Issuance of senior notes and admission to trading

HSBC is considering restructuring its Singapore operations by merging wholesale, retail, and private banking units into one entity, according to sources. This move is part of a broader restructuring effort led by CEO Georges Elhedery. HSBC has sold some units and plans to invest in AI in Singapore. The bank's Hong Kong operations are significantly larger, generating $7.8 billion in pre-tax profit compared to $774 million in Singapore.

HSBC reported a 23% rise in first-half profit to $19.5B, beating estimates, and resumed buybacks. UBS posted a 17% profit increase to $2.8B but faces a $125M U.S. fine. HSBC raised net interest income guidance and added 640K clients. UBS announced a $3B buyback but faces regulatory and capital rule uncertainties.

HSBC and Standard Chartered completed the first live interbank transaction using tokenized deposits on Swift's blockchain-enabled platform. The transaction, announced on August 19, 2026, demonstrates interoperability between bank systems for regulated digital money. Swift's ledger matched and netted obligations before final settlement through traditional banking channels. Both banks highlighted benefits for corporate clients, including improved liquidity management and cross-border payments.

HSBC and Standard Chartered completed the first bank-to-bank transaction of tokenized deposits via SWIFT's blockchain-backed ledger. The banks highlight the potential for faster, more efficient liquidity management. SWIFT's platform aims to enable interoperability while maintaining regulatory oversight. Other institutions, including JPMorgan and The Clearing House, are also testing tokenized deposits.

HSBC and Standard Chartered completed the first interbank deposit token transaction using SWIFT's blockchain-based Shared Ledger, enabling 24/7 transfers without intermediaries. The pilot involves 17 global banks, aiming to modernize cross-border payments and reduce costs. Regulatory and technical challenges remain, but the test signals potential for tokenized deposits in banking.

Blackstone, Brookfield Asset Management, and KKR used insurance-backed financing for the debt portion of a $16 billion Kuwait pipeline deal, according to people familiar with the matter. The transaction involves a JV with Kuwait Petroleum Corp. and is set to deliver $7.85 billion in upfront proceeds, boosting capacity to 4 million bpd by 2035.