HSBC sees surge in ETF assets on back of physical model

HSBC Global Asset Management’s exchange-traded funds operation boasts 25 ETFs aimed at discretionary clients, private banking and wealth management. Hannah Collins talks to Phil Reid, UK head of external distribution

Phil Reid, HSBC Global Asset Management

HSBC attributes a lot of its success in the distribution of its exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to the fact that they remain simple and are physically backed, according to Phil Reid, UK head of external distribution at HSBC Global Asset Management in London. "From what we have witnessed, the majority of the UK market has said that physical makes a lot of sense in most clients' portfolios," says Reid. "We came out quite strongly with what we wanted to do and stuck with it."

HSBC's ETF assets under