HSBC (HSBC) might move higher on growing optimism about its earnings prospects, which is reflected by its upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Investors interested in stocks from the Banks - Foreign sector have probably already heard of HSBC (HSBC) and National Australia Bank Ltd. (NABZY). But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors?
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HSBC weighs cutting up to 20,000 roles as it accelerates AI adoption, redeploys $1.5B, and reshapes operations toward Asia and core businesses.
HSBC is reportedly considering widespread job cuts as the banking giant relies more on AI. The layoffs are expected to mostly focus on non-client facing jobs in the bank's service centers, though the plans are still being worked out, Bloomberg News reported Thursday (March 19), citing sources familiar with the matter.
HSBC, ICAGY and ULH made it to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) income stocks list on March 19, 2026.
The HSBC share price has slumped and moved into a correction after falling by 12% from its highest point this year. It has dropped to 1,210p, mirroring the performance of other European banks.
HSBC Holdings Plc is weighing a wave of deep job cuts over the coming years that could ultimately impact around 20,000 roles, or about 10% of its total workforce, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Presents at European Financials Conference 2026 Transcript
HSBC Holdings PLC (LSE:HSBA) and Standard Chartered PLC (LSE:STAN) are the two London-listed banks with the largest operations in the Middle East and Asia, and so face the greatest earnings risk among European lenders from the ongoing regional conflict, according to JP Morgan. In the first of a new "capital at risk" series examining banks' vulnerability to current global pressures, analyst Kian Abouhossein estimated that the Middle East accounts for around 4% of HSBC's pre-tax profit and roughly 12% of Standard Chartered's – the highest exposures among the European banks the bank covers.
Allianz SE and Sun Life Financial are considering bids for HSBC's Singapore insurance unit after the bank launched a strategic review of the business, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
HSBC and NatWest among top picks as analysts argue fundamentals remain intact despite 9% sector decline European bank stocks have fallen 9% since conflict broke out in the Gulf, underperforming the broader European market by 2%, but Citi argues the selloff is overdone and is maintaining its 'overweight' stance on the sector. Its analysts say the decline primarily reflects positioning rather than fundamentals, with banks having been consensus long trades that inevitably suffer when investors reduce risk exposure.