HSBC to fire another 500 in the UK

500 more jobs will be eliminated by Europe’s biggest bank, HSBC. This reduction will include clerical and computer-service jobs as well as head office positions in its head office in London. The company employs 60,000 people in the UK alone and 335,000 worldwide.

HSCB has also fired 500 people in Asia this month due to the decrease in economic conditions. Another 1,100 workers lost their jobs in September in the banks global banking and market division because of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

CTPartners have estimated that jobs lost in the financial services may double to 350,000 worldwide by mid-2009.

“We would never comment on any matter involving our staff without talking to our staff first,” said a spokesman for the bank. “The U.K. is a successful business. The environment in which we operate changes constantly and HSBC changes to match our customers.”

HSBC’s shares rose today 1.3% at the London Trading to 715 pence. The Bank has declined 15% this year and is now valued at £86.5 billion, being the best performing bank in the Bloomberg European Banks Index.