Six months before hitting the midway point in the four-and-a-half-year term of their investment, customers who placed their cash in the CSGF World Growth Funds already know that they will get a minimum return of 20 per cent (equivalent to 4.13 per cent per annum).

HSBC’s three World Growth Funds, denominated in US dollars, sterling and euro, were launched in early 2004 as part of the bank’s series of Capital Secured Growth Funds (CSGF). These three funds were designed in an innovative way to capture the growth potential from four of the world’s major indices and lock-in gains if this reaches 20 per cent, 40 per cent, 60 per cent, 80 per cent or 100 per cent.

“The lock-in mechanism has enabled the gains registered in the preceding two years to be safeguarded, and thus avoid erosion from any negative performances thereafter. This feature together with complete protection of the original sum invested has added to the diversity and popularity of CSGF issues among the local investing public,” said Charles Azzopardi, managing director at HSBC Investment Services (Malta) Limited.

The three World Growth Funds invest in an equally weighted basket of Indices comprising of the FTSE 100, the S&P 500, the Nikkei 225 and the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50.

The period of investment in these funds started on 23 March 2004 and ends on 24 September 2008. The funds form part of the CSGF series which are regularly promoted in Malta by HSBC. More information is available by calling 2380 2380; from the www.hsbc.com.mt website or from any HSBC branch in Malta and Gozo.

Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of investments including the currency in which they are denominated can go down as well as up. HSBC International Capital Secured Growth Funds plc (CSGF) is not a guaranteed investment. Investment should be based upon the full details contained in the CSGF supplement document which is available from any branch of HSBC Bank Malta plc. CSGF is incorporated in Ireland and is authorised by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority.

CSGF may be marketed in Malta in terms of the UCITS Directive, and is represented locally by HSBC Investment Services (Malta) Ltd, which is licensed to conduct investment services business by the MFSA.