New AIDA from HSBC

Giuseppe Verdi's Aida is set in ancient Egypt, a land renowned for its enterprising civilisation, synonymous with wealth, strength and security. Using these concepts, HSBC ( www.hsbc.com.mt ) has adopted ancient Egyptian imagery to highlight the capital security and wealth potential of its new Annual Income Deposit Account (AIDA).

AIDA is a five-year capital secure term deposit denominated in Maltese liri. The deposit is split in two. Half receives gross annual interest of three per cent; the remaining is invested in a popular basket of share indices on which customers will receive an attractive participation rate on any growth. Income is received annually with the equity gains, if any, based on growth of the indices during that year compared to the basket's opening value.

The main difference of AIDA compared to HSBC's Equity Linked Deposit Account (ELDA) is that the new product pays out interest and a coupon on any gains on the growth of the share indices, every year, therefore enhancing the interest payment.

Any growth in the basket of indices is always against the original strike date (March 2006) and not subsequent anniversaries, so investors can enjoy a coupon on any growth year after year until the deposit matures.

HSBC's new AIDA account is a limited issue investment and will only be available until February 28.