British prime minister David Cameron came under pressure in the House of Commons yesterday over a tax scandal engulfing HSBC’s Swiss arm.

Banking giant HSBC announced a new UK boss today as part of a management reshuffle by incoming chief executive Stuart Gulliver.

HSBC chief executive Michael Geoghegan is to step down by the end of the year in a major boardroom shake-up, the banking giant said today.

The issue of whether to break up Britain’s banks will be top of the agenda tomorrow when more details emerge of a Government-led inquiry.

Bank giant HSBC is within days of naming a new chairman amid speculation the post will be filled by City veteran Simon Robertson, it was reported today.

Stock markets made strong gains on both sides of the Atlantic today as positive US economic data helped ease recovery fears.

A recovery for banking and commodity stocks following a shaky start to the week ensured the FTSE 100 Index in London made headway today.

News of changes at the top of banking giants Barclays and HSBC received a lukewarm response from investors today as the wider market ended its recent strong run.

Downing Street this morning declined to confirm reports that HSBC bank chairman Stephen Green is to be appointed a minister in David Cameron’s Government.

US President Barack Obama welcomed China’s announcement today that it will allow a more flexible exchange rate for its currency, saying it would help protect the economic recovery.

HSBC chairman Stephen Green is preparing to stand down from the helm of Britain’s biggest bank later this year as part of a board overhaul, it was reported today.

Elton John is facing a backlash from conservative Christian groups after stating in an interview that Jesus was a gay man.

The head of the UK's biggest bank hit out at the "inflated" bonus culture today and predicted smaller payouts for the industry in future.

Banking giant HSBC today said shareholders had taken up 96.6% of the new shares on offer in a £12.5bn (€13.7bn) rights issue.

HSBC’s top directors saw their overall pay packets plunge last year after bonus payouts for 2008 were axed, the bank’s annual report shows.

AT Davos, it seems, sorry is the hardest word.

HSBC today revealed a 28% fall in first-half profits as the impact of US bad debts and credit crunch losses continued to weigh on the banking giant.

A controversial bonus scheme which could net five senior directors of banking giant HSBC more than £120m (€152m) over the next three years received substantially less than unanimous backing from shareholders today.

Former boyband singer Lee Ryan has appeared in court charged with an attack on a taxi driver.

RELIGIOUS and secular groups have criticised the Archbishop of Canterbury after he said the adoption of elements of Islamic sharia law in Britain “seems unavoidable”.

British banking giant HSBC was today accused by a rebel shareholder of misleading investors over share rewards for senior directors.

An activist shareholder calling for a shake-up of HSBC bank is reportedly looking to oust chairman Stephen Green from his executive role, it emerged today.

HSBC is facing calls from an activist shareholder for a group-wide shake-up of the banking giant, it emerged today.

Banking giant HSBC moved to step up its presence in fast-growing emerging markets today as it agreed to buy a majority stake in Korea’s sixth largest bank.

The UK’s biggest bank HSBC today pledged to donate US$100m (€71m) as part of an initiative to tackle climate change.

HSBC chairman John Bond’s distinguished 45-year career with the company ended today with a standing ovation at the annual general meeting.

Britain's HSBC bank has replaced current chairman John Bond after he called time on 45 years at the UK’s second largest company.

A cancer charity turned down a £3,000 (€4,300) donation from a performance of Jerry Springer – The Opera after an outcry from religious activists, it emerged today.

Christians angered by the Jerry Springer musical broadcast by the BBC are to pursue a private prosecution against the corporation for alleged blasphemy, it emerged today.

The chairman of British banking group HSBC today rejected criticism of the bank’s executive pay packages.

Banks look set to dominate the British financial headlines next week when some of the UK’s best known high street names report half-year results.