HSBC Joins Townsend Analytics' Global Multi-Broker Network

HSBC Joins Townsend Analytics' Global Multi-Broker Network

June 28, 2007

HSBC gains sponsored institutional order flow from both
firms' international clients


    CHICAGO and LONDON, June 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --

    Townsend Analytics ( http://www.townsendanalytics.com
), a leading provider of multi-broker, multi-asset,
multi-currency, and multi-route electronic trading
solutions for the global capital markets, has added HSBC to
its global multi-broker network. 

    Clients of both HSBC and Townsend are now able to route
order flow directly to HSBC's Block, Program & Direct
Market Access (DMA) trading desks in 25 countries, which
provide client access to over 130 cash and derivative
exchanges globally, with a strong focus on Asian, European,
Middle East and other Emerging markets.

    Kevin Bourne, Global Head of Execution Trading for
HSBC, comments that "We are pleased to be part of the
Townsend Analytics network.  Townsend's full-featured
RealTick EMS also provides the ability to send managed
orders to HSBC's sales trading desk for more efficient
routing."

    "We are proud that such a leader in electronic
trading as HSBC has joined our global connectivity
network," comments Michel Finzi, Global head of sales,
account management and marketing for Townsend Analytics. 
"This further delivers on our mission to provide our
clients with an ever-growing range of markets and asset
classes, and a greater choice of execution venues
throughout the world."

    As part of the integration, Townsend has also certified
order flow with HSBC to their internal OMS via FIX,
providing for seamless reporting of trade executions.  The
new multi-broker link with HSBC supports multiple order
types, including market orders, limit orders, cancels,
cancel/replace, unsolicited cancels, trade busts, and
Good-til-Cancels (GTCs).

    About RealTick 

    RealTick, created by Townsend Analytics, is the
electronic trading industry's premier multi-asset,
multi-broker, and multi-route direct-access trading
platform. RealTick delivers real-time market data, news and
analytics; sophisticated trading tools; unrivaled access to
brokers, exchanges and ECNs; and risk management tools to
institutions, broker-dealers and individual investors.
RealTick's advanced technical design is supported by
state-of-the-art data centers and a redundant network for
market data and orders. For more information, visit
http://www.realtick.com .

    *RealTick is a registered trademark of Townsend
Analytics, Ltd.

    About Townsend Analytics 

    Townsend Analytics has been changing the way the world
trades since 1985. The Chicago-based company created many
technology innovations that are now considered standards in
the financial services industry. These include the first
real-time financial software under Microsoft Windows(R);
the first product to provide real-time streaming data over
the Internet; the first integrated solution for NASDAQ
trading rooms; and the first Windows-based direct-access
trading solution. Townsend Analytics also developed
Archipelago and the Archipelago Exchange, the nation's
first all-electronic, fully open exchange. The firm has
engineered direct-access solutions for money managers,
asset managers, hedge funds and mutual funds worldwide. The
firm's four main lines of business include Trading Services,
Content Services, Exchange Services, and Risk Management
Services.  Townsend Analytics, Ltd. is a wholly owned,
independently-operated subsidiary of Lehman Brothers.  For
more information, visit http://www.taltrade.com .

    About HSBC

    HSBC Corporate, Investment Banking and Markets (CIBM)
provides tailored financial products and services to major
government, corporate and institutional clients. Within
client-focused business lines, Global Banking and Global
Markets, CIBM offers a full range of capabilities,
including foreign exchange, fixed income, equities,
derivatives, risk advisory, corporate and investment
banking, equity sales and trading, and equity and debt
capital markets. For more information on CIBM, please visit
http://www.hsbcnet.com .

    HSBC Holdings plc

    HSBC Holdings plc serves over 125 million customers
worldwide through some 10,000 offices in 82 countries and
territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the
Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of USD
1,861 billion at 31 December 2006, HSBC is one of the
world's largest banking and financial services
organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as `the world's
local bank'.


    For more information, please contact:

     Anne Aldrich
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Todd Swearingen
     Townsend Analytics
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Charles Clarke
     Corporate Communications Manager, HSBC
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]