The latest news on investment offerings, financial products and other services relevant to wealth advisors and their clients.

Hang Seng Indexes Company
Hang Seng Indexes Company has launched two indices playing to themes of the “metaverse” sector, and genomics and oncology.

The new entities are called the Hang Seng China Metaverse Index and the Hang Seng Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Genomics and Oncology Index. 

Developments as part of the metaverse concept, which include virtual reality, gaming and other digital experiences that use advanced technology in virtual spaces, have captured the attention of people around the world, and are rapidly growing in popularity as investment themes among investors. Riding on this trend, the Hang Seng China Metaverse Index aims to reflect the performance of mainland China companies which are involved in metaverse-related business, value chains and development.

As genomic medicine and innovative drugs develop as mainstream treatments for cancer and other diseases, the Hang Seng Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Genomics and Oncology Index aims to track the performance of companies that are involved in the research and development of genomics or oncology-related products and services.

“New megatrends are having an increasingly significant impact on our daily lives. Our two new megatrend indexes are designed to help investors capture potential opportunities arising from these innovative and transformative trends in the mainland China and Hong Kong stock markets,” Daniel Wong, director and chief index officer at Hang Seng Indexes Company, said.

The universe for each of the two indexes covers stocks listed in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. 

HSBC Global Private Banking recently launched a fund aimed at tapping into the "metaverse." The term, which originated in the 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson, relates to a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection. It is reshaping sectors from advertising to working arrangements. Areas such as space flight, blockchain, e-gaming, virtual working, movies and retail, are all affected. Already, the working-from-home phenomenon caused by the pandemic has turned elements of fiction into hard reality. Online retail is also a major force, upending traditional bricks-and-mortar shopping models.

HSBC Global Private Banking
HSBC Global Private Banking has launched Online Trading for Structured Products in Asia. 

This new feature enables private banking clients in Asia to trade fixed coupon notes on their mobile phones, alongside cash equities, exchange traded funds and foreign exchange, which are already available on the platform.

Support for Equity Linked Notes will be added later in 2022, HSBC said in a statement yesterday. 

The bank said clients have direct access to trade-structured products via mobile with coverage for underlying stocks across eight markets including the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Australia.

“Currently, over 30 per cent of execution-only trades in Asia are completed online, around two-thirds of our clients are digitally engaged, and the numbers continue to grow. This shows that the digital tools and journeys we are developing are really resonating with our clients across the region,” Siew Meng Tan, regional head of HSBC Global Private Banking, Asia-Pacific, said.

HSBC Global Private Banking is investing $100 million over a two-year period to build and innovate its core banking and digital platforms. Over the past three years, the group has launched its new internet banking application, incorporating direct client communication via instant messenger “GPB Chat” and “GPB eSignature” enabling clients to sign and exchange documents electronically, using its investment knowledge and research platform “Insights & Research Portal” with personalised alerts and notifications.