Sceptics out as HSBC puts faith in Asia to boost returns by 2018

HSBC will be hoping that Asia is not about to suffer any extended financial stress as it is basing its growth strategy on the region for the next three years. But its plan to reallocate a large chunk of risk weighted assets (RWA) to Asia from poor performing areas raises questions over whether the opportunity in the region is big enough to support the investment, write Lorraine Cushnie and Mark Baker.