HSBC's Stephen Green today pledged to make fast-growing emerging markets the UK banking group's top investment priority, at his first annual meeting with shareholders since stepping up to the chairman role a year ago.

Green, who took over as chairman from Sir John Bond after last year's annual general meeting, told HSBC's shareholders today: "The rapid growth of emerging markets and of world trade are leading us to invest in the world's fastest-growing economies. We are already the world's largest emerging markets bank and going forward we will prioritise investment in these fast-growing areas."