US probes possible HSBC leak to hedge fund, WSJ says

The US Department of Justice is investigating allegations that an employee of HSBC leaked confidential client information to a so-called 'hedge-fund'.

The event may have taken place in March 2010, when the London-based bank was advising Prudential on an acquisition involving a multi-billion dollar transaction.

The Wall Street Journal points out that it would mark a "new twist" in the international probes into misconduct in foreig exchange markets.