risks and severity across key markets.

UK management Downside scenario

The consensus Downside scenario was replaced with a management Downside scenario for the UK only, to reflect management's view of the dispersion of risks. Management took the view that this scenario provided a better representation of risks that lie in between the Central and the alternative Downside scenario 1. In this scenario, UK GDP falls 9.6% in 2020 and UK unemployment peaks at 8.5% in 2021. This scenario has been assigned a 20% probability.

Alternative Downside scenario 1

An alternative Downside scenario has been created to reflect management's view of extreme risks. This 'U-shaped' scenario assumes that a number of HSBC's top risks crystallise simultaneously and results in an extremely severe and prolonged recession. This scenario has been assigned a 5% probability across all markets except the UK where it has been assigned a 10% weighting.

The range of macroeconomic projections across the various scenarios are shown in the table below:

 
 Outer scenario ranges (3Q20-2Q25) 
                                      UK        France 
                                       %             % 
                                --------  ------------ 
 GDP growth                     (8.3) to         (8.7) 
                                  (16.7)     to (22.0) 
                                  (3Q20)        (3Q20) 
                                  (1Q21)        (3Q20) 
                                --------  ------------ 
                                  8.0 to         10 to 
 Unemployment rate                  10.5          11.5 
                                  (3Q20)        (3Q20) 
                                  (2Q21)        (1Q21) 
                                --------  ------------ 
 House price index              (2.8) to         (2.4) 
                                  (24.7)     to (13.4) 
                                  (3Q20)        (4Q20) 
                                  (2Q21)        (3Q21) 
                                --------  ------------ 
 10-year bond yield               0.5 to        0.1 to 
                                   (1.7)         (0.5) 
                                  (3Q20)        (3Q20) 
                                  (3Q21)        (2Q22) 
                                --------  ------------ 
 Consensus Upside 
  scenario: Probability               10          10 
------------------------------            ---------- 
 Consensus Downside 
  scenario: Probability                0          15 
------------------------------            ---------- 
 UK management Downside 
  scenario: Probability               20           n/a 
------------------------------  --------  ------------ 
 Alternative Downside 
  1: Probability                      10           5 
------------------------------  --------  ---------- 
 

Note: The worst point refers to the quarter that is either the trough or peak in the respective variable. The figures provided represent the worst point across all four outer scenarios: the consensus Upside, the consensus Downside, the UK management Downside and the alternative Downside 1. These figures should not be directly compared with the annual averages presented in the previous table for the Central scenario.

 
 UK GDP growth 
 

Note: Real GDP shown as year-on-year percentage change.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

The calculation of ECL under IFRS 9 involves significant judgements, assumptions and estimates, as set out in the Annual Report and Accounts 2019 under 'Critical accounting estimates and judgements'. The level of estimation uncertainty and judgement has increased since 31 December 2019 as a result of the economic effects of the Covid-19 outbreak, including significant judgements relating to:

-- the selection and weighting of economic scenarios, given rapidly changing economic conditions in an unprecedented manner, uncertainty as to the effect of government and central bank support measures designed to alleviate adverse economic impacts, and a widening in the distribution of economic forecasts. The key judgement is whether the economic effects

of the pandemic are more likely to be temporary or prolonged, and the shape of recovery;

-- estimating the economic effects of those scenarios on ECL, where there is no observable historical trend that can be reflected in the models that will accurately represent the effects of the economic changes of the severity and speed brought about by Covid-19 outbreak. Modelled assumptions and linkages between economic factors and credit losses may underestimate or overestimate ECL in these conditions, and there is significant uncertainty in the estimation of parameters such as collateral values and loss severity; and

-- the identification of customers experiencing significant increases in credit risk and credit impairment, particularly where those customers have accepted payment deferrals and other reliefs designed to address short-term liquidity issues, or have extended those deferrals, given limitations in the available credit information on these customers. The use of segmentation techniques for indicators of significant increases in credit risk involves significant estimation uncertainty.

How economic scenarios are reflected in ECL

The methodologies for the application of forward economic guidance into the calculation of ECL for wholesale and retail loans and portfolios are set out in page 38 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2019. These models are based largely on historical observations and correlations with default rates.

The severe projections at 30 June 2020 of macroeconomic variables are outside the historical observations on which IFRS 9 models have been built and calibrated to operate. Moreover, the complexities of governmental support programmes and regulatory guidance on treatment of customer impacts (such as forbearance and payment holidays) and the unpredictable pathways of the pandemic have never been modelled. Consequently, HSBC's IFRS 9 models, in some cases, generate outputs that appear overly conservative when compared with other economic and credit metrics. Post-model adjustments are required to ensure that an appropriate amount of ECL impairment is recognised.

These data and model limitations have been addressed in the short term using in-model and post-model adjustments. This includes refining model inputs and outputs, and using post-model adjustments based on management judgement and higher level quantitative analysis for impacts that are difficult to model. To ensure a consistent framework, we identified the model segments where results were overly conservative based on historical benchmarks and defined the worst economic inputs where the model output is considered reliable. For example, in the case of probability of default ('PD') models for bank and sovereign exposures, based on the historical calibration data, the model was defined as producing meaningful results when the GDP growth input is not worse than five standard deviations below the long-term average. Re-running the models with these capped economic limits established boundary conditions used by credit experts as a starting point for further adjustments based on their own structured judgement and granular analysis. For the wholesale portfolio, this analysis produced a 'credit experts best estimate' to act as a benchmark against the modelled outcomes, and inform post-model adjustments. In the short term, the focus is on refining model inputs and outputs in a consistent and explainable manner, using post-model adjustments. Wider-ranging model changes will take time to develop and need more real data on which models can be trained.

Models will be recalibrated over time once the full impacts of Covid-19 are observed but that will not occur in 2020. Therefore, we anticipate significant in-model and post-model adjustments for the foreseeable future.

Post-model adjustments

In the context of IFRS 9, post-model adjustments are short-term increases or decreases to the ECL at either a customer or portfolio level to account for late breaking events, model deficiencies and expert credit judgement applied following management review and challenge. We have internal governance in place to regularly monitor post-model adjustments and, where possible, to reduce the reliance on these through model recalibration or redevelopment, as appropriate. Depending on the path of the Covid-19 outbreak and the shape of the economic recovery, we anticipate the composition of modelled ECL and post-model adjustments may be revised significantly over 2020, particularly when the economy resumes positive GDP growth and the uncertainty over long-term unemployment abates.

Post-model adjustments made in estimating the reported ECL at 30 June 2020 are set out in the following table. The table includes adjustments in relation to data and model limitations resulting from Covid-19 economic conditions, and as a result of the regular process of model development and implementation. It shows the adjustments applicable to the scenario-weighted ECL numbers. Adjustments in relation to Downside scenarios are more significant, as results are subject to greater uncertainty.

 
 Net post-model reductions 
  / (additions) in 
  ECL (GBPm)                  Retail  Wholesale    Total 
----------------------------  ------  ---------  ------- 
 Low-risk counterparties 
  and economies (banks, 
  sovereigns and government 
  entities)                     146         246   392 
----------------------------  -----   ---------  ---- 
 Corporate lending 
  adjustments                     -         117   117 
----------------------------  -----   ---------  ---- 
 Retail lending adjustments      (2)          -    (2) 
----------------------------  -----   ---------  ---- 
 Total                          144         363   507 
----------------------------  -----   ---------  ---- 
 

The adjustments relating to low-credit risk exposures are mainly to highly rated banks, sovereigns and US government-sponsored entities, where modelled credit factors do not fully reflect the underlying fundamentals of these entities or the effect of government support and economic programmes in the Covid-19 environment.

Adjustments to corporate exposures principally reflect the outcome of the 'credit experts best estimate' review on wholesale corporate exposures. Post-model adjustments, both positive and negative, have been made where modelled rating migration and ECL outputs based on historical relationships produced results that were overly sensitive. This can be the case when using economic inputs that are well outside the range of historical experience. For retail lending, the net impact of model adjustments was much less significant. The adjustment, under low-risk counterparties and economies, was to reduce ECL on insurance portfolios due to model over-prediction of downgrades in the bank and sovereign portfolios.

Economic scenarios sensitivity analysis of ECL estimates

Management considered the sensitivity of the ECL outcome against the economic forecasts as part of the ECL governance process by recalculating the ECL under each scenario described above for selected portfolios, applying a 100% weighting to each scenario in turn. The weighting is reflected in both the determination of a significant increase in credit risk and the measurement of the resulting ECL.

The ECL calculated for the Upside and Downside scenarios should not be taken to represent the upper and lower limits of possible ECL outcomes. The impact of defaults that might occur in future under different economic scenarios is captured by recalculating ECL for loans in Stages 1 and 2 at the balance sheet date. The population of Stage 3 loans (in default) at the balance sheet date is unchanged in these sensitivity calculations. Stage 3 ECL would only be sensitive to changes in forecasts of future economic conditions if the loss-given default ('LGD') of a particular portfolio was sensitive to these changes.

There is a particularly high degree of estimation uncertainty in numbers representing tail risk scenarios when assigned a 100% weighting.

For wholesale credit risk exposures, the sensitivity analysis excludes ECL and financial instruments related to defaulted obligors because the measurement of ECL is relatively more sensitive to credit factors specific to the obligor than future economic scenarios. Therefore, it is impracticable to separate the effect of macroeconomic factors in individual assessments.

For retail credit risk exposures, the sensitivity analysis includes ECL for loans and advances to customers related to defaulted obligors. This is because the retail ECL for secured mortgage portfolios including loans in all stages is sensitive to macroeconomic variables.

Wholesale and retail sensitivity

The wholesale and retail sensitivity analysis is stated inclusive of post-model adjustments, as appropriate to each scenario. The results tables exclude portfolios held by insurance business and small portfolios.

In both the wholesale and retail analysis, the comparative period results for alternative Downside scenarios are not directly comparable to the current period, because they reflect different risk profiles relative with the Consensus scenarios for the period end.

Wholesale analysis

 
 IFRS 9 ECL sensitivity to future 
  economic conditions(1) 
                                      UK     France 
 ECL coverage of financial 
  instruments subject to 
  significant measurement 
  uncertainty at 30 June 
  2020(2)                           GBPm       GBPm 
-------------------------------  -------  --------- 
 Reported ECL                        283         99 
                                 -------  --------- 
 Consensus scenarios 
-------------------------------  -------  --------- 
 Central scenario                    223         85 
                                 -------  --------- 
 Upside scenario                     178         81 
                                 -------  --------- 
 Downside scenario(3)                315      153 
                                 -------  ------- 
 Alternative scenarios 
                                 -------  --------- 
 Alternative Downside 
  scenario                           702      249 
                                 -------  ------- 
 Gross carrying amount/nominal 
  amount (4)                     138,543  111,909 
-------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
 
 IFRS 9 ECL sensitivity to future 
  economic conditions(1) 
                                      UK     France 
 ECL coverage of financial 
  instruments subject to 
  significant measurement 
  uncertainty at 31 December 
  2019(2)                           GBPm       GBPm 
-------------------------------  -------  --------- 
 Reported ECL                        119         42 
                                 -------  --------- 
 Consensus scenarios 
-------------------------------  -------  --------- 
 Central scenario                     92         40 
                                 -------  --------- 
 Upside scenario                      83         38 
                                 -------  --------- 
 Downside scenario                   108       60 
                                 -------  ------- 
 Alternative scenarios 
                                 -------  --------- 
 UK alternative Downside 
  scenario 1 ('AD1')                 160 
-------------------------------  -------  --------- 
 Gross carrying amount/nominal 
  amount (4)                     125,085  119,967 
-------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
   1   ECL sensitivities exclude portfolios utilising less complex modelling approaches. 

2 ECL sensitivity includes off-balance sheet financial instruments that are subject to significant measurement uncertainty.

   3   For the UK, this is the UK management Downside scenario. 

4 Includes low credit-risk financial instruments such as debt instruments at FVOCI, which have high carrying values but low ECL under all the scenarios.

In the wholesale portfolio, at 30 June 2020, the alternative Downside scenario reflected the most significant levels of ECL sensitivity in the UK, due to the potential for deterioration of credit quality in the UK and levels of exposure.

ECL sensitivities demonstrated an increase from the 2019 year-end across all countries and territories, primarily due to the deterioration of economic forecasts under all scenarios.

The UK observed the highest sensitivity when compared with 4Q19, mainly due to the deterioration of economic forecasts, with an emphasis on the unemployment rate in the June 2020 economic forecasts.

The higher ECL sensitivities can all be observed for the alternative Downside scenario 1, which represents a prolonged recovery period and sharper impact relative to other scenarios.

Retail analysis

 
 IFRS 9 ECL sensitivity to future 
  economic conditions(1) 
                                UK  France 
 ECL of loans and advances 
  to customers at 30 June 
  2020(2)                     GBPm    GBPm 
                             -----  ------ 
 Reported ECL                   11     113 
                             ----- 
 Consensus scenarios 
---------------------------  -----  ------ 
 Central scenario               10     112 
                             -----  ------ 
 Upside scenario                 9     110 
                             -----  ------ 
 Downside scenario(3)           13     119 
                             -----  ------ 
 Alternative scenarios 
                             -----  ------ 
 Alternative Downside 
  scenario                      16     118 
 Gross carrying amount       1,935  19,182 
---------------------------  -----  ------ 
 
 
 IFRS 9 ECL sensitivity to future 
  economic conditions(1) 
                                   UK  France 
 ECL of loans and advances 
  to customers at 31 December 
  2019(2, 4)                     GBPm    GBPm 
                                -----  ------ 
 Reported ECL                       8     102 
                                ----- 
 Consensus scenarios 
------------------------------  -----  ------ 
 Central scenario                   7     102 
                                -----  ------ 
 Upside scenario                    7     102 
                                -----  ------ 
 Downside scenario                  9     103 
                                -----  ------ 
 Gross carrying amount          2,012  17,749 
------------------------------  -----  ------ 
 
   1   ECL sensitivities exclude portfolios utilising less complex modelling approaches. 

2 ECL sensitivity includes only on-balance sheet financial instruments to which IFRS 9 impairment requirements are applied. In the retail portfolio during the first half of 2020, there was a significant increase in reported expected credit losses in all markets due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

   3   For the UK, this is the UK management Downside scenario. 
   4   Comparative figures have been represented. 

Across all countries and territories, primarily due to the worsening of the economic forecasts, ECL sensitivities demonstrated an increase from the 2019 year-end.

Reconciliation of changes in gross carrying/nominal amount and allowances for loans and advances to banks and customers

The following disclosure provides a reconciliation by stage of the group's gross carrying/nominal amount and allowances for loans and advances to banks and customers, including loan commitments and financial guarantees. Movements are calculated on a quarterly basis and therefore fully capture stage movements between quarters. If movements were calculated on a year-to-date basis they would only reflect the opening and closing position of the financial instrument.

The transfers of financial instruments represent the impact of stage transfers upon the gross carrying/nominal amount and associated allowance for ECL.

The net remeasurement of ECL arising from stage transfers represents the increase or decrease due to these transfers, for example, moving from a 12-month (Stage 1) to a lifetime (Stage 2) ECL measurement basis. Net remeasurement excludes the underlying customer risk rating ('CRR')/probability of default ('PD') movements of the financial instruments transferring stage. This is captured, along with other credit quality movements in the 'changes in risk parameters - credit quality' line item.

Changes in 'New financial assets originated or purchased', 'assets derecognised (including final repayments)' and 'changes to risk parameters - further lending/repayments' represent the impact from volume movements within the group's lending portfolio.

 
 Reconciliation of changes in gross carrying/nominal amount and allowances 
  for loans and advances to banks and customers including 
  loan commitments and financial guarantees(1) 
                                                                Non-credit impaired                                         Credit impaired 
                                                         Stage 1                        Stage 2                   Stage 3                      POCI                            Total 
                                                                                     Gross                     Gross                     Gross 
                                                        Gross                    carrying/                 carrying/    Allowance    carrying/                               Gross 
                                             carrying/nominal    Allowancefor      nominal    Allowance      nominal          for      nominal    Allowancefor    carrying/nominal    Allowancefor 
                                                       amount             ECL       amount      for ECL       amount          ECL       amount             ECL              amount             ECL 
                                                         GBPm            GBPm         GBPm         GBPm         GBPm         GBPm         GBPm            GBPm                GBPm            GBPm 
-----------------------------------------  ------------------  --------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  --------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 At 1 Jan 2020                                195,249             (132)         11,103        (143)       2,235          (796)        78           (33)            208,665            (1,104) 
                                           ----------  ------  -------   ----  -------      ------       ------  ---  -------      -----  ----  ------   -----  ----------  ------  -------- --- 
 Transfers of financial 
  instruments:                                (15,897)               4          14,233          12        1,664           (16)         -             -                   -                 - 
                                           ----------   -----  -------  -----  -------      ------  ---  ------  ---  -------      -----  ----  ------  ------  ----------  ------  --------  ---- 
 
   *    transfers from Stage 1 to Stage 2     (18,718)              30          18,718         (30)           -             -          -             -                   -                 - 
 
   *    transfers from Stage 2 to Stage 1       2,989              (26)         (2,989)         26            -             -          -             -                   -                 - 
 
   *    transfers to Stage 3                     (172)               -          (1,528)         19        1,700           (19)         -             -                   -                 - 
 - transfers from 
  Stage 3                                           4                -              32          (3)         (36)            3          -             -                   -                 - 
 Net remeasurement 
  of ECL arising from 
  transfer of stage                                 -               18               -         (44)           -            (1)         -             -                   -               (27) 
----------------------------------------- 
 New financial assets 
  originated or purchased                      51,054              (24)              -           -            -             -          9             -              51,063               (24) 
 Asset derecognised 
  (including final 
  repayments)                                 (39,006)               2            (657)         12         (298)           48        (15)            1             (39,976)               63 
----------------------------------------- 
 Changes to risk 
  parameters - further 
  lending/repayments                           (5,931)              24           6,901         (33)          96            59         (3)           (1)              1,063                49 
----------------------------------------- 
 Changes to risk 
  parameters - credit 
  quality                                           -              (59)              -        (130)           -          (452)         -             1                   -              (640) 
----------------------------------------- 
 Changes to model 
  used for ECL calculation                          -               10               -         (36)           -             -          -             -                   -               (26) 
----------------------------------------- 
 Assets written off                                 -                -               -           -          (80)           80          -             -                 (80)               80 
 Credit-related modifications 
  that resulted in 
  derecognition                                     -                -               -           -           (1)            -          -             -                  (1)                - 
 Foreign exchange                               7,676               (7)            753          (5)         118           (43)         3            (1)              8,550               (56) 
 Others(2)                                      3,614                -              42          (2)           -            (1)         -             -               3,656                (3) 
 At 30 Jun 2020                               196,759             (164)         32,375        (369)       3,734        (1,122)        72           (33)            232,940            (1,688) 
-----------------------------------------  ----------  ------  -------   ----  -------      ------       ------  ---  -------      -----  ----  ------   -----  ----------  ------  -------- --- 
 ECL income statement 
  (charge)/release 
  for the period                                                   (29)                       (231)                      (346)                       1                                  (605) 
 Add: Recoveries                                                                                                                                                                           1 
                                           ------------------  --------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  --------------  ------------------ 
 Add/(less): Others                                                                                                                                                                        5 
                                           ------------------  --------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  --------------  ------------------  --------  ---- 
 Total ECL income 
  (charge)/release 
  for the period                                                                                                                                                                        (599) 
-----------------------------------------  ------------------  --------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  --------------  ------------------  -------- --- 
 
 
 Reconciliation of changes in gross carrying/nominal amount and allowances 
  for loans and advances to banks and customers including 
  loan commitments and financial guarantees(1) 
                                                                                             Half-year 
                                                                                            ended 30 Jun 
                                                                At 30 Jun 2020                  2020 
                                                                                         ---------------- 
                                                      Gross carrying/nominal  Allowance 
                                                                      amount    for ECL        ECL charge 
                                                                        GBPm       GBPm              GBPm 
                                                      ----------------------  --------- 
 As above                                                            232,940    (1,688)          (599) 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ------------ 
 Other financial assets measured at 
  amortised cost                                                     230,761       (11)            (2) 
                                                      ----------------------  --------   ------------ 
 Non-trading reverse purchase agreement 
  commitments                                                         62,264         -              - 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ------------ 
 Performance and other guarantee not 
  considered for IFRS 9                                                                           (32) 
 Summary of financial instruments to 
  which the impairment requirements in 
  IFRS 9 are applied/Summary consolidated 
  income statement                                                   525,965    (1,699)          (633) 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ------------ 
 Debt instruments measured at FVOCI                                   56,346       (32)           (18) 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ------------ 
 Total allowance for ECL/total income 
  statement ECL charge for the period                                    n/a    (1,731)          (651) 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ------------ 
 

1 Excludes performance guarantee contracts to which the impairment requirements in IFRS 9 are not applied.

2 Includes the period on period movement in exposures relating to other HSBC Group companies. As at 30 June 2020, these amounted to GBP3.6bn and were classified as Stage 1 with no ECL.

 
 Reconciliation of changes in gross carrying/nominal amount and allowances 
  for loans and advances to banks and customers including 
  loan commitments and financial guarantees(1) 
                                        Non-credit impaired                                      Credit impaired 
                                  Stage 1                      Stage 2                  Stage 3                    POCI                         Total 
                                                           Gross                     Gross                     Gross 
                                   Gross    Allowance  carrying/    Allowance    carrying/    Allowance    carrying/    Allowance               Gross    Allowance 
                        carrying/nominal          for    nominal          for      nominal          for      nominal          for    carrying/nominal          for 
                                  amount          ECL     amount          ECL       amount          ECL       amount          ECL              amount          ECL 
                                    GBPm         GBPm       GBPm         GBPm         GBPm         GBPm         GBPm         GBPm                GBPm         GBPm 
--------------------  ------------------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------------  ----------- 
 At 1 Jan 2019           205,009            (154)        17,010     (207)       2,557         (989)        124          (78)          224,700           (1,428) 
--------------------  ----------  ------  ------       --------   ------       ------  ---  ------       -----  ----  -----   ---  ----------  ------  ------- 
 Transfers of 
  financial 
  instruments:             1,566             (61)        (2,198)      83          632          (22)          -            -                 -                - 
--------------------                      ------       --------   ------  ---  ------  ---  ------       -----  ----  -----  ----  ----------  ------  ------- 
 - transfers from 
  Stage 1 to Stage 
  2                       (8,660)             19          8,660      (19)           -            -           -            -                 -                - 
 - transfers from 
  Stage 2 to Stage 
  1                       10,426             (80)       (10,426)      80            -            -           -            -                 -                - 
 - transfers to 
  Stage 
  3                         (205)              1           (487)      24          692          (25)          -            -                 -                - 
 - transfers from 
  Stage 3                      5              (1)            55       (2)         (60)           3           -            -                 -                - 
                      ----------  ------  ------       --------   ------       ------       ------  ---  -----  ----  -----  ----  ----------  ------  ------- 
 Net remeasurement 
  of ECL arising 
  from 
  transfer of stage            -              52              -      (28)           -           (1)          -            -                 -               23 
-------------------- 
 New financial 
  assets 
  originated or 
  purchased              113,078             (79)             -        -            -            -          21          (16)          113,099              (95) 
 Asset derecognised 
  (including final 
  repayments)            (88,021)              5         (1,479)      17         (411)          96          (7)           3           (89,918)             121 
 Changes to risk 
  parameters - 
  further 
  lending/repayments     (26,328)             60         (2,380)      21          (99)          62          23            8           (28,784)             151 
 Changes to risk 
  parameters - 
  credit 
  quality                      -              46              -      (38)           -         (333)          -          (28)                -             (353) 
                      ----------  ------  ------  ---  --------   ------       ------  ---  ------       -----  ----  -----   ---  ----------  ------  ------- 
 Assets written off            -               -              -        -         (304)         304         (78)          78              (382)             382 
 Credit related 
  modifications 
  that resulted in 
  derecognition                -               -              -        -          (65)          46           -            -               (65)              46 
 Foreign exchange         (6,029)              4           (341)       4          (84)          32          (6)           3            (6,460)              43 
 Others(2)                (4,026)             (5)           491        5            9            9           1           (3)           (3,525)               6 
-------------------- 
 At 31 Dec 2019          195,249            (132)        11,103     (143)       2,235         (796)         78          (33)          208,665           (1,104) 
--------------------  ----------  ------  ------       --------   ------       ------  ---  ------       -----  ----  -----   ---  ----------  ------  ------- 
 ECL income 
  statement 
  (charge)/release 
  for the period                              84                     (28)                     (176)                     (33)                              (153) 
 Add: Recoveries                                                                                                                                             6 
 Add/(less): Others                                                                                                                                         (3) 
 Total ECL income 
  (charge)/release 
  for the period                                                                                                                                          (150) 
--------------------  ------------------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------------  ------- 
 
 
 Reconciliation of changes in gross carrying/nominal amount and allowances 
  for loans and advances to banks and customers including 
  loan commitments and financial guarantees(1) (continued) 
                                                                                             12 month 
                                                                                               ended 
                                                                                            31 December 
                                                                At 31 Dec 2019                 2019 
                                                                                         --------------- 
                                                      Gross carrying/nominal  Allowance 
                                                                      amount    for ECL       ECL charge 
                                                                        GBPm       GBPm             GBPm 
                                                      ----------------------  --------- 
 As above                                                            208,665    (1,104)         (150) 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ----------- 
 Other financial assets measured at 
  amortised cost                                                     181,755        (9)            3 
                                                      ----------------------  --------   ----------- 
 Non-trading reverse purchase agreement 
  commitments                                                         37,999         -             - 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ----------- 
 Performance and other guarantees not 
  considered for IFRS 9                                                                           (4) 
 Summary of financial instruments to 
  which the impairment requirements in 
  IFRS 9 are applied/Summary consolidated 
  income statement                                                   428,419    (1,113)         (151) 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ----------- 
 Debt instruments measured at FVOCI                                   46,360       (16)           27 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ----------- 
 Total allowance for ECL/total income 
  statement ECL charge for the period                                    n/a    (1,129)         (124) 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------   ----------- 
 

1 Excludes performance guarantee contracts to which the impairment requirements in IFRS 9 are not applied.

2 Includes the period on period movement in exposures relating to other HSBC Group companies. As at 31 December 2019, these amounted to GBP(5)bn and were classified as Stage 1 with no ECL.

Customer relief programmes

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, governments and regulators around the world have introduced a number of support measures for both personal and wholesale customers in market-wide schemes. The following table presents the number of personal accounts/wholesale customers and the associated drawn loan values of customers under these schemes and HSBC-specific measures for major markets at 30 June 2020. In relation to personal lending, the majority of relief measures, including payment holidays, relate to existing lending, while in wholesale lending the relief measures comprise of payment holidays, refinancing of existing facilities and new lending under government backed schemes.

 
 Personal lending 
                                                                            Other major 
                                                                UK  France   markets(1)     Total 
 Market-wide schemes 
 Number of accounts granted mortgage customer 
  relief                                                     1,378       -            -   1,378 
 Drawn loan value of accounts granted mortgage 
  customer relief                                     GBPm     177       -            -     177 
 Number of accounts granted other personal 
  lending customer relief                                      628     248            -     876 
 Drawn loan value of accounts granted other 
  personal lending customer relief                    GBPm       6      20            -      26 
 HSBC-specific measures 
 Number of accounts granted mortgage customer 
  relief                                                         -       -        1,660   1,660 
 Drawn loan value of accounts granted mortgage 
  customer relief                                     GBPm       -       -          234     234 
 Number of accounts granted other personal 
  lending customer relief                                        -   2,503          812   3,315 
 Drawn loan value of accounts granted other 
  personal lending customer relief                    GBPm       -     564           24     588 
 Total personal lending to major markets 
  under market-wide schemes and HSBC-specific 
  measures 
 Number of accounts granted mortgage customer 
  relief                                                     1,378       -        1,660   3,038 
 Drawn loan value of accounts granted mortgage 
  customer relief                                     GBPm     177       -          234     411 
 Number of accounts granted other personal 
  lending customer relief                                      628   2,751          812   4,191 
 Drawn loan value of accounts granted other 
  personal lending customer relief                    GBPm       6     584           24     614 
 Market-wide schemes and HSBC-specific measures 
  - mortgage relief as a proportion of total 
  mortgages                                           %        9.6       -         12.6       6.3 
                                                                                         -------- 
 Market-wide schemes and HSBC-specific measures 
  - other personal lending relief as a proportion 
  of total other personal lending loans and 
  advances                                            %        6.6     3.3          5.1       3.4 
---------------------------------------------------  ------  -----  ------  -----------  -------- 
 
 Wholesale lending 
                                                                            Other major 
                                                                UK  France   markets(1)     Total 
 Market-wide schemes 
 Number of customers under market-wide schemes                   -   3,633            9   3,642 
 Drawn loan value of customers under market-wide 
  schemes                                             GBPm       -   2,119           76   2,195 
 HSBC-specific measures 
 Number of customers under HSBC-specific 
  measures                                                      58   9,410          111   9,579 
 Drawn loan value of customers under HSBC-specific 
  measures                                            GBPm      30   3,212          204   3,446 
 Total wholesale lending to major markets 
  under market-wide schemes and HSBC-specific 
  measures 
 Number of customers                                            58  13,043          120  13,221 
 Drawn loan value                                     GBPm      30   5,331          280   5,641 
 Market-wide schemes and HSBC-specific measures 
  as a proportion of total wholesale lending 
  loans and advances                                  %        0.1    21.4          2.3       7.5 
---------------------------------------------------  ------  -----  ------  -----------  -------- 
 

1 Other major markets include Germany, Malta and Spain. Italy is not included because it has no exposures at 30 June 2020.

The initial granting of customer relief does not automatically trigger a migration to Stage 2 or 3. However, information provided by payment deferrals is considered in the context of other reasonable and supportable information. This forms part of the overall assessment for significant increase in credit risk and credit impairment to identify loans for which lifetime ECL is appropriate. An extension in payment deferral does not automatically result in Stage 2 or Stage 3. The key accounting and credit risk judgement to ascertain whether a significant increase in credit risk has occurred is whether the economic effects of the Covid-19 outbreak on the customer are likely to be temporary over the lifetime of the loan, and whether they indicate that a concession is being made in respect of financial difficulty that would be consistent with Stage 3.

Market-wide schemes

The following narrative provides further details on the major government and regulatory schemes offered in the UK, France and other major markets.

UK personal lending

Mortgages

Customer relief granted on UK mortgages primarily consists of payment holidays or partial payment deferrals.

Relief is offered for an initial period of three months, but subject to FCA consultation, this may be extended for a further three months in certain circumstances. No payment is required from the borrower during this period and interest continues to be charged as usual. There is no impact upon the customers' arrears or default status from the utilisation of these schemes.

Other personal lending payment holidays

Customer relief is granted for an initial period of three months, but subject to FCA consultation, this may be extended for a further three months. The maximum relief value is up to the due payment amount during the period.

UK wholesale lending

The primary relief granted under government schemes consists of Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Schemes ('CLBILS'). It provides finance to medium and large-sized enterprises that have a turnover in excess of GBP45m with loans of up to GBP200m. The interest rate and tenor of the loan are negotiated on commercial terms. A government guarantee of 80% is provided under the scheme. No lending has been granted as at 30 June 2020.

France personal lending

Other personal lending

The Prêt garanti par l'Etat ('PGE') government scheme provides term lending to professionals, firms, business owners, craftsmen and micro-entrepreneurs for a maximum duration of one year. The maximum relief value is EUR7m. Borrowers need to confirm that Covid-19 has placed them under temporary financial hardship and that they didn't experience financial difficulties before the crisis.

France wholesale lending

The Prêt garanti par l'Etat ('PGE') government scheme provides term lending to all registered French companies, excluding real estate special purpose vehicles ('SPVs'), banks, and companies subject to insolvency proceedings, for a maximum duration of one year (with the option to amortise up to five years). The maximum loan value is linked to turnover.

Other major markets - wholesale lending

Germany

Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) Coronavirus Aid provides lending to corporates for a maximum tenor of five years. The loan size is dependent on turnover and is capped at EUR100m.

Malta

The Covid-19 guarantee scheme provides funding to all business undertakings established and operating in Malta, for a maximum loan tenor of five years. The maximum loan value is EUR10m for small and medium enterprises and EUR25m for large enterprises. Higher amounts must be referred to Malta Development Bank.

Spain

The Official Credit Institute (Instituto de Crédito Oficial) ('ICO') scheme provides funding to Spanish companies, that are not listed as delinquent or insolvent and are not in a critical situation as defined by Regulation, for a maximum tenor of five years. The maximum loan size is linked to company wage bills and turnover. HSBC Spain assesses the eligibility of facilities for funding up to EUR50m. Facilities over EUR50m are referred to the ICO.

Italy

Italy's government backed lending scheme (SACE guarantee) provides state backed guarantees to companies based in Italy. HSBC Italy had no exposure to state guarantees at 30 June 2020.

HSBC-specific measures

UK wholesale lending

HSBC is offering repayment holidays on small business term loans, flexible business loans, fixed rate loans and LIBOR loans to CMB customers. The duration is three to six months and there is no specific cap or maximum loan value.

France personal lending

Payment holidays offered to professionals, firms, business owners, craftsmen and micro-entrepreneurs for a duration between one and nine months. The maximum relief value is EUR2m.

France wholesale lending

Payment holidays offered to commercial banking customers focused largely on business banking or lower end micro and medium enterprises. The duration is between 3 and 18 months and there is no specific maximum loan value.

Malta personal lending

Mortgages and term loans

Repayment holidays offered to customers for a duration between three and six months. There is no specific cap or maximum loan value.

Malta wholesale lending

Repayment holidays offered to customers for a duration between three and six months. There is no specific cap or maximum loan value.

Market Risk in the first half of 2020

Market risk is the risk that movements in market factors, including foreign exchange rates and commodity prices, interest rates, credit spreads and equity prices will reduce the group's income or the value of its portfolios.

There were no material changes to our policies and practices for the management of market risk in the first half of 2020.

Global financial conditions worsened rapidly with the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak from mid-February. Market volatility reached extreme levels across most asset classes and equity prices fell sharply from the previous historic peak levels. In credit markets, spreads and yields reached multi-year highs. The gold market experienced Covid-19-related disruption in refining and transportation, affecting the relative pricing of gold futures contracts. Oil prices collapsed due to rising oversupply as demand reduced materially from the economic slowdown. Financial markets tended to stabilise from April onwards, as governments in mainly developed countries announced economic recovery programmes and key central banks intervened to provide liquidity and support asset prices.

We managed market risk prudently in the first half of 2020. Sensitivity exposures remained within appetite as the business pursued its core market-making activity in support of our customers during the outbreak. We also undertook hedging activities to protect the business from potential future deterioration in credit conditions. Market risk continued to be managed using a complementary set of exposure measures and limits, including stress and scenario analysis.

The overall risk profile remained relatively stable in 1H20 as the Fixed Income business continued to be the main driver of trading VaR. Interest rate risks from market-making activities were the key contributors to trading VaR, with partially offsetting gains from credit spread risks. The Equity and Foreign Exchange businesses provided a further offset to overall market risks in the trading book.

Trading portfolios

Value at risk of the trading portfolios

Trading VaR predominantly resides within Global Markets where it was GBP34.2m at 30 June 2020 compared with GBP24.9m at 31 December 2019. The Total Trading VaR has been fairly volatile during the first half of 2020 due to an unprecedented level of volatility owing to the Covid-19 pandemic; it remained fairly stable during Q1 but increased rapidly during Q2, driven by the Credit, and equity trading VaRs.

The Credit VaR increase was essentially due to a general widening of the credit spreads in March and the utilisation of multiplicative shifts In the credit VaR model. Subsequently, the tightening of the credit spreads during Q2 resulted in a decrease of the Credit VaR.

The equity VaR increase was mostly driven by the equity Dividend add-on; the large dividend cuts applied by many companies in Q1, have been integrated as new scenarios in the risks not in VaR, which as a result, increased the overall add-on.

 
 Daily VaR (trading portfolios), 99% 1 day (GBPm) 
 
 
 Trading 
  VaR 
  inc RNIV 
 IR trading 
  inc RNIV 
 Equity 
  Trading 
  inc RNIV 
 CR Trading 
 FX Trading 
 Diversification 
 
 
 
 

The group's trading VaR for the year is shown in the table below.

 
 Trading VaR, 99% 1 day 
                             Foreign 
                            exchange                       Credit 
                            (FX) and    Interest  Equity   Spread              Portfolio 
                           commodity   rate (IR)    (EQ)     (CS)     Diversification(1)    Total(2) 
                                GBPm        GBPm    GBPm     GBPm                   GBPm        GBPm 
 Balance as at 30 Jun 
  2020                           6.3        16.4    19.0     14.1             (21.6)          34.2 
 Average                         6.2        13.9    17.9     15.4             (20.6)          32.8 
 Maximum                        12.1        20.4    33.2     29.2                             49.2 
 Minimum                         2.0        10.2     8.1     10.0                             20.9 
------------------------  ----------  ----------  ------  -------  ---------------------  -------- 
 
 Balance at 31 Dec 2019          3.1        16.1    11.4     10.8             (16.5)          24.9 
 Average                         4.1        17.1    10.3     17.1             (16.6)          32.0 
 Maximum                        10.3        23.3    19.7     26.3                             39.8 
 Minimum                         2.0        12.9     6.3      8.3                             23.2 
------------------------  ----------  ----------  ------  -------  ---------------------  -------- 
 
 Balance as at 30 Jun 
  2019                           3.5        16.5    10.8     22.3             (17.9)          35.2 
 Average                         4.2        18.1     9.5     17.2             (16.6)          32.4 
 Maximum                         9.3        23.3    15.7     23.8                             39.8 
 Minimum                         2.4        14.3     6.3     12.3                             24.8 
------------------------  ----------  ----------  ------  -------  ---------------------  -------- 
 

1 Portfolio diversification is the market risk dispersion effect of holding a portfolio containing different risk types. It represents the reduction in unsystematic market risk that occurs when combining a number of different risk types, for example, interest rate, equity and foreign exchange, together in one portfolio. It is measured as the difference between the sum of the VaR by individual risk type and the combined total VaR. A negative number represents the benefit of portfolio diversification. As the maximum occurs on different days for different risk types, it is not meaningful to calculate a portfolio diversification benefit for this measure.

2 The total VaR is non-additive across risk types due to diversification effect and it includes VaR RNIV.

Back-testing

In H1 2020, the group experienced 5 loss back-testing exceptions against Actual profit and losses. The group also experienced 13 loss back-testing exceptions against Hypothetical profit and losses. The high number of Hypothetical back-testing exceptions that occurred in March 2020 was primarily due to the extreme market volatility resulting from the economic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, which was significantly greater than the volatility used in the model calibration.

In recognition of the exceptional market environment, the PRA has granted temporary relief, valid for six months, that permits UK firms, including HSBC, to offset the impact of the higher VaR multiplier resulting from exceptions that occurred after the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak. This offset is against incremental RNIV market risk capital requirements.

The Hypothetical profit and loss reflects the profit and loss that would be realised if positions were held constant from the end of one trading day to the end of the next. This measure of profit and loss does not align with how risk is dynamically hedged, and is not therefore necessarily indicative of the actual performance of the business.

Despite the high number of loss exceptions, performance of the VaR model was in line with expectations when considered in the context of the extraordinary market movements observed in March and April 2020. During this period, market risk continued to be managed using a complementary set of exposure measures and limits, including stress and scenario analysis. This ensured that the business was prudently managed and performed well across the period.

Non-trading portfolios

Value at risk of the non-trading portfolios

The non-trading VaR as at 30 June 2020 was GBP32.7m, driven by interest rate risk in the banking book arising from BSM and ALCO book positions. The VaR for non-trading activity was GBP16.9m as at 31 December 2019 with spikes seen particularly during March and April due to unprecedented levels of volatility in the markets caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Extreme volatility in the yields of sovereign debt and interest rate swaps, coupled with volatility in the spread of agencies and supranationals led to an overall increase in the non-trading VaR during the first half of the year. The BSM business were actively managing the interest rate risk by reducing outright interest rate risk during the height of the crisis

and adding on treasury spread risk as the economy recovers from the peaks of Covid-19 driving some of the fluctuations of VaR between March and June. The daily levels of total non-trading VaR over the last year are set out in the graph below.

 
 Daily VaR (non-trading portfolios), 99% 1 day (GBPm) 
 
 
 Non-trading 
  VaR 
 IR non-trading 
 CS non-trading 
 Diversification 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The group's non-trading VaR for the year is shown in the table below.

 
 Non-trading VaR, 99% 1 day 
                             Interest   Credit 
                                 rate   spread              Portfolio 
                                 (IR)     (CS)     diversification(1)    Total(2) 
                                 GBPm     GBPm                   GBPm        GBPm 
 Balance as at 30 Jun 2020       23.4     13.7              (4.4)          32.7 
 Average                         17.4     10.2              (4.2)          23.4 
 Maximum                         26.8     14.8                             32.7 
 Minimum                         14.3      5.7                             15.2 
 
 Balance as at 31 Dec 2019       15.7      5.7              (4.5)          16.9 
 Average                         17.5      5.3              (4.3)          18.5 
 Maximum                         20.7      7.3                             22.5 
 Minimum                         14.9      4.2                             15.4 
 
 Balance as at 30 Jun 2019       18.3      5.2              (4.2)          19.3 
 Average                         17.9      5.3              (4.3)          18.9 
 Maximum                         20.7      7.3                             22.5 
 Minimum                         15.6      4.4                             15.4 
---------------------------  --------  -------  ---------------------  -------- 
 

1 Portfolio diversification is the market risk dispersion effect of holding a portfolio containing different risk types. It represents the reduction in unsystematic market risk that occurs when combining a number of different risk types, for example, interest rate, equity and foreign exchange, together in one portfolio. It is measured as the difference between the sum of the VaR by individual risk type and the combined total VaR. A negative number represents the benefit of portfolio diversification. As the maximum occurs on different days for different risk types, it is not meaningful to calculate a portfolio diversification benefit for this measure.

   2   The total VaR is non-additive across risk types due to diversification effect. 

Insurance manufacturing operations risk

Overview

The majority of the risk in our insurance business derives from manufacturing activities and can be categorised as financial risk and insurance risk. Financial risks include market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. Insurance risk is the risk, other than financial risk, of loss transferred from the holder of the insurance contract to HSBC, the issuer. The cost of claims and benefits can be influenced by many factors, including mortality and morbidity experience, as well as lapse and surrender rates.

A summary of our policies and practices regarding the risk management of insurance operations, our insurance model and the main contracts we manufacture is provided on page 71 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2019.

There have been no material changes to the policies and practices for the management of risks arising in our insurance operations described in the Annual Report and Accounts 2019.

Insurance manufacturing operations risk profile in the first half of 2020

The risk profile of our insurance manufacturing businesses is measured using an economic capital approach. Assets and liabilities are measured on a market value basis, and a capital requirement is defined to ensure that there is a less than one in 200 chance of insolvency over a one-year time horizon, given the risks to which the businesses are exposed. The methodology for the economic capital calculation is largely aligned to the pan-European Solvency II insurance capital regulations. A key risk appetite metric is the economic coverage ratio, which is calculated by dividing the economic net asset value by the economic capital requirement. The business has a current appetite to remain above 135% with a tolerance to 110%. In addition to economic capital, the regulatory solvency ratio is also a metric used to manage risk appetite on an entity basis.

Covid-19 impacts on financial markets has impacted the profitability of manufactured insurance products and has caused

overall capital levels to fall in several of the insurance entities. At 30 June 2020 regulatory capital levels were above risk appetite and the group economic capital level was above risk tolerance. A variety of management actions was taken during the period to actively manage the risk profile of the insurance entities. Enhanced monitoring of risks and pricing conditions will continue, as the low level of interest rates results in a higher cost of guarantees to be paid to policyholders, increasing the reinvestment risk for interest rate sensitive products. This will have an impact on their profitability and increase the solvency requirements for the entities which are most exposed to these products.

The following table shows the composition of assets and liabilities by contract type.

 
 Balance sheet of insurance manufacturing subsidiaries by type of contract 
                                                                                                         Shareholder 
                                                                                                              assets 
                                                                             With   Unit-         Other          and 
                                                                              DPF  linked  contracts(1)  liabilities     Total 
                                                                Footnotes    GBPm    GBPm          GBPm         GBPm      GBPm 
 Financial assets                                                          19,791   2,187           251        2,370  24,599 
 
   *    financial assets designated and otherwise mandatorily 
        measured at fair value through profit or loss                       8,473   2,116            93          983  11,665 
 
   *    derivatives                                                           104       -             -            3     107 
 - financial investments - at amortised 
  cost                                                                        283       -             1           15     299 
 - financial investments - at fair 
  value through other comprehensive 
  income                                                                    9,181       -           111        1,258  10,550 
 - other financial assets                                           2       1,750      71            46          111   1,978 
 Reinsurance assets                                                             -      51           146            -     197 
 PVIF                                                               3           -       -             -          649     649 
                                                                           ------  ------  ------------ 
 Other assets and investment properties                                       794       1             1           48     844 
------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Total assets at 30 Jun 2020                                               20,585   2,239           398        3,067  26,289 
-------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ------  ------  ------------  -----------  ------ 
 Liabilities under investment contracts 
  designated at fair value                                                      -     875             -            -     875 
                                                                                   ------                ----------- 
 Liabilities under insurance contracts                                     20,472   1,358           362            -  22,192 
                                                                                   ------                ----------- 
 Deferred tax                                                       4         113       2             -           45     160 
-------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ------  ------  ------------  -----------  ------ 
 Other liabilities                                                              -       -             -        1,704   1,704 
 Total liabilities at 30 Jun 2020                                          20,585   2,235           362        1,749  24,931 
-------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ------  ------  ------------  -----------  ------ 
 Total equity at 30 Jun 2020                                                    -       -             -        1,358   1,358 
-------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ------  ------  ------------  -----------  ------ 
 Total liabilities and equity at 30 
  Jun 2020                                                                 20,585   2,235           362        3,107  26,289 
-------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ------  ------  ------------  -----------  ------ 
 
 
 Financial assets                                                   19,258  2,116  233  2,231  23,838 
 
   *    financial assets designated and otherwise mandatorily 
        measured at fair value through profit or loss                8,222  2,057   78  1,359  11,716 
 - derivatives                                                          61      -    -      2      63 
 - financial investments - at amortised 
  cost                                                                  69      -    1      7      77 
 - financial investments - at fair 
  value through other comprehensive 
  income                                                             9,033      -  105    749   9,887 
 - other financial assets                                        2   1,873     59   49    114   2,095 
 Reinsurance assets                                                      -     50  129      -     179 
 PVIF                                                            3       -      -    -    715     715 
                                                                    ------  -----  --- 
 Other assets and investment properties                                763      1    1     54     819 
 Total assets at 31 Dec 2019                                        20,021  2,167  363  3,000  25,551 
--------------------------------------------------------------      ------  -----  ---  -----  ------ 
 Liabilities under investment contracts 
  designated at fair value                                               -    862    -      -     862 
 Liabilities under insurance contracts                              19,889  1,295  325      -  21,509 
 Deferred tax                                                    4     137      6    -     31     174 
 Other liabilities                                                       -      -    -  1,645   1,645 
                                                                                        ----- 
 Total liabilities at 31 Dec 2019                                   20,026  2,163  325  1,676  24,190 
-------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Total equity at 31 Dec 2019                                             -      -    -  1.361   1,361 
--------------------------------------------------------------      ------  -----  ---  -----  ------ 
 Total liabilities and equity at 31 
  Dec 2019                                                          20,026  2,163  325  3,037  25,551 
--------------------------------------------------------------      ------  -----  ---  -----  ------ 
 
   1   'Other contracts' includes term assurance and credit life insurance. 

2 Comprise mainly loans and advances to banks, cash and intercompany balances with other non-insurance legal entities.

   3   Present value of in-force long-term insurance business. 
   4   'Deferred tax' includes the deferred tax liabilities arising on recognition of PVIF. 

Market risk

Description and exposure

Market risk is the risk of changes in market factors affecting the bank's capital or profit. Market factors include interest rates, equity and growth assets and foreign exchange rates.

Our exposure varies depending on the type of contract issued. Our most significant life insurance products are investment contracts with discretionary participating features ('DPF') issued in France. These products typically include some form of capital guarantee or guaranteed return on the sums invested by the policyholders, to which discretionary bonuses are added if allowed by the overall performance of the funds. These funds are primarily invested in bonds with a proportion allocated to other asset classes, to provide customers with the potential for enhanced returns. DPF products expose the bank to the risk of variation in asset returns, which will impact our participation in the investment performance. In addition, in some scenarios the asset returns can become insufficient to cover the policyholders' financial guarantees, in which case the shortfall has to be met by the bank. Amounts are held against the cost of such guarantees, calculated by stochastic modelling.

Where local rules require, these reserves are held as part of liabilities under insurance contracts. Any remainder is accounted for as a deduction from the present value of in-force 'PVIF' long-term insurance contracts. The table below shows the total reserve held for the cost of guarantees, the range of investment returns on assets supporting these products and the implied investment return that would enable the business to meet the guarantees. For unit-linked contracts, market risk is substantially borne by the policyholder, but some market risk exposure typically remains as fees earned are related to the market value of the linked assets.

Sensitivities

The following table illustrates the effects of selected interest rate and equity price scenarios on our profit for the period and the total equity of our insurance manufacturing subsidiaries.

Where appropriate, the effects of the sensitivity tests on profit after tax and equity incorporate the impact of the stress on the PVIF. Where observable long-tenor interest rates are at or close to zero, the -100bps stress sensitivity allows for the impact of negative rates.

Due in part to the impact of the cost of guarantees and hedging strategies which may be in place, the relationship between the profit and total equity and the risk factors is non-linear. Therefore, the results disclosed should not be extrapolated to measure sensitivities to different levels of stress. For the same reason, the impact of the stress is not necessarily symmetrical on the upside and downside. The sensitivities are stated before allowance for management actions which may mitigate the effect of changes in the market environment. The sensitivities presented allow for adverse changes in policyholder behaviour that may arise in response to changes in market rates.

 
 Sensitivity of the group's insurance manufacturing subsidiaries to 
  market risk factors 
                                                  30 June 2020        31 December 2019 
                                                  Effect   Effect                  Effect 
                                                      on       on       Effect         on 
                                                  profit    total    on profit      total 
                                               after tax   equity    after tax     equity 
                                                    GBPm     GBPm         GBPm       GBPm 
                                                          -------  -----------  --------- 
 +100 basis point parallel shift 
  in yield curves                                   102       81           84       67 
                                                                   ----------   ------ 
 -100 basis point parallel shift 
  in yield curves                                  (196)    (173)        (175)    (157) 
 10% increase in equity prices                       29       29           28       28 
                                                                   ----------   ------ 
 10% decrease in equity prices                      (30)     (30)         (30)     (30) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------   ------   ----------   ------ 
 
 
 Capital 
 
 
 Key capital numbers 
                                                     At 
                                              30 Jun     31 Dec 
                                  Footnotes     2020       2019 
                                             -------  --------- 
 Available capital 
  (GBPm)                              1 
 Common equity tier 
  1 ('CET1') capital                          18,701   17,791 
                                             -------  ------- 
 Tier 1 capital                               22,819   22,130 
                                             ------- 
 Total regulatory capital                     35,490   34,929 
-------------------------------  ----------  -------  ------- 
 Risk-weighted assets 
  ('RWAs') (GBPm) 
 Credit risk                          2       87,585   79,208 
-------------------------------  ----------  -------  ------- 
 Counterparty credit 
  risk                                        21,699   21,286 
 Market risk                                  17,282   13,107 
                                             ------- 
 Operational risk                             11,812   11,812 
 Total risk-weighted 
  assets                                     138,378  125,413 
-------------------------------  ----------  -------  ------- 
 Capital ratios (%)                   1 
 Common equity tier 
  1                                             13.5     14.2 
 Tier 1                                         16.5     17.6 
-------------------------------  ----------  -------  ------- 
 Total capital                                  25.6     27.9 
 Leverage ratio (transitional) 
 Tier 1 capital (GBPm)                        22,819   22,130 
 Total leverage ratio 
  exposure measure (GBPm)                    600,340  571,302 
-------------------------------  ----------  -------  ------- 
 Leverage ratio (%)                              3.8      3.9 
 Leverage ratio (fully 
  phased-in) 
 Tier 1 capital (GBPm)                        22,386   21,480 
                                             -------  ------- 
 Total leverage ratio 
  exposure measure (GBPm)                    600,340  571,302 
                                             -------  ------- 
 Leverage ratio (%)                              3.7      3.8 
-------------------------------  ----------  -------  ------- 
 

1 Capital figures and ratios are calculated in accordance with the revisions to the Capital Requirements Regulation and Directive, as implemented ('CRR II'), and are subject to the 'CRR Quick Fixes' package where applicable. See page 35 for further detail.

2 'Credit risk' here, and in all tables in this capital section where the term is used, excludes counterparty credit risk.

 
 Capital overview 
 

Our objective in managing the group's capital is to maintain appropriate levels of capital to support our business strategy, and meet regulatory and stress testing requirements.

We manage group capital to ensure we exceed current and expected future requirements, and that we respect the payment priority of our capital providers. Throughout the six months to

30 June 2020, we complied with the Prudential Regulation Authority's ('PRA') regulatory capital adequacy requirements, including those relating to stress testing.

A summary of our policies and practices regarding capital management, measurement and allocation is provided on page 75 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2019.

 
 Risk-weighted assets 
 

Risk-weighted assets ('RWAs') rose by GBP13.0bn during the first half of the year, including an increase of GBP6.0bn due to foreign currency translation differences. The GBP7.0bn increase (excluding foreign currency translation differences) comprised the movements described by the following comments.

Asset size

The GBP6.0bn increase in RWAs was predominantly due to GBP3.6bn lending growth in GBM and CMB and a GBP3.2bn increase in market risk RWAs as a result of market volatility. This was partly offset by management initiatives of GBP1.1bn within GBM and CMB.

Asset quality

Changes in asset quality led to a RWA increase of GBP1.3bn mainly within CMB and GBM.

Model updates

Model updates led to a GBP1.1bn decrease in RWAs. This was largely due to a GBP0.8bn fall in market risk RWAs, as a result of a temporary adjustment to the calculation of risks not in VaR, and a GBP0.3bn decrease within GBM and CMB due to global corporate model updates.

Methodology and policy

The GBP0.6bn rise in RWAs included a GBP3.8bn increase caused by changes in approach to wholesale credit risk exposures and a GBP0.8bn increase in market risk RWAs relating to foreign exchange risk. This was partly offset by reductions due to management initiatives mainly within GBM worth GBP4.1bn, which included risk parameter refinements and a change in the treatment of undrawn private equity fund commitments.

With effect from 1 January 2020, we implemented two changes in approach to our wholesale credit risk exposures. Application of the new securitisation framework to the pre-existing book caused RWAs to rise by GBP2.8bn, mainly in Corporate Centre and GBM. We also transferred several UK corporate portfolios from the Advanced to the Foundation IRB approach which resulted in a GBP1.0bn rise in RWAs in GBM.

 
 RWA movement by global business by key driver 
                                    Credit risk, counterparty 
                                   credit risk and operational 
                                               risk 
                                                           Corporate   Market       Total 
                                   WPB       CMB      GBM     Centre     risk        RWAs 
                                  GBPm      GBPm     GBPm       GBPm     GBPm        GBPm 
                            ----------  --------  -------  ---------  -------  ---------- 
 RWAs at 1 Jan 2020          9,119       28,768   68,569      5,850   13,107   125,413 
-------------------------- 
Asset size                     (63)          91    2,055        822    3,189     6,094 
 
Asset quality                 (159)       1,266      269        (72)       -     1,304 
 
Model updates                    -          (73)    (191)        24     (811)   (1,051) 
Methodology and policy         495          405   (2,426)     1,315      835       624 
 
Foreign exchange movement      422        1,511    2,945        154      962     5,994 
 
Total RWA movement             695        3,200    2,652      2,243    4,175    12,965 
 RWAs at 30 Jun 2020         9,814       31,968   71,221      8,093   17,282   138,378 
-------------------------- 
 

Regulatory developments

Covid-19

The current Covid-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge to the global economy. Governments, central banks and regulatory authorities have responded to this challenge with a number of regulatory measures. The substance of the announcements and the pace of response varies by jurisdiction but broadly, these have included a number of customer support measures; operational capacity measures; and amendments to the RWAs, capital and liquidity frameworks.

In the EU, the relief measures have included a package known as the 'CRR Quick Fixes' that was enacted in June 2020. The package represents an acceleration of some of the beneficial elements of the amendments to the Capital Requirements Regulation ('CRR II') that were originally scheduled for June 2021, together with other amendments to mitigate the potential volatility in capital ratios arising from the pandemic. The material changes that were finalised in June, include:

-- a resetting of the transitional provisions in relation to recognising IFRS 9 provisions in Common Equity Tier 1 ('CET1') capital;

-- the acceleration of the timetable for the changes to the CET1 deduction of software assets so that once the European Banking Authority ('EBA') finishes its current consultation on the new methodology, the rules can go live;

-- the CRR II changes to the small and medium sized enterprises ('SME') supporting factor and the new infrastructure supporting factor; and

-- the CRR II change to the netting in the leverage ratio exposure measure of regular-way purchases and sales.

The Prudential Regulation Authority ('PRA') has published a statement in response to the package, stating that it will be undertaking a quantitative analysis of the benefits which will be used to inform its supervisory approach. This will include an assessment of whether further action is necessary in Pillar 2.

In addition to the CRR Quick Fix package, there were other changes to the regime in response to Covid-19. These included the enactment by the EU of beneficial changes to the CET1 deduction for prudent valuation adjustments, which will remain in place until 1 January 2021, and the PRA announcing that it is setting all Pillar 2A requirements in 2020 and 2021 as a nominal amount, instead of a percentage of total RWAs.

The Basel Committee

In December 2017, the Basel Committee ('Basel') published the Basel III Reforms. The package finalised in July 2020 when Basel published the final revisions to the credit valuation adjustment ('CVA') framework.

In March 2020, Basel announced a one-year delay to the implementation of the package. It is now to be implemented on

1 January 2023, with a five-year transitional provision for the output floor. This floor ensures that, at the end of the transitional period, banks' total RWAs will be no lower than 72.5% of those generated by the standardised approaches. The final standards will need to be transposed into the relevant local law before coming into effect. The EU and the UK authorities have already indicated that they will apply the new timetable.

There remains a significant degree of uncertainty about the impact of these changes due to the number of national discretions within Basel's reforms and the need for further supporting technical standards to be developed. Furthermore, any impact needs to be viewed in light of the possibility of offsets against Pillar 2, which may arise as shortcomings within Pillar 1 are addressed.

The Capital Requirements Regulation amendments

In June 2019, the EU enacted the CRR II. This is the EU's implementation of changes to the own funds regime and to the Financial Stability Board's ('FSB') requirements for total loss-absorbing capacity ('TLAC'), known in the EU as the minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities ('MREL'). The CRR II will also implement the first tranche of changes to the EU's legislation to reflect the Basel III Reforms, including the changes to market risk ('FRTB') rules, revisions to the standardised approach for measuring counterparty risk, changes to the equity investments in funds rules and the new leverage ratio rules. The CRR II rules will follow a phased implementation with significant elements entering into force in 2021, in advance of Basel's timeline.

The EU's implementation of the Basel III Reforms

The remaining elements of the Basel III Reforms will be implemented in the EU by a further set of amendments to the Capital Requirements Regulation. In 2019, the European Commission began consulting on its implementation, which will include reforms to the credit and operational risk rules and a new output floor. However, draft legislative text has not yet been published. The EU implementation will be subject to an extensive negotiation process with the EU Council and Parliament. As a result, the final form of the rules remains unclear.

The UK's withdrawal from the EU

The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. In order to smooth the transition, the UK remains subject to EU law during an implementation period, which will end on 31 December 2020. The PRA has announced its intention that, save for in certain limited circumstances, the changes to the prudential framework arising as a result of the UK's withdrawal will be delayed until 31 March 2022.

In June, Her Majesty's Treasury ('HMT') published an update on the framework to implement future prudential changes in the UK. This will be in the form of a Financial Services Bill in which powers will be delegated to the PRA for detailed rule making. The UK has stated that it intends to implement its own version of CRR II to the same timetable as the EU.

At the same time, HMT published a consultation on the implementation of the amendments to the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive ('BRRD2'), the main EU regulation overseeing resolution and MREL standards. It also subsequently published a consultation on aspects of the amendments to the Capital Requirements Directive ('CRDV'). HMT propose to implement in UK law only those elements of BRRD2 and CRDV that are live on 31 December 2020.

In July 2020, the PRA also issued a consultation on implementing parts of the CRDV, which include its requirements for Pillar 2, remuneration and governance. In the autumn, the PRA will consult on the remaining elements of CRDV and the CRR II elements that apply from December 2020.

Other developments

In July 2020, the PRA published its final policy on reducing Pillar 2A to reflect the additional resilience associated with the higher Countercyclical Capital Buffer ('CCyB') in a standard risk environment proposed by the Financial Policy Committee. However, reflecting the reduction of the UK's CCyB to 0% and the fact that the UK's structural CCyB rate set in a standard risk environment has not changed, the PRA has introduced a requirement to temporarily increase the PRA buffer to offset some of the reductions in Pillar 2A that firms receive under this proposal. The rules take immediate effect.

Also in July, the PRA published a statement outlining its views on the implications of London Interbank Offered Rate ('LIBOR') transition for contracts in scope of its resolution-related rules. The EBA also published its final guidelines on the treatment of structural foreign exchange positions which will apply from

1 January 2022, one year later than originally planned.

In June, the PRA sent a letter to CEOs outlining its expectations of firms in managing climate-related financial risks and advising firms that they must have fully embedded their approaches to managing such risk by the end of 2021.

 
 Comparison of own funds, capital and leverage ratios, with and without 
  the application of transitional arrangements for IFRS 9 
  (IFRS9-FL) 
                                                                               At 
                                                                    30 Jun    31 Dec    30 Jun 
 Ref*                                                  Footnotes      2020      2019      2019 
                                                      ----------  --------  --------  -------- 
       Available capital (GBPbn) 
 1     Common equity tier 1 ('CET1') capital               ^        18.7      17.8      19.7 
                                                      ----------  ------ 
       CET1 capital as if IFRS 9 transitional 
 2      arrangements had not been applied                           18.6      17.7      19.7 
 3     Tier 1 capital                                      ^        22.8      22.1      22.9 
       Tier 1 capital as if IFRS 9 transitional 
 4      arrangements had not been applied                           22.8      22.1      22.9 
 5     Total capital                                       ^        35.5      34.9      36.9 
       Total capital as if IFRS 9 transitional 
 6      arrangements had not been applied                           35.4      34.9      36.9 
                                                                  ------ 
       Risk-weighted assets ('RWAs') (GBPbn) 
 7     Total RWAs                                                  138.4     125.4     148.8 
       Total RWAs as if IFRS 9 transitional 
 8      arrangements had not been applied                          138.3     125.4     148.7 
                                                                  ------ 
       Capital ratios (%) 
 9     CET1                                                ^        13.5      14.2      13.3 
                                                      ---------- 
       CET1 as if IFRS 9 transitional arrangements 
 10     had not been applied                                        13.5      14.1      13.2 
                                                                  ------ 
 11    Total tier 1                                        ^        16.5      17.6      15.4 
                                                      ---------- 
 12    Tier 1 as if IFRS 9 transitional arrangements 
        had not been applied                                        16.5      17.6      15.4 
 
 13    Total capital                                       ^        25.6      27.9      24.8 
                                                      ---------- 
       Total capital as if IFRS 9 transitional 
 14     arrangements had not been applied                           25.6      27.8      24.8 
 
       Leverage ratio 
                                                                  -------- 
       Total leverage ratio exposure measure 
 15     (GBPbn)                                                    600.3     571.3     621.9 
                                                      ---------- 
 16    Leverage ratio (%)                                  ^         3.7       3.8       3.6 
                                                      ---------- 
       Leverage ratio as if IFRS 9 transitional 
17      arrangements had not been applied (%)                        3.7       3.7       3.6 
                                                      ---------- 
 

* The references identify the lines prescribed in the EBA template that are applicable and where there is a value.

   ^    Figures have been prepared on an IFRS 9 transitional basis. 

The group has adopted the regulatory transitional arrangements for IFRS 9 'Financial Instruments', including paragraph four within article 473a of the Capital Requirements Regulation, published by the EU on 27 December 2017. These transitional arrangements permit banks to add back to their capital base a proportion of the impact that IFRS 9 has upon their loan loss allowances during the first five years of use. The impact is defined as:

   --    the increase in loan loss allowances on day one of IFRS 9 adoption; and 

-- any subsequent increase in expected credit losses ('ECL') in the non-credit-impaired book thereafter.

Any add-back must be tax affected and accompanied by a recalculation of capital deduction thresholds, exposure and RWAs. The impact is calculated separately for portfolios using the standardised ('STD') and internal ratings based ('IRB') approaches. For IRB portfolios, there is no add-back to capital unless loan loss allowances exceed regulatory 12-month expected losses.

The EU's CRR 'Quick Fix' relief package enacted in June 2020 increased from 70% to 100% the relief that banks may take for loan loss allowances recognised since 1 January 2020 on the non-credit-impaired book.

In the current period, the add-back to CET1 capital amounted to GBP102m under the STD and IRB approaches with a tax impact of GBP(43)m. At 31 December 2019, the add-back to the capital base under the STD approach was GBP83m with a tax impact of GBP(21)m.

 
 Regulatory balance sheet 
 

Structure of the regulatory group

Assets, liabilities and post-acquisition reserves of subsidiaries engaged in insurance activities are excluded from the regulatory consolidation. Our investments in these insurance subsidiaries are recorded at cost and deducted from common CET1 capital, subject to thresholds.

The regulatory consolidation also excludes special purpose entities ('SPEs') where significant risk has been transferred to third parties. Exposures to these SPEs are risk weighted as securitisation positions for regulatory purposes.

Participating interests in banking associates are proportionally consolidated for regulatory purposes by including our share of assets, liabilities, profits and losses, and RWAs in accordance with the PRA's application of EU legislation. Non-participating significant investments, along with non-financial associates, are deducted from capital, subject to thresholds.

 
Reconciliation of balance sheet - financial accounting to regulatory 
 scope of consolidation 
                                                                                 Deconsolidation 
                                                                   Accounting      of insurance/    Consolidation    Regulatory 
                                                                      balance              other       of banking       balance 
                                                                        sheet           entities       associates         sheet 
                                                             Ref         GBPm               GBPm             GBPm          GBPm 
                                                            -----  ----------  -----------------  ---------------  ------------ 
Assets 
                                                            ----- 
Cash and balances at central banks                                    94,247             -               18           94,265 
Items in the course of collection 
 from other banks                                                        671             -                -              671 
Trading assets                                                        86,038             -                -           86,038 
Financial assets designated and otherwise 
 mandatorily measured at fair value 
 through profit or loss                                               18,222       (11,699)             362            6,885 
                                                                                             ---             ---- 
 
  *    of which: debt securities eligible as tier 2 issued 
       by group FSEs that are outside the regulatory scope 
       of consolidation                                       r            -           428                -              428 
                                                                                            ----             ---- 
Derivatives                                                          228,787           (60)               -          228,727 
Loans and advances to banks                                           14,258          (298)               -           13,960 
                                                                   ---------   -----------   ---  ---------  ----  --------- 
Loans and advances to customers                                      115,164          (507)               -          114,657 
 
- of which: expected credit losses 
 on IRB portfolios                                            h       (1,212)            -                -           (1,212) 
                                                                   ---------   -----------  ----  ---------  ----  --------- 
Reverse repurchase agreements - non-trading                           62,842             -                -           62,842 
Financial investments                                                 56,452       (11,037)               -           45,415 
                                                                   ---------   -----------   ---  ---------  ----  --------- 
Capital invested in insurance and 
 other entities                                                            -           633                -              633 
                                                                                            ----             ---- 
Prepayments, accrued income and other 
 assets                                                               79,030          (968)              27           78,089 
- of which: retirement benefit assets                         j           22             -                -               22 
                                                            -----  ---------   -----------  ----  ---------  ----  --------- 
Current tax assets                                                       606             -                -              606 
                                                                                            ----             ---- 
Interests in associates and joint 
 ventures                                                                422             -             (406)              16 
                                                                                            ----              --- 
Goodwill and intangible assets                                e          804          (650)               -              154 
Deferred tax assets                                           f          276           145                2              423 
                                                                   ---------   -----------  ----  ---------  ----  --------- 
Total assets at 30 Jun 2020                                          757,819       (24,441)               3          733,381 
                                                                                             ---             ---- 
Liabilities and equity 
                                                                   ----------  -----------------  ---------------  ------------ 
Liabilities 
                                                            -----  ----------  -----------------  ---------------  ------------ 
Deposits by banks                                                     38,157           (24)               -           38,133 
Customer accounts                                                    207,089           358                -          207,447 
Repurchase agreements - non-trading                                   31,263             -                -           31,263 
Items in the course of transmission 
 to other banks                                                          277             -                -              277 
Trading liabilities                                                   48,487             -                -           48,487 
Financial liabilities designated 
 at fair value                                                        42,255           376                -           42,631 
                                                              n, 
                                                              o, 
                                                              q, 
- of which: included in tier 2                                 i       2,374             -                -            2,374 
                                                                   ---------   -----------  ----  ---------  ----  --------- 
Derivatives                                                          222,552            38                -          222,590 
                                                                                            ----             ---- 
- of which: debit valuation adjustment                        i           46             -                -               46 
                                                            -----                           ----             ---- 
Debt securities in issue                                              24,159        (1,277)               -           22,882 
                                                                                             ---             ---- 
Accruals, deferred income and other 
 liabilities                                                          81,543          (985)               3           80,561 
                                                                                             ---             ---- 
Current tax liabilities                                                  133            (8)               -              125 
                                                                                             ---             ---- 
Liabilities under insurance contracts                                 22,192       (22,192)               -                - 
                                                                                             ---             ---- 
Provisions                                                               626            (2)               -              624 
 
  *    of which: credit-related contingent liabilities and 
       contractual commitments on IRB portfolios              h          132             -                -              132 
                                                                                            ----             ---- 
Deferred tax liabilities                                                  23           (15)               -                8 
                                                                                             ---             ---- 
Subordinated liabilities                                              14,247             -                -           14,247 
- of which: 
  included in tier 1                                          l          700             -                -              700 
                                                              n, 
                                                              o, 
  included in tier 2                                           q      13,547             -                -           13,547 
                                                            -----  ---------   -----------  ----  ---------  ----  --------- 
Total liabilities at 30 Jun 2020                                     733,003       (23,731)               3          709,275 
                                                                                             ---             ---- 
Equity 
                                                            ----- 
Called up share capital                                       a          797             -                -              797 
                                                            -----  ---------   -----------  ----  ---------  ----  --------- 
Other equity instruments                                      k        3,722             -                -            3,722 
                                                              c, 
Other reserves                                                 g      (4,557)            8                -           (4,549) 
                                                              b, 
Retained earnings                                              c      24,661          (718)               -           23,943 
                                                                   ---------   -----------   ---  ---------  ----  --------- 
Total shareholders' equity                                            24,623          (710)               -           23,913 
                                                              d, 
                                                              m, 
Non-controlling interests                                      p         193             -                -              193 
                                                            -----  ---------   -----------  ----  ---------  ----  --------- 
Total equity at 30 Jun 2020                                           24,816          (710)               -           24,106 
Total liabilities and equity at 30 
 Jun 2020                                                            757,819       (24,441)               3          733,381 
                                                                   ---------   -----------   ---  ---------  ----  --------- 
 

The references (a)-(r) identify balance sheet components which are used in the calculation of regulatory capital on pages 38 and 39.

 
 Own funds 
 
 
Own funds disclosure 
                                                                                   At 
                                                                             30 Jun      31 Dec 
                                                                               2020        2019 
Ref*                                                                Ref        GBPm        GBPm 
                                                                         ----------  ---------- 
      Common equity tier 1 capital: instruments and reserves 
                                                                         ----------  ---------- 
1     Capital instruments and related share premium accounts                 797         797 
 
        *    ordinary shares                                         a       797         797 
2     Retained earnings                                              b    17,328      19,272 
3     Accumulated other comprehensive income (and other 
       reserves)                                                     c     3,388       2,048 
5     Minority interests (amount allowed in consolidated 
       common equity tier 1)                                         d        67         350 
5a    Independently reviewed interim net profits net of 
       any foreseeable charge or dividend(1)                         b    (1,204)     (3,019) 
6     Common equity tier 1 capital before regulatory adjustments          20,376      19,448 
      Common equity tier 1 capital: regulatory adjustments 
7     Additional value adjustments(2)                                       (665)       (651) 
8     Intangible assets (net of related deferred tax liability)      e      (141)       (854) 
10    Deferred tax assets that rely on future profitability 
       excluding those arising from temporary differences 
       (net of related tax liability)                                f      (132)        (72) 
11    Fair value reserves related to gains or losses on 
       cash flow hedges                                              g      (170)        (65) 
12    Negative amounts resulting from the calculation 
       of expected loss amounts                                      h      (272)       (189) 
14    Gains or losses on liabilities at fair value resulting 
       from changes in own credit standing                           i      (274)        193 
15    Defined benefit pension fund assets                            j       (21)        (19) 
28    Total regulatory adjustments to common equity tier 
       1                                                                  (1,675)     (1,657) 
                                                                         ------- 
29    Common equity tier 1 capital                                        18,701      17,791 
                                                                         ------- 
      Additional tier 1 ('AT1') capital: instruments 
30    Capital instruments and related share premium accounts               3,722       3,722 
 
31      *    classified as equity under IFRSs                        k     3,722       3,722 
33    Amount of qualifying items and related share premium 
       accounts subject to phase out from AT1                        l       433         650 
34    Qualifying tier 1 capital included in consolidated 
       AT1 capital (including minority interests not included 
       in CET1) issued by subsidiaries and held by third 
       parties                                                       m        12          12 
 
36    Additional tier 1 capital before regulatory adjustments              4,167       4,384 
                                                                         ------- 
      Additional tier 1 capital: regulatory adjustments 
37    Direct and indirect holdings of own AT1 instruments(3)                 (49)        (45) 
43    Total regulatory adjustments to additional tier 
       1 capital                                                             (49)        (45) 
                                                                         ------- 
44    Additional tier 1 capital                                            4,118       4,339 
                                                                         ------- 
45    Tier 1 capital (T1 = CET1 + AT1)                                    22,819      22,130 
                                                                         ------- 
      Tier 2 capital: instruments and provisions 
                                                                         ----------  ---------- 
46    Capital instruments and related share premium accounts         n    12,462      12,336 
      - of which: instruments grandfathered under CRR 
       II                                                                  1,492       1,399 
                                                                         ------- 
47    Amount of qualifying items and the related share 
       premium accounts subject to phase out from T2                 o       440         661 
48    Qualifying own funds instruments included in consolidated 
       T2 capital (including minority interests and AT1 
       instruments not included in CET1 or AT1) issued              p, 
       by subsidiaries and held by third parties                     q       229         232 
49    - of which: instruments issued by subsidiaries subject 
       to phase out                                                  q        54          57 
                                                                         ------- 
      - of which: instruments issued by subsidiaries grandfathered 
       under CRR II                                                           39          43 
51    Tier 2 capital before regulatory adjustments                        13,131      13,229 
      Tier 2 capital: regulatory adjustments 
                                                                                     ---------- 
52    Direct and indirect holdings of own T2 instruments(3)                  (32)        (31) 
55    Direct and indirect holdings by the institution 
       of T2 instruments and subordinated loans of financial 
       sector entities where the institution has a significant 
       investment in those entities (net of eligible short 
       positions)                                                    r      (428)       (399) 
57    Total regulatory adjustments to tier 2 capital                        (460)       (430) 
                                                                         ------- 
58    Tier 2 capital                                                      12,671      12,799 
                                                                         ------- 
59    Total capital (TC = T1 + T2)                                        35,490      34,929 
                                                                         ------- 
60    Total risk-weighted assets                                         138,378     125,413 
                                                                         ------- 
      Capital ratios and buffers 
61    Common equity tier 1                                                    13.5%       14.2% 
                                                                                     ---------- 
62    Tier 1                                                                  16.5%       17.6% 
                                                                                     ---------- 
63    Total capital                                                           25.6%       27.9% 
                                                                                     ---------- 
64    Institution specific buffer requirement                                 2.52%       2.89% 
                                                                                     ---------- 
65    - capital conservation buffer requirement                               2.50%       2.50% 
66    - countercyclical buffer requirement                                    0.02%       0.39% 
68    Common equity tier 1 available to meet buffers                           9.0%        9.7% 
                                                                                     ---------- 
      Amounts below the threshold for deduction (before 
       risk weighting) 
72    Direct and indirect holdings of the capital of financial 
       sector entities where the institution does not have 
       a significant investment in those entities (amount 
       below 10% threshold and net of eligible short positions)               1,350       1,712 
73    Direct and indirect holdings by the institution 
       of the CET1 instruments of financial sector entities 
       where the institution has a significant investment 
       in those entities (amount below 10% threshold and 
       net of eligible short positions)                                         635         600 
75    Deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences 
       (amount below 10% threshold, net of related tax 
       liability)                                                               475         447 
                                                                                     ---------- 
 
 
Own funds disclosure (continued) 
                                                                            At 
                                                                     30 Jun    31 Dec 
                                                                       2020      2019 
Ref*                                                           Ref     GBPm      GBPm 
       Applicable caps on the inclusion of provisions in 
        tier 2 
       Cap on inclusion of credit risk adjustments in T2 
77      under standardised approach                                     322     330 
79     Cap for inclusion of credit risk adjustments in 
        T2 under internal ratings-based approach                        445     396 
                                                                     ------  ------ 
 Capital instruments subject to phase-out arrangements 
  (only applicable between 
  1 Jan 2013 and 1 Jan 2022) 
82     Current cap on AT1 instruments subject to phase-out 
        arrangements                                                    463     695 
83     Amount excluded from AT1 due to cap (excess over 
        cap after redemptions and maturities)                           267     364 
84     Current cap on T2 instruments subject to phase-out 
        arrangements                                                    506     759 
                                                                     ------  ------ 
85     Amount excluded from T2 due to cap (excess over 
        cap after redemptions and maturities)                           251     109 
                                                                     ------  ------ 
 

* The references identify the lines prescribed in the EBA template that are applicable and where there is a value.

The references (a)-(r) identify balance sheet components on page 37 that are used in the calculation of regulatory capital.

1 This row includes losses that have been recognised and deducted as they arose and were therefore not subject to an independent review.

2 Additional value adjustments are deducted from CET1. These are calculated on all assets measured at fair value.

3 As advised by the PRA a market making waiver has been applied to the deduction of holdings of own T1 and T2 instruments.

The main features of HSBC Group's capital instruments, including those of the bank, are published on the Group's website,

https://www.hsbc.com/investors/fixed-income-investors/regulatory-capital-securities.

At 30 June 2020, our common equity tier 1 ('CET1') capital ratio decreased to 13.5% from 14.2% at 31 December 2019. This was mainly due to an increase in RWAs, and was partly offset by an increase in capital during the period. CET1 capital increased in 1H20 by GBP0.9bn, mainly as a result of a capital injection of GBP1bn by HSBC UK Holdings Limited, foreign exchange differences of GBP0.7bn, offset by loss for the period on a regulatory basis (adjusted for intangible impairments) of GBP0.5bn net of cash and scrip dividends.

 
 Leverage ratio 
 

The leverage ratio was introduced into the Basel III framework

as a non-risk-based limit, to supplement risk-based capital requirements. It aims to constrain the build-up of excess leverage in the banking sector, introducing additional safeguards against model risk and measurement errors. This ratio has been implemented in the EU for reporting and disclosure purposes but, at this stage, has not been set as a binding requirement. The PRA's leverage ratio requirement applies at the highest level of UK consolidation. For HSBC, this applies at the Group level and not at the HSBC Bank plc level.

Although there is currently no binding leverage ratio requirement on the group, the risk of excess leverage is managed as part of HSBC's global risk appetite framework and monitored using a leverage ratio metric within our Risk Appetite Statement ('RAS').

The RAS articulates the aggregate level and types of risk that HSBC is willing to accept in its business activities in order to achieve its strategic business objectives. The RAS is monitored via the risk appetite profile report, which includes comparisons of actual performance against the risk appetite and tolerance thresholds assigned to each metric, to ensure that any excessive risk is highlighted, assessed and mitigated appropriately. The risk appetite profile report is presented monthly to the Risk Management Meeting ('RMM').

For the group, the leverage exposure measure is also calculated and presented to the Asset, Liability and Capital Management Committee every month.

Our leverage ratio calculated in accordance with the Capital Requirements Regulation was 3.7% at 30 June 2020, a decrease from 3.8% at 31 December 2019. Our leverage exposure measure includes a GBP17.1bn favourable impact arising from the 'CRR Quick Fix' relief permitting the netting in leverage exposure of regular-way purchases and sales awaiting settlement under certain conditions.

 
 Summary reconciliation of accounting assets and leverage ratio exposures 
  (LRSum) 
                                                                            At 
                                                                      30 Jun      31 Dec 
                                                                        2020        2019 
Ref*                                                                    GBPm        GBPm 
                                                                 -----------  ---------- 
1       Total assets as per published financial statements        757,819     636,491 
 
        Adjustments for: 
 2 
          *    entities which are consolidated for accounting 
               purposes but are outside the scope of regulatory 
               consolidation                                      (24,438)    (24,038) 
 4      - derivative financial instruments                       (173,776)    (93,974) 
 5      - securities financing transactions ('SFT')                 2,052      (1,243) 
 6      - off-balance sheet items (i.e. conversion to credit 
         equivalent amounts of off-balance sheet exposures)        50,539      49,188 
        - intragroup exposures excluded from the leverage 
 EU-6a   ratio exposure measure                                      (397)       (341) 
7       - other adjustments                                       (11,459)      5,219 
                                                                 --------     ------- 
 8      Total leverage ratio exposure                             600,340     571,302 
------ 
 

* The references identify the lines prescribed in the EBA template that are applicable and where there is a value.

 
 Leverage ratio common disclosure (LRCom) 
                                                                                   At 
                                                                             30 Jun             31 Dec 
                                                                               2020               2019 
Ref*                                                                           GBPm               GBPm 
        On-balance sheet exposures (excluding derivatives 
         and SFTs) 
        On-balance sheet items (excluding derivatives, 
1        SFTs and fiduciary assets, but including collateral)            414,047            355,108 
        (Asset amounts deducted in determining Tier 1 
2        capital)                                                           (615)            (1,178) 
 
        Total on-balance sheet exposures (excluding derivatives, 
3        SFTs and fiduciary assets)                                      413,432            353,930 
 
        Derivative exposures 
        Replacement cost associated with all derivatives 
         transactions (i.e. net of eligible cash variation 
4        margin)                                                          53,242             30,146 
5       Add-on amounts for potential future exposure ('PFE') 
         associated with all derivatives transactions 
         (mark-to-market method)                                          83,103             86,906 
        Gross-up for derivatives collateral provided where 
         deducted from the balance sheet assets pursuant 
6        to IFRSs                                                          8,096              5,213 
        (Deductions of receivables assets for cash variation 
7        margin provided in derivatives transactions)                    (43,912)           (28,285) 
        (Exempted central counterparty ('CCP') leg of 
8        client-cleared trade exposures)                                 (49,706)           (28,442) 
        Adjusted effective notional amount of written 
9        credit derivatives                                              120,277            117,851 
        (Adjusted effective notional offsets and add-on 
10       deductions for written credit derivatives)                     (116,148)          (112,846) 
 
11      Total derivative exposures                                        54,952             70,543 
 
        Securities financing transaction exposures 
        Gross SFT assets (with no recognition of netting), 
12       after adjusting for sales accounting transactions               230,590            217,376 
        (Netted amounts of cash payables and cash receivables 
13       of gross SFT assets)                                           (153,936)          (124,530) 
14      Counterparty credit risk exposure for SFT assets                   5,160              5,136 
 
16      Total securities financing transaction exposures                  81,814             97,982 
 
        Other off-balance sheet exposures 
        Off-balance sheet exposures at gross notional 
17       amount                                                          126,839            120,337 
        (Adjustments for conversion to credit equivalent 
18       amounts)                                                        (76,300)           (71,149) 
 
19      Total off-balance sheet exposures                                 50,539             49,188 
 
        Exempted exposures 
EU-19a  (Exemption of intragroup exposures (solo basis))                    (397)              (341) 
 
        Capital and total exposures 
20      Tier 1 capital                                                    22,386             21,480 
21      Total leverage ratio exposure                                    600,340            571,302 
 
22      Leverage ratio (%)                                                   3.7                3.8 
 
        Choice of transitional arrangements for the definition 
EU-23    of the capital measure                                     Fully phased-in    Fully phased-in 
 

* The references identify the lines prescribed in the EBA template that are applicable and where there is a value.

 
 Leverage ratio - Split of on-balance sheet exposures (excluding derivatives, 
  SFTs and exempted exposures) (LRSpl) 
                                                                             At 
                                                                      30 Jun     31 Dec 
                                                                        2020       2019 
                                                                        GBPm       GBPm 
         Total on-balance sheet exposures (excluding derivatives, 
EU-1      SFTs and exempted exposures)                               370,135  326,823 
 
EU-2     - trading book exposures                                     66,694   83,656 
EU-3     - banking book exposures                                    303,441  243,167 
 
           'banking book exposures' comprises: 
EU-5     exposures treated as sovereigns                             145,716   93,555 
 
EU-7     institutions                                                 14,498   13,058 
 
EU-8     secured by mortgages of immovable properties                 24,048    8,462 
 
EU-9     retail exposures                                              4,071   17,452 
 
EU-10    corporate                                                    78,436   74,726 
 
EU-11    exposures in default                                          3,057    1,181 
 
         other exposures (e.g. equity, securitisations 
EU-12     and other non-credit obligation assets)                     33,615   34,733 
 
 

* The references identify the lines prescribed in the EBA template that are applicable and where there is a value.

 
 Risk-weighted assets 
 
 
 Overview of RWAs (OV1) 
                                                                             At 
                                                                30 Jun     31 Dec        30 Jun 
                                                                  2020       2019          2020 
                                                                                     Capital(1) 
                                                                  RWAs       RWAs      required 
                                                                  GBPm       GBPm          GBPm 
     Credit risk (excluding counterparty credit 
1     risk)                                                   79,218     72,773         6,338 
 
2    - standardised approach                                  19,733     21,514         1,579 
3    - foundation IRB approach                                29,016     11,605         2,321 
4    - advanced IRB approach                                  30,469     39,654         2,438 
6    Counterparty credit risk                                 21,688     21,173         1,734 
 
7    - mark-to-market                                         10,974      9,973           878 
10   - internal model method                                   8,831      9,017           706 
     - risk exposure amount for contributions to 
11    the default fund of a central counterparty                 264        270            21 
12   - credit valuation adjustment                             1,619      1,913           129 
 
13   Settlement risk                                              11        113             1 
 
     Securitisation exposures in the non-trading 
14    book                                                     5,593      3,819           447 
 
14a  - internal ratings-based approach ('SEC-IRBA')(2)           906        459            72 
14b  - external ratings-based approach ('SEC-ERBA')(2)         2,249          -           180 
14c  - internal assessment approach ('IAA')(2)                 1,717      1,099           137 
14d  - standardised approach ('SEC-SA')(2)                       721        196            58 
     - exposures subject to the pre-existing securitisation 
14e   framework(3)                                                 -      2,065             - 
 
19   Market risk                                              17,282     13,107         1,382 
 
20   - standardised approach                                   2,902      1,567           232 
21   - internal models approach                               14,380     11,540         1,150 
23   Operational risk                                         11,812     11,812           946 
 
25   - standardised approach                                  11,812     11,812           946 
     Amounts below the thresholds for deduction 
27    (subject to 250% risk weight)                            2,774      2,616           222 
 
29   Total                                                   138,378    125,413        11,070 
 
 

1 'Capital requirement' represents the minimum total capital charge set at 8% of RWAs by article 92 of the Capital Requirements Regulation.

2 On 1 January 2019, a new securitisation framework came into force in the EU for new transactions. The new framework prescribes the four approaches listed in rows 14a to 14d of the table above.

3 Further details of our exposures subject to approaches under the pre-existing framework at 31 December 2019 can be found on page 3 of the HSBC Bank plc Pillar 3 Disclosures at 31 December 2019 document. These transactions, which were subject to 'grandfathering' provisions, transferred to approaches under the new framework on 1 January 2020.

Credit risk, including amounts below the thresholds for deduction

Credit risk RWAs increased by GBP6.6bn in the first half of the year, primarily due to lending growth and the transfer of certain UK corporate exposures from the Advanced to the Foundation IRB approach. This was partly offset by a fall in RWAs due to management initiatives.

Counterparty credit risk

Counterparty credit risk (including settlement risk) RWAs increased by GBP0.4bn, which was primarily due to credit rating downgrades and foreign exchange movements, partly offset by management initiatives and reduction in exposures.

Securitisation in non-trading book

Securitisation RWAs increased by GBP1.8bn, primarily due to GBP2.3bn of exposures which moved onto the new securitisation framework.

Market risk

Market risk RWAs increased by GBP4.2bn. This was mainly due to a GBP0.8bn increase in foreign exchange risk under the standardised approach and a GBP3.2bn increase arising from market volatility under the internal models approach.

 
Credit risk - RWAs by exposure 
 class 
                                                       30 Jun 2020          31 Dec 2019 
                                                              Capital               Capital 
                                                      RWAs   required     RWAs     required 
                                         Footnotes    GBPm       GBPm     GBPm         GBPm 
                                        ----------  ------  --------- 
IRB advanced approach                               28,634      2,291   37,679      3,014 
                                        ---------- 
- central governments and central 
 banks                                               2,886        232    1,915        153 
- institutions                                       2,311        185    2,439        195 
- corporates                                 1      20,156      1,612   30,560      2,445 
- total retail                                       3,281        262    2,765        221 
                                        ---------- 
- of which: 
  secured by mortgages on immovable 
   property - small and medium-sized 
   enterprises ('SME')                                 274         22      278         22 
secured by mortgages on immovable 
 property - non-SME                                  1,791        143      586         47 
qualifying revolving retail                             55          4       38          3 
other SME                                              639         51      507         41 
other non-SME                                          522         42    1,356        108 
                                        ----------                     ------- 
IRB securitisation positions                           906         72    2,084        167 
IRB non-credit obligation assets                     1,835        147    1,976        158 
IRB foundation approach                             29,016      2,321   11,605        928 
- central governments and central 
 banks                                                   3          -        2          - 
- institutions                                           9          1       17          1 
- corporates                                        29,004      2,320   11,586        927 
                                                                       ------- 
Standardised approach                               27,194      2,176   25,864      2,069 
- central governments and central 
 banks                                               1,188         95    1,117         89 
- regional governments or local 
 authorities                                             -          -        2          - 
                                        ---------- 
- public sector entities                                10          1        9          1 
                                        ---------- 
- institutions                                       1,926        154    1,085         87 
- corporates                                         9,340        747   11,494        920 
- retail                                               325         26      412         33 
- secured by mortgages on immovable 
 property                                            1,705        136    1,448        116 
- exposures in default                                 451         36      470         38 
- items associated with particularly 
 high risk                                           4,787        383    5,481        438 
- securitisation positions                           4,687        375    1,735        139 
- collective investments undertakings                   10          1        6          - 
- equity                                     2       2,431        194    2,327        186 
- other items                                          334         28      278         22 
                                                                       ------- 
Total                                               87,585      7,007   79,208      6,336 
                                        ----------  ------  ---------  -------  --------- 
 

1 'Corporates' includes specialised lending exposures subject to the supervisory slotting approach of GBP3,936m (2019: GBP4,104m) and RWAs of GBP2,641m (2019: GBP2,699m).

   2   'Equity' includes investments in group insurance companies that are risk-weighted at 250%. 
 
 Counterparty credit risk - RWAs by exposure class and product 
                                                                  At 
                                                   30 Jun 2020          31 Dec 2019 
                                                          Capital               Capital 
                                                  RWAs   required     RWAs     required 
                                    Footnotes     GBPm       GBPm     GBPm         GBPm 
By exposure class 
                                               -------  ---------  -------  ----------- 
IRB advanced approach                            7,010        561   15,258      1,221 
                                    --------- 
- central governments and central 
 banks                                             330         26      302         24 
- institutions                                   5,456        437    5,878        470 
- corporates                                     1,224         98    9,078        727 
 
IRB foundation approach                          9,537        763    1,553        124 
                                    --------- 
- corporates                                     9,537        763    1,553        124 
                                                                            --------- 
Standardised approach                            3,067        245    2,087        167 
                                    --------- 
- central governments and central 
 banks                                              11          1       14          1 
- institutions                                   2,741        219    1,869        150 
- corporates                                       315         25      204         16 
 
CVA advanced                                     1,213         97    1,375        110 
CVA standardised                                   406         32      538         43 
Central counterparties ('CCP') 
 standardised                                      466         37      475         38 
                                    ---------                      -------  --------- 
Total                                           21,699      1,735   21,286      1,703 
                                               -------  ---------  -------  --------- 
By product 
- derivatives (OTC and exchange 
 traded derivatives)                            15,355      1,228   14,581      1,167 
- SFTs                                           3,607        289    3,916        313 
- other                                 1          854         68      606         48 
- CVA advanced                                   1,213         97    1,375        110 
- CVA standardised                                 406         32      538         43 
- CCP default funds                     2          264         21      270         22 
 
Total                                           21,699      1,735   21,286      1,703 
                                    ---------  -------  ---------  -------  --------- 
 
   1   Includes free deliveries not deducted from regulatory capital. 
   2   Default fund contributions are cash balances posted to CCPs by all members. 
 
 Market risk under standardised approach (MR1) 
                                                                     At 
                                                    30 Jun 2020              31 Dec 2019 
                                                              Capital                  Capital 
                                                    RWAs     required        RWAs     required 
                                                    GBPm         GBPm        GBPm         GBPm 
                                              ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------- 
   Outright products 
1  Interest rate risk (general and specific)       497           40         377           30 
2  Equity risk (general and specific)              245           20          44            3 
3  Foreign exchange risk                         1,029           82         194           16 
4  Commodity risk                                   31            2          74            6 
   Options 
6  Delta-plus method                               103            8          59            5 
8  Securitisation                                  997           80         819           65 
                                              --------    ---------    --------    --------- 
9  Total                                         2,902          232       1,567          125 
 
 
 
 Market risk under IMA (MR2-A) 
                                                               At 
                                               30 Jun 2020             31 Dec 2019 
                                                        Capital                  Capital 
                                              RWAs     required        RWAs     required 
                                              GBPm         GBPm        GBPm         GBPm 
                                         ---------  -----------  ---------- 
1    VaR (higher of values a and b)        4,768          381       3,404          272 
(a)  Previous day's VaR                                    67                       45 
                                                    --------- 
(b)  Average daily VaR(1)                                 381                      272 
                                         ---------               ---------- 
     Stressed VaR (higher of values a 
2     and b)                               6,683          535       5,226          418 
(a)  Latest SVaR                                           68                       59 
                                                    --------- 
(b)  Average SVaR(1)                                      535                      418 
                                         ---------               ---------- 
     Incremental risk charge (higher of 
3     values a and b)                      2,314          185       2,152          172 
(a)  Most recent IRC value                                154                      144 
                                                    --------- 
(b)  Average IRC value(1)                                 185                      172 
                                         ---------               ---------- 
5    Other                                   615           49         758           61 
                                                                             --------- 
6    Total                                14,380        1,150      11,540          923 
 
 

1 VaR average values are calculated on a 60 business days basis. SVaR and IRC average values are calculated on a 12-week basis.

 
 Statement of Directors' Responsibilities 
 

The Directors, who are required to prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is not appropriate, are satisfied that the group and bank have the resources to continue in business for the foreseeable future and that the financial statements continue to be prepared on the going concern basis.

The Directors, the names of whom are set out below, confirm that to the best of their knowledge:

-- the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as adopted by the EU; and

-- the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year ending 31 December 2020 and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements; and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year.

S P O'Connor (Chairman); J F Trueman (Deputy Chairman); N Matos (Chief Executive Officer); J Fleurant (Chief Financial Officer); Dame M E Marsh ; S Moss; Y Omura ; E W Strutz ; and A M Wright .

On behalf of the Board

J Fleurant

Director

3 August 2020

Registered number 14259

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

END

IR SSSSADESSEEA

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 03, 2020 04:52 ET (08:52 GMT)

Hsbc Bk 41 (LSE:63AS)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Mai 2024 à Juin 2024 Plus de graphiques de la Bourse Hsbc Bk 41
Hsbc Bk 41 (LSE:63AS)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Juin 2023 à Juin 2024 Plus de graphiques de la Bourse Hsbc Bk 41