Global banking giant HSBC is being investigated by US government agency the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with its recruitment of people linked with governments in the Asia-Pacific region.

Within its 2015 financial report, published yesterday, HSBC revealed it had received various requests for information from the SEC and is co-operating with its investigation.

Quoting HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver, today’s Financial Times reports the SEC has now widened its investigation from a group of US banks to several international groups with operations in Asia.

HSBC added it is unable to predict how the situation will be resolved based on currently known facts or the possible impact on the bank, which it said could be significant.

Recruiter contacted HSBC for further comment but had not heard back by deadline.

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