HSBC

U.S. stocks staged an afternoon rally Wednesday, led by materials companies, though investors continued to eye several overseas trouble spots warily.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 89 points, or 0.7%, to 12108 in late afternoon trade, led by Alcoa, which rose 3.3%. The gains were kept in check by a 1.5% decline for Bank of America, which said the Federal Reserve didn't allow it to boost its dividend. Wal-Mart Stores also was weak, falling 0.8%, as was DuPont, down 0.4%.

Shares of companies active in Wednesday's early trade are: Jabil Circuit, Cree, Adobe, Veeco Instruments, XOMA, Tata Communications, China Southern Airlines Co., Cintas, Global Industries and Northern Oil & Gas.

HSBC is sounding out its shareholders over a proposed shake-up of its pay plans that would see top executives assessed on a wider range of performance metrics, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

US stocks ended higher on Friday as sentiment was buoyed after Libya announced a cease-fire and the Group of Seven (G-7) Finance ministers agreed to intervene in the markets to stabilize the Japanese yen.

U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday led by gains from Oil refiners after the earthquake disrupted Japan's refining capacity and and equipment makers advanced on expectations for increased demand from rebuilding efforts.

U.S. stocks plunged on Thursday as weaker-than-expected economic reports from both domestic and overseas coupled with fears over the impact on oil price by pervasive unrest in the Middle East and North Africa weighed on the sentiment.

China should increase its gold reserves appropriately, and must take every chance to buy, especially when Gold Prices fall, said Li Yining, a senior economist at Peking University and an advisor to the national parliament's Political Consultative Committee, quoted today by Beijing's official Xinhua News Agency.

Despite massive public indignation over bankers bonuses, the chief executive of Barclays plc (NYSE: BLS) will receive a £6.5-million bonus, according to reports, making him the highest paid bank boss in Britain.

Europe's biggest bank HSBC may move its headquarters from London to Hong Kong because of what it sees as high levels of tax and red tape in the UK, according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph.

The Gold Price eased back for Dollar investors on Friday in London, but recovered one third of yesterday's sharp sell-off – and was heading higher for the fifth weekly gain in a row – as official data said US unemployment retreated to 8.9% last month.

Profit at Standard Chartered <2888.HK> jumped 19 percent in 2010 and the Asia-focused bank said it was off to a record start this year as China, India and other Asian markets boomed.

Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered <2888.HK> met expectations with a 19 percent rise in profits and said it was off to a record start this year as China, India and other Asian markets boomed.

Hong Kong-listed shares of HSBC Holdings Plc fell more than 5 percent on Tuesday, the biggest single-day decline in almost a year after Europe's biggest bank cut its profitability target citing the cost of tougher banking regulations.

Shanghai and Hong Kong look set for a collision course as they seek to attract yuan listings by foreign firms, in a battle where the mainland market may have the upper hand initially.

Chinese shares rose on Tuesday on decent volume suggesting further strength ahead, while markets in Hong Kong struggled to hold gains under pressure from a near 5 percent slide in heavyweight HSBC.

HSBC cut its profitability targets due to the cost of tougher banking regulations and plans to cut costs and overhaul other areas after its annual profits fell short of expectations.

HSBC cut its profitability targets due to the cost of tougher banking regulations, joining rivals such as Barclays, and disappointed investors with below forecast 2010 earnings.

HSBC cut its profitability targets due to the cost of tougher global bank regulations on Monday, and disappointed investors as its 2010 earnings came in slightly below analysts' forecasts.

Chinese shares rose on Monday, reversing early losses as Asian markets edged up after last week's dip, with investors gearing up for earnings results from big hitters including banking giant HSBC.

HSBC <0005.HK> scaled back some of its financial targets on Monday as Europe's biggest bank posted a surge in annual profits.

Gold held near $1,400 an ounce in Europe on Friday, supported by interest in the metal as a haven from risk as violence flared in Libya, but struggled to maintain traction as some investors cashed in this week's hefty gains.