HSBC, Europe’s largest bank, announced on Thursday that a quantum computing trial with IBM has produced promising results for bond trading, marking one of the first real-world finance applications of the emerging technology.
The pilot delivered a 34% improvement in predicting the likelihood that a bond trade would be filled at a quoted price, giving HSBC a potential competitive edge over traditional computing methods.
Quantum computing uses the principles of quantum physics to solve complex problems far faster than classical computers. While the technology remains in its early stages with few proven applications, it is seen as having transformative potential for industries such as finance, logistics, and pharmaceuticals.
According to a McKinsey report in June, the global quantum technology market could reach $100 billion within a decade, up from just $4 billion in revenue last year, driven largely by advancements in quantum computing.
HSBC said its experiment combined quantum and classical computing to price trades in the European corporate bond market. Automated algorithms calculate trade prices for client inquiries in real time, factoring in both market conditions and risk.
“This means we now have a tangible example of how today’s quantum computers could solve a real-world business problem at scale,” said Philip Intallura, HSBC’s group head of quantum technologies.