DR PHILIP INTALLURA
TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY
The partnership used production trading data across multiple IBM quantum systems and tested quantum hardware against classical alternatives in a business environment where financial outcomes depend on computational accuracy.
HSBC bond trading operations handle millions of pounds daily HSBC processes thousands of bond trading requests daily across European markets. Individual transactions can be worth millions of pounds. The bank’ s algorithmic systems compete against other financial institutions in automated bidding processes where pricing accuracy translates directly into profitability or loss.
“ This is a ground-breaking world-first in bond trading,” says Philip Intallura, HSBC Group Head of Quantum Technologies.“ It means we now have a tangible example of how today’ s quantum computers could solve a real-world business problem at scale and offer a competitive edge, which will only continue to grow as quantum computers advance.”
Algorithmic trading systems operate at speeds and volumes that make human intervention impractical.“ Algorithmic trading refers to using computer programmes to automatically execute trades, usually with predefined rules, market data and certain strategies,” Philip says.“ And this is done with zero or almost no human interaction.”
DR PHILIP INTALLURA
TITLE: GROUP HEAD OF QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES
COMPANY: HSBC INDUSTRY: FINANCIAL SERVICES LOCATION: UNITED KINGDOM
Quantum physicist with PhD from Cambridge University. Leads HSBC’ s quantum technologies team, pioneering quantum security and computing applications in finance. UK Government Quantum Adviser. First demonstrated telecom fibre-based quantum key distribution using quantum dots.
The quantum processors handled interconnected data streams that create processing bottlenecks for traditional algorithms, processing multiple variables simultaneously whilst generating predictions under conditions of uncertainty.
IBM Heron processors improve order fulfilment predictions The IBM Heron processor spotted patterns in trading data that classical systems missed. The quantum chip accessed computational spaces
126 November 2025