IN BRIEF (Page 14)

Data theft hits HSBC clients

HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, said a theft of data by a former employee affected up to 24,000 Swiss client accounts, dealing a hefty blow to the reputation of its private bank.

The bank had previously said "less than 10 clients" were affected after Herve Falciani, a former HSBC computer specialist, stole client data from the bank which he handed over to French tax authorities.