Zhixun Finance and Economics APP learned that Citigroup released a research report stating that in the UK banking industry, the target price of HSBC Holdings (00005) was raised from 83.3 Hong Kong dollars to 89.8 Hong Kong dollars, and the target price of Standard Chartered Group (02888) was raised from 82.8 Hong Kong dollars to 95.9 Hong Kong dollars. The former is rated as 'buy', the latter is rated as 'neutral', and both are classified as high risk. The bank adjusted the EPS forecast for HSBC for this and next fiscal year from 150 pence and 130.6 pence to 125.2 pence and 135 pence, while the EPS forecast for Standard Chartered for the same period was raised from 163.3 pence and 177.3 pence to 167.7 pence and 186.9 pence.

The bank pointed out that in a previous report, it proposed the pairing trade of HSBC and Standard Chartered based on their respective operational advantages, interest rate sensitivity, and capital return prospects. Standard Chartered Bank is taking many wise strategic steps to address the key issues mentioned in previous reports, but it has now confirmed that income growth in 2025 will be lower than expected, and there are risks to achieving positive profit margin targets. In contrast, HSBC Bank's net interest income is expected to be more resilient, with strong year-on-year growth in wealth income in the third quarter, and restructuring should also drive additional cost savings.