HSBC UK: Businesses treating volatility as trigger to reposition
- 95% of UK senior leaders believe volatility is no longer viewed as a temporary disruption but as a feature of the global economy.
- 66% cite resilience and transparency as key business drivers in reaction to increased volatility.
- 93% see significant opportunities for international growth despite volatility.
An overwhelming majority of UK senior leaders and investors (95%) believe volatility is no longer a temporary disruption but a feature of the global economy.
Ahead of HSBC’s annual HSBC Global Investment Summit and conducted in mid-March against the backdrop of recent world events, HSBC surveyed 3,000 international businesses and institutional investors in 10 markets including the UK.
Two thirds (66%) of UK respondents strongly agreed that resilience and transparency will become more important business drivers over the next two to three years, while 93% said that, despite the volatility, the current environment presents significant opportunities for international growth.
Over one third (38%) of all the 3,000 business leaders and institutional investors surveyed by HSBC, think that the UK, alongside continental Europe, will become the most important market for future economic relationships over the next five years, after mainland China. Meanwhile, more than half (52%) of UK businesses and investors held this belief towards continental Europe.
According to the survey, 66% of UK business leaders and investors cited improved productivity and workforce efficiency as the most significant potential benefits of AI over the next three years, while over a third of businesses in the UK (39%) believe AI, alongside data-related infrastructure, will significantly transform their core business model over the same period.
Stuart Tait, Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC UK, said: “These findings show the transformation that has occurred in the global economy. UK businesses have been stress-tested repeatedly and are adept to change. Despite the volatility they see significant opportunities, with AI adoption a key driver of growth.
“The UK is a key market for future economic relationships and it’s important we continue to focus on supporting UK businesses as they invest in technology, skills and innovation.”
To support long-term business growth, HSBC UK launched the £5 billion AI & Productivity Financing Initiative last month to help UK businesses invest in essential, future-ready capabilities.
Media enquiries to:
Chioma Dijeh-Lester 07387247862 Chioma.dijeh-lester@hsbc.com
Email: UKPressOffice@hsbc.co.uk
The independently commissioned survey was conducted in mid-March 2026, ahead of the annual HSBC Global Investment Summit
The full report is available here: HSBC: New networks of capital - The world rewired
Methodology
The HSBC GIS survey is based on insights from 3,000 Senior Business Decision Makers and 500 Global Institutional Investors, commissioned by HSBC and conducted by British Polling accredited Savanta. 300 respondents were from the UK. Responses were collected from 9-16 March 2026 across 10 markets: UK, France, Hong Kong, Germany, mainland China, Singapore, USA, India, UAE, & Saudi Arabia. The sample comprised 250 Senior Business Decision Makers and 50 Global Institutional Investors in each market. Of the 3,000 corporate respondents, 726 reported global turnover of over USD2 billion in the past 12 months, 900 turned over between USD500 million and USD2 billion, and 874 had turnover of USD50 million to USD500 million. Of the 500 Global Institutional Investors, 164 reported that their company manages $10bn+ in AUM, 128 managed between $1bn to $9bn AUM, and 208 manage less than $1bn AUM.
HSBC UK
HSBC UK serves over 15 million active customers across the UK, supported by 23,000 colleagues. HSBC UK offers a complete range of retail banking and wealth management to personal and private banking customers, as well as commercial banking for small to medium businesses and large corporates. HSBC UK is a ring-fenced bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc.
HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of HSBC, is headquartered in London. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 56 countries and territories. With assets of US$3,233bn at 31 December 2025, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations.