HSBC falls 3% amid reports that top shareholder Ping An is looking to trim its stake

Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported the Chinese insurer is looking at possibly reducing its stake in the bank further “as it seeks to reduce its $13.3 billion position in Europe’s largest lender.”

There are several options including “further share sales, similar to the $50 million sale it disclosed last week.”

Ping An sold HSBC shares worth 391.49 million Hong Kong dollars ($50.19 million) on May 7, cutting its stake from 8.01% to 7.98%.

The sale marked the first disposal of shares from Ping An since it backed a 2023 shareholder motion that sought to spin off its Asia business and establish fixed dividends. That motion was eventually defeated.

“A sovereign wealth fund or ultra-rich investor in the Middle East taking a sizable stake is another possibility,” Bloomberg said, citing unnamed sources.