IFFCO Group, one of the Middle East’s largest consumer goods companies, has emerged as an unwelcome headache for HSBC Holdings Plc at a time when Chief Executive Officer Georges Elhedery is trying to make the British lender leaner, simpler and more disciplined with capital.

Stocks can continue climbing without a specific catalyst, despite recent volatility, as structural factors support higher valuations, according to HSBC Chief multi-asset strategist Max Kettner. “I don’t think there needs to be a catalyst,” said Kettner. He explained that we’re in a world of structurally higher nominal growth, and structurally higher revenue growth, meaning if company margins don’t change then earnings will continue to rise. Kettner joined Guy Johnson, Anna Edwards and Tom Mackenzie on "The Opening Trade." (Source: Bloomberg)