Shares of Hong Kong-listed banks experienced another downturn. At the time of writing, STANCHART (02888) fell 3.17% to HK$167.9, while HSBC HOLDINGS (00005) dropped 3.03% to HK$125. The decline comes against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Reports indicate that several global banks, including HSBC and STANCHART, have notified some of their Middle Eastern clients that certain transactions involving Asian balance sheets will be temporarily postponed. According to informed sources, as regional conflicts intensify, many bankers have privately indicated they are reassessing expansion plans in the Persian Gulf and carefully weighing a range of risks stemming from the Middle East conflict. Analysts at JPMorgan noted in a report that HSBC and STANCHART are the European banks with the largest exposure to Middle East risks, with the region contributing 4% and 12%, respectively, to their pre-tax profits.
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