DBRS has announced that it:
has today revised the trends on most ratings of HSBC Bank Canada (the Bank) to Negative from Stable following Negative trends being placed on the ratings of HSBC Holdings plc (the Parent). (Please see DBRS’s HSBC Holdings plc press release dated March 3, 2009).
DBRS’s ratings of HSBC are based on the relationship the Bank has with its ultimate parent, which is one of the largest global banking groups. DBRS’s long-term Issuer Rating of HSBC Holdings plc is now AA (high) with a Negative trend.
Under DBRS’s bank rating methodology, DBRS has assigned HSBC Bank Canada a support assessment of SA1, reflecting a strong expectation of timely support from HSBC Holdings plc. All guaranteed debts are rated at the same level as the Parent. The guaranteed short-term obligations remain Stable, as a AA long-term rating would continue to support an R-1 (high) short-term rating.
Given the strategic nature of the relationship between HSBC Bank Canada and HSBC Holdings plc, but the lack of an explicit guarantee, the non-guaranteed Long-Term Deposits and Senior Debt rating of HSBC is one notch lower than HSBC Holdings plc.
The referenced press release states:
The Negative trend reflects DBRS’s concern that further economic weakening in HSBC’s markets will result in continued elevated credit costs, which will pressure earnings. Moreover, the Negative trend reflects DBRS’s expectation that the global economic slowdown may pressure revenue generation ability. While DBRS considers the Group’s solid earnings power a fundamental strength and a significant factor supporting HSBC’s rating, the unprecedented weakness and the global recessionary environment may result in a weakening of HSBC’s sizeable pre-provisioning earnings generation ability and lead to earnings pressure.
S&P took no action; Moody’s downgraded the Household Finance unit which is being de-emphasized within HSBC.
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HSB.PR.C & HSB.PR.D: DBRS Affirms Pfd-1 but Trend Negative
DBRS has announced that it:
The referenced press release states:
S&P took no action; Moody’s downgraded the Household Finance unit which is being de-emphasized within HSBC.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 7:33 pm and is filed under Issue Comments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.