At a glance
Our international network, access to high-growth markets and balance sheet strength deliver long-term value for customers and shareholders.
For the three months to 30 September 2019
Other key metrics
Highlights
- Reported profit before tax down 18% to US$4.8bn
- Reported profit before tax in Asia up 4% to US$4.7bn in 3Q19, with a resilient performance in Hong Kong
- Customer lending up 7% and customer deposits up 5% compared with 3Q18 on a constant currency basis
- Commercial Banking and Retail Banking performed well compared with 3Q18
- Global Banking and Markets performance reflected low levels of client activity in Global Markets; transaction banking franchises delivered a resilient performance
- Continued strong capital levels, with common equity tier 1 (‘CET1’) ratio of 14.3%, including the completion of a US$1bn share buyback
Group Chief Executive video
Group Chief Executive Noel Quinn outlines his confidence in the bank¡¯s future despite a challenging third quarter.

Delivering our strategy
Parts of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, especially Asia, held up well in a challenging revenue environment in the third quarter. This underlines the value of the bank’s strategy and the underlying strength of its business model.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s competitive advantages include its international network, heritage in Asia and the world’s faster-growing markets, and global transaction banking capability. It is uniquely placed to connect large multinationals and mid-market entrepreneur-owned businesses to the world. This is underpinned by powerful and profitable retail banking and wealth management businesses in the bank’s biggest markets.
However, other parts of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø are delivering returns below the expectations of senior management. These include:
- Our Continental Europe business and the UK non-ring-fenced bank, particularly in Global Banking and Markets
- The US, particularly in Global Banking and Markets and Retail Banking
While having a strong presence in both continental Europe and the US is important to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, senior management are planning urgent action to reshape the bank’s presence in both and redeploy capital to higher-growth, higher-return opportunities. In addition, they will act to adjust the cost base of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and remove some of the complexity of head office. They intend to sustain the dividend and maintain a CET1 (Common equity tier 1) ratio of above 14 per cent.
The bank will update the market on these actions and set out new financial targets alongside its full-year results in February 2020.