Terms and Conditions

Privacy

HSBC Global Asset Management (USA) Inc. ("HSBC Global Asset Management") understands the importance of handling customer information in a professional and confidential manner. We know that privacy is an important element of our customers' confidence in us and we understand that our customers expect us to collect and retain personal financial information responsibly. To view our Privacy Statement, click here.

Website Terms and Conditions

GENERAL TERMS

This Site is currently intended for those who access it from within the United States. Because of this we cannot guarantee that the Site, or the information thereon, complies with the local laws or regulations of, or is appropriate for use in, any other jurisdiction from which you access it. If you choose to access this Site from a jurisdiction other than the United States you do so at your own risk and the HSBC Group will not be liable for any breach of local law or regulation that you commit as a result of doing so.

All our products and services and those of other members of the HSBC Group are subject to the terms and conditions and disclaimers of the applicable agreement governing their use. These Terms are to be read by you together with any terms, conditions and disclaimers provided in the pages of this Site and any other HSBC Group websites accessed via this Site. Should the terms, conditions and disclaimers contained in the Site conflict with those of any in the other HSBC Group websites accessed via this Site the terms, conditions and disclaimers of this Site shall prevail.

NO OFFER

Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in our Site constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation or an offer to buy any securities or financial instruments or any other products, accounts or services or any advice or recommendation with respect to such securities, financial instruments or other products, accounts or services. You are advised to obtain appropriate legal, accounting and tax advice where necessary. The material contained on this Site is for information only and does not constitute investment or other financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell investments.

INVESTMENTS

Please note that the value of investments and the income derived from them may fluctuate and an investor may not receive back the amount originally invested. Past performance should not be seen as an indication of future performance and the value and any income arising from any investment referred to on this Site may go down as well as up. In particular you may not get back the full amount invested. Where an investment is denominated in a currency other than US dollars, exchange rates may have an adverse effect on the value price or income of that investment. In the case of investments for which there is not a recognized market it may be difficult for investors to sell their investment or to obtain reliable information about its value or the extent of the risks to which it is exposed. The information contained in this site is based on our understanding of current law at the time of going to press. Changes in current rates of exchange or taxation may have an effect on the value price or income of investments. Current tax levels and relief may change and the value of any relief depends on individual circumstances. Any forecast, projection or target is indicative only and is not guaranteed in any way. We accept no liability for any failure to meet such forecast, projection or target.

Copyright and Other Intellectual Property

HSBC Global Asset Management, or its corporate parents, affiliated companies, or subsidiaries (collectively "Affiliates") is the owner or the authorized user of this website and certain other websites linked to the site, as well as all text, images, graphics, photos, animation, music, sounds and other materials contained within these websites.

The materials contained within these websites, including, without limitation, any copyrights, trademarks, service marks, and all other proprietary materials, are protected by the U.S. and international copyright laws and treaty provisions, trademark laws, and other proprietary rights laws. The material contained within these websites is provided by HSBC Global Asset Management and/or its Affiliates only for lawful uses by customers, employees, and members of the general public. The material may not be copied, republished, incorporated into another website or reproduced (whether by linking, framing, or any other method), transmitted, distributed, uploaded, posted, used to create a derivative work or exploited in any other way without the express written consent of HSBC Global Asset Management.

Limited Liability

NONE OF HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT OR ANY MEMBER OF HSBC GROUP WILL BE LIABLE OR HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY KIND FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE THAT YOU INCUR ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY ACT OR OMISSION OF HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT OR OTHER MEMBER OF THE HSBC GROUP IN MAKING THIS SITE AVAILABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER CAUSE RELATING TO YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF THIS SITE, WHETHER OR NOT THE CIRCUMSTANCES GIVING RISE TO SUCH CAUSE MAY HAVE BEEN WITHIN THE CONTROL OF ANY MEMBER OF THE HSBC GROUP OR WITHIN THE CONTROL OF ANY VENDOR PROVIDING SOFTWARE OR SERVICES SUPPORT FOR THIS SITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, NEITHER HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT, ITS PARENT, AFFILIATES OR SUBSIDIARIES, OR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THE INFORMATION AT THIS SITE, NOR THE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES OR REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING, ARE LIABLE IN ANY WAY FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS, COST OF PROCURING SUBSTITUTE SERVICE OR LOST OPPORTUNITY) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS SITE OR THE USE OF THIS SITE OR A LINKED SITE OR WITH THE DELAY OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SITE OR A LINKED SITE, WHETHER OR NOT HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT IS MADE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THIS LIMITATION INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE TRANSMISSION OF ANY VIRUSES, TROJAN HORSES OR HARMFUL CODE THAT MAY AFFECT A USER'S EQUIPMENT, ANY INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN THIS SITE'S FILES AND THE USER'S BROWSER OR OTHER SITE ACCESSING PROGRAM, FAILURE OF ANY ELECTRONIC OR TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT, COMMUNICATION OR CONNECTION LINES, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, THEFT, OPERATOR ERRORS, OR ANY FORCE MAJEURE EVENT. HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT DOES NOT GUARANTEE CONTINUOUS, UNINTERRUPTED OR SECURE ACCESS TO THIS SITE OR A LINKED SITE. THE CONTENT, ACCURACY, OPINIONS EXPRESSED, AND OTHER LINKS PROVIDED BY THE LINKED SITES ARE NOT INVESTIGATED, VERIFIED, MONITORED OR ENDORSED BY HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT. THE INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS AND DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES PUBLISHED ON THE SITE OR A LINKED SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS, AND HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR SUCH INACCURACIES OR ERRORS. CHANGES ARE PERIODICALLY MADE TO THE INFORMATION ON THE SITE AND LINKED SITES. HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT MAY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES TO THE SITE AT ANY TIME.

NOTHING HEREIN SHALL IN ANY WAY CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OR LIMITATION OF ANY RIGHTS WHICH YOU MAY HAVE UNDER ANY FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAW.

NO WARRANTIES

ALL PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND CONTENT ON THIS SITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, SECURITY, OR ACCURACY. NEITHER HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT NOR ITS PARENT, AFFILIATES OR SUBSIDIARIES ENDORSES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION ON THIS SITE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER TO EVALUATE THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, TIMELINESS AND COMPLETENESS OF ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE. HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY DUTY TO UPDATE THE INFORMATION ON THE SITE.

USER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT HARMLESS FROM ANY LIABILITY, LOSS, CLAIM AND EXPENSE, INCLUDING ATTORNEY'S FEES RELATED TO A USER'S VIOLATION OF THESE TERMS OF USE OR THE USE OF THE SERVICES AND INFORMATION PROVIDED AT THIS SITE.

Links

Clicking on certain links within this website or certain other websites that are linked to this website may take you to other websites, or may display information on your computer screen from other websites, which are not maintained by HSBC Global Asset Management. Such websites may contain terms and conditions, privacy provisions, confidentiality provisions, or other provisions that differ from the terms and conditions applicable to this website. Links to other Internet services and websites are provided solely for the convenience of users. A link to any service or website is not an endorsement of any kind of the service or website, its content, or its sponsoring organization.

HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT AND ITS CORPORATE PARENTS, AFFILIATES, AND SUBSIDIARIES ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR THE CONTENT, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN A WEBSITE, TO WHICH THIS SITE IS LINKED (A "LINKED SITE") AND SUCH LINKED SITES ARE NOT MONITORED, INVESTIGATED, OR CHECKED FOR ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS BY HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER TO EVALUATE THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, TIMELINESS AND COMPLETENESS OF ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON A LINKED SITE. ALL PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND CONTENT OBTAINED FROM A LINKED SITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, SECURITY, OR ACCURACY.

Children

HSBC Global Asset Management does not knowingly market to, or solicit, or collect personal information from children under age 18.

Information and Cookies

HSBC Global Asset Management may collect and receive the URL you came from, the pages of HSBC Global Asset Management website that were viewed during a visit, the advertisements you clicked, any search terms that you entered to reach our site, and certain other information regarding your internet use. See HSBC Global Asset Management's Privacy Statement for how this information may be used; click here to view HSBC Global Asset Management's Privacy Statement. Some of HSBC Global Asset Management's websites may also make use of "cookie" technology to measure site activity, determine how you arrived at our site and maintain your identity as you navigate through the website. A cookie is an element of data that a website can send to your browser, which may then store the cookie on your hard drive. Cookies make visiting a website easier for you by saving your preferences while you are at the site. The use of cookies is an industry standard and you will find them at many websites. HSBC Global Asset Management may use the information from cookies to provide services that are customized to your needs.

HSBC Global Asset Management may also use third party advertising companies to serve HSBC Global Asset Management's ads on the Internet. These third party advertising companies also employ cookie technology to measure the effectiveness of ads. To do so, these companies may use information about your visits to HSBC Global Asset Management's website and other websites. Unless otherwise notified, these advertising companies do not use names, addresses, e-mail addresses or telephone numbers, and do not link any online actions or cookies to an identifiable person. The use of their cookies is subject to their own privacy policy.

If you want to prevent a third party advertiser from sending and reading cookies on your computer, currently you must visit each ad network's website individually and opt-out.

Choice of Law

All website activity or use and these Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Website Content and Material

The information and materials contained in this website, including but not limited to these Terms and Conditions and any product information, are subject to change without notice. Users are deemed to be apprised of and bound by any such changes. Not all products and services are available in all geographic areas. Your eligibility for particular products and services is subject to final determination and acceptance by HSBC Global Asset Management.

Waiver and Severability

Any waiver of any provision contained in these Terms and Conditions shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other right, term or provision of these Terms and Conditions. If any provision in these Terms and Conditions shall be or become wholly or partially invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the extent it is legal and valid and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby.

Access to Secured Areas

Access to and use of password protected and/or secure areas of this website is restricted to authorized users only. Unauthorized persons attempting to access these areas of the website may be subject to prosecution.

Updates: These Terms and Conditions were last updated June 3, 2008. Please check periodically for changes.