The date is approaching for HSBC Holdings plc (LON: HSBA), Intertek Group plc (LSE: ITRK) and Carnival plc (LON: CCL). Ex-dividend dates are well worth watching out for, whether or not you own shares in a company.

Underlying revenue essentially flat as HSBC Holdings Plc (LON:HSBA) writes fewer bad loans and continues cost-cutting. HSBC Holdings (LSE: HSBA) (NYSE: HBC.

News round up: StanChart, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, Vodafone, Verizon, Severn Trent, Tata Steel and Eurozone finance ministers.

London, England, United Kingdom (4E) - HSBC Holdings PLC reported on Wednesday that it is seeking ways to cut its cost base by $3bn and increase shareholder dividends through measures such as cutting about 14,000 jobs across its global operations.

HONG KONG--HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC) said Wednesday it plans to further cut costs of US$2 billion to US$3 billion via streamlining processes and procedures by 2016.

HSBC Trinkaus' capital ratio was 15.3% compared to 16.6% at 31 December 2012. The core tier 1 capital ratio of 12.9% was unchanged from that at 31 December 2012.

The recovery of the BG Group plc (LON:BG) share price will be further underpinned today on news that analysts at Credit Suisse have upgraded their guidance on the stock.

"It will be a challenge to get there (this year)," HSBC Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver said of the bank's RoE target.

HSBC could cut another 14,000 jobs as part of the next phase of its plan to cut up to $3 billion more in annual costs and slim down, it said on Wednesday.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON:GSK), HSBC Holdings plc (LON:HSBA) and Vodafone Group plc (LON:VOD) are the heavyweight holdings of Temple Bar Investment Trust PLC (LON:TMPL).