HSBC undertaking "strategic review" of its shareholding in Malta

VALLETTA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- HSBC Bank Malta on Wednesday announced that its parent company, HSBC Holdings plc, was undertaking a strategic review of its 70.03 percent ownership stake in the bank.

This strategic review could potentially lead to significant changes, including the sale of HSBC Holdings' shares and changes to the status of the Maltese bank, according to local media reports.

Later in the day, local media reported that HSBC Bank Malta was in talks with another local bank, APS Bank, over a possible takeover.

The announcement led to ripples in the financial markets, leading to an 18 percent drop in the HSBC Bank Malta share value on the Malta Stock Exchange.