Unassociated Document

Additional Terms Specific to the Notes

This free writing prospectus relates to a single note offering linked to the Reference Asset identified on the cover page. The purchaser of a Note will acquire a senior unsecured debt security linked to the Reference Asset. We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify any offering and to reject orders in whole or in part. Although the Note offering relates only to a single Reference Asset identified on the cover page, you should not construe that fact as a recommendation as to the merits of acquiring an investment linked to the Reference Asset or any securities comprising the Reference Asset or as to the suitability of an investment in the Notes.

You should read this document together with the prospectus dated April 2, 2009, the prospectus supplement dated April 9, 2009 and the product supplement dated April 9, 2009. If the terms of the Notes offered hereby are inconsistent with those described in the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement or prospectus, the terms described in this free writing prospectus shall control. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page 5 of this free writing prospectus and “Risk Factors” on page PS-4 of the product supplement and page S-3 of the prospectus supplement, as the Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. All references to “Enhanced Market Participation Notes” in the product supplement shall refer to these Return Enhanced Notes. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Notes. As used herein, references to the “Issuer”, “HSBC”, “we”, “us” and “our” are to HSBC USA Inc.

HSBC has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, a prospectus supplement and a product supplement) with the SEC for the offering to which this free writing prospectus relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus, prospectus supplement and product supplement in that registration statement and other documents HSBC has filed with the SEC for more complete information about HSBC and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the prospectus, prospectus supplement and product supplement if you request them by calling toll-free 1-866-811-8049.

You may also obtain:

•	the product supplement at www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/83246/000114420409019791/v145840_424b2.htm

•	the prospectus supplement at www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/83246/000114420409019785/v145824_424b2.htm

•	the prospectus at www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/83246/000104746909003736/a2192100zs-3asr.htm

We are using this free writing prospectus to solicit from you an offer to purchase the Notes. You may revoke your offer to purchase the Notes at any time prior to the time at which we accept your offer by notifying HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the Notes prior to their issuance. In the event of any material changes to the terms of the Notes, we will notify you.

Supplemental Information Relating to the Terms of the Notes

Notwithstanding anything contained in the accompanying prospectus supplement or product supplement to the contrary, the Notes will be issued under the senior indenture dated March 31, 2009, between HSBC, as Issuer, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Such indenture has substantially the same terms as the indenture described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and product supplement. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. will act as paying agent with respect to the Notes pursuant to a Paying Agent and Securities Registrar Agreement dated June 1, 2009, between HSBC and HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

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What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity Assuming a Range of Performance for the Reference Asset?

The following table illustrates the hypothetical total return at maturity on the Notes. The “total return” as used in this free writing prospectus is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the Payment at Maturity per $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below assume an Initial Level of 1,300.00 and reflect the Upside Participation Rate of 100.00% and the Maximum Return on the Notes of 19.00%. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the Notes. The numbers appearing in the following table, graph and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.

Hypothetical Final Level	Hypothetical Reference Return	Hypothetical Total Return on the Notes	Hypothetical Payment at Maturity
2,600.00	100.00%	19.00%	$1,190.00
2,340.00	80.00%	19.00%	$1,190.00
2,145.00	65.00%	19.00%	$1,190.00
1,950.00	50.00%	19.00%	$1,190.00
1,820.00	40.00%	19.00%	$1,190.00
1,690.00	30.00%	19.00%	$1,190.00
1,560.00	20.00%	19.00%	$1,190.00
1,430.00	10.00%	10.00%	$1,100.00
1,365.00	5.00%	5.00%	$1,050.00
1,313.00	1.00%	1.00%	$1,010.00
1,300.00	0.00%	0.00%	$1,000.00
1,287.00	-1.00%	-1.00%	$990.00
1,235.00	-5.00%	-5.00%	$950.00
1,170.00	-10.00%	-10.00%	$900.00
1,040.00	-20.00%	-20.00%	$800.00
910.00	-30.00%	-20.00%	$800.00
780.00	-40.00%	-20.00%	$800.00
650.00	-50.00%	-20.00%	$800.00
520.00	-60.00%	-20.00%	$800.00
390.00	-70.00%	-20.00%	$800.00
260.00	-80.00%	-20.00%	$800.00
130.00	-90.00%	-20.00%	$800.00
0.00	-100.00%	-20.00%	$800.00

Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity

The following examples illustrate how the total returns set forth in the table and graph above are calculated.

Example 1: The level of the Reference Asset increases from the Initial Level of 1,300.00 to a Final Level of 1,365.00. Because the Final Level of 1,365.00 is greater than the Initial Level of 1,300.00 and the Reference Return of 5.00% multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate of 100.00% does not exceed the Maximum Return of 19.00%, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $1,050.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes, calculated as follows:

$1,000 + [$1,000 × (5.00% × 100.00%)] = $1,050.00

Example 2: The level of the Reference Asset increases from the Initial Level of 1,300.00 to a Final Level of 1,690.00. Because the Final Level of 1,690.00 is greater than the Initial Level of 1,300.00 and the Reference Return of 30% multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate of 100.00% exceeds the Maximum Return of 19.00%, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $1,190.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes, the maximum payment on the Notes, calculated as follows:

$1,000 + [$1,000 × 19.00%] = $1,190.00

Example 3: The level of the Reference Asset decreases from the Initial Level of 1,300.00 to a Final Level of 1,170.00. Because the Final Level of 1,170.00 is less than the Initial Level of 1,300.00, and the product of the Principal Amount multiplied by 1 plus the Reference Return of -10.00% is greater than $800.00, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $900.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes, calculated as follows:

$1,000 + ($1,000 × - -10.00%) = $900.00

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Example 4: The level of the Reference Asset decreases from the Initial Level of 1,300.00 to a Final Level of 780.00. Because the product of the Principal Amount multiplied by 1 plus the Reference Return of -40.00% is less than $800.00, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $800.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes.

Selected Purchase Considerations

PARTIAL PRESERVATION OF CAPITAL AT MATURITY – You will receive back at least 80% of your initial investment, subject to the credit risk of HSBC, if you hold the Notes to maturity, regardless of the performance of the Reference Asset. You should be willing to lose up to 20% of your initial investment if the Reference Return is less than zero. Because the Notes are our senior unsecured debt obligations, payment of any amount at maturity is subject to our ability to pay our obligations as they become due.

DIVERSIFICATION OF THE S&P 500® INDEX — The return on the Notes is linked to the S&P 500® Index. The S&P 500® Index consists of 500 component stocks selected to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets. For additional information about the Reference Asset, see the information set forth under “Description of the Reference Asset” herein.

TAX TREATMENT — You should carefully consider the matters set forth in “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The following discussion summarizes certain of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, beneficial ownership, and disposition of the Notes. This summary supplements the section “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and supersedes it to the extent inconsistent therewith. Notwithstanding any disclosure in the accompanying prospectus supplement to the contrary, our special U.S. tax counsel in this transaction is Sidley Austin llp.

There are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings or judicial decisions addressing the characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of securities with terms that are substantially the same as those of the Notes. We intend to treat the Notes as contingent payment debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, you agree to treat the Notes as contingent payment debt instruments for all U.S. federal income tax purposes and, in the opinion of Sidley Austin llp, special U.S. tax counsel to us, it is reasonable to treat the Notes as contingent payment debt instruments. Assuming the Notes are treated as contingent payment debt instruments, a U.S. holder will be required to include original issue discount (“OID”) in gross income each year, even though no payments will be made on the Notes until maturity.

Based on the factors described in the section, “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment of the Notes as Indebtedness for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes — Contingent Payment Debt Instruments”, in order to illustrate the application of the noncontingent bond method to the Notes, we have estimated that the comparable yield of the Notes, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will be 1.43% per annum (compounded annually). Further, based upon the method described in the section, “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment of the Notes as Indebtedness for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes — Contingent Payment Debt Instruments” and based upon the estimate of the comparable yield, we have estimated that the projected payment schedule for Notes that have a Principal Amount of $1,000 and an issue price of $1,000 consists of a single payment of $1,028.84 at maturity.

Based upon the estimate of the comparable yield, a U.S. holder that pays taxes on a calendar year basis, buys a Note for $1,000, and holds the Note until maturity will be required to pay taxes on the following amounts of ordinary income in respect of the Notes in each year:

	Year	OID
	2011	$12.66
	2012	$14.49
	2013	$1.69

However, the ordinary income reported in the taxable year the Notes mature will be adjusted to reflect the actual payment received at maturity. U.S. holders should also note that the actual comparable yield and projected payment schedule may be different than as provided in this summary depending upon market conditions on the date the Notes are issued. U.S. holders may obtain the actual comparable yield and projected payment schedule as determined by us by submitting a written request to: Structured Equity Derivatives – Structuring HSBC Bank USA, National Association, 452 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10018. A U.S. holder is generally bound by the comparable yield and the projected payment schedule established by us for the Notes. However, if a U.S. holder believes that the projected payment schedule is unreasonable, a U.S. holder must determine its own projected payment schedule and explicitly disclose the use of such schedule and the reason the holder believes the projected payment schedule is unreasonable on its timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year in which it acquires the Notes.

The comparable yield and projected payment schedule are not provided for any purpose other than the determination of a U.S. holder’s interest accruals for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not constitute a projection or representation by us regarding the actual yield on a Note. We do not make any representation as to what such actual yield will be.

Because there are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings or judicial decisions addressing the characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of securities with terms that are substantially the same as those

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of the Notes, other characterizations and treatments are possible. As a result, the timing and character of income in respect of the Notes might differ from the treatment described above. You should carefully consider the discussion of all potential tax consequences as set forth in “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Recently enacted legislation will impose an addition 3.8% tax on the net investment income (which includes OID and gains from the disposition of a Note) of certain individuals, trusts and estates, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. Prospective investors in the Notes should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible applicability of this tax to an investment in the Notes.

PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF NOTES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF NOTES.

Selected Risk Considerations

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. Investing in the Notes is not equivalent to investing directly in any of the component securities of the Reference Asset. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and prospectus supplement.

SUITABILITY OF NOTES FOR INVESTMENT – You should only reach a decision to invest in the Notes after carefully considering, with your advisors, the suitability of the Notes in light of your investment objectives and the information set out in this free writing prospectus. Neither HSBC nor any dealer participating in the offering makes any recommendation as to the suitability of the Notes for investment.

YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The Notes do not guarantee the full return of your investment. The return on the Notes at maturity is linked to the performance of the Reference Asset and will depend on whether, and the extent to which, the Reference Return is positive or negative. Your investment will be exposed on a 1-to-1 basis to a decline of up to 20.00% in the Final Level. Accordingly, if the Reference Return is negative, you will lose up to 20.00% of your initial investment. Payment of any amount at maturity is subject to the credit risk of HSBC.

CREDIT RISK OF HSBC USA INC. — The Notes are senior unsecured debt obligations of the issuer, HSBC, and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. As further described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, the Notes will rank on par with all of the other unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of HSBC except such obligations as may be preferred by operation of law. Any payment to be made on the Notes, including any return of principal at maturity, depends on the ability of HSBC to satisfy its obligations as they come due. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of HSBC may affect the market value of the Notes and, in the event HSBC were to default on its obligations, you may not receive the amounts owed to you under the terms of the Notes.

YOUR MAXIMUM GAIN ON THE NOTES IS LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM RETURN — If the Final Level is greater than the Initial Level, for each $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes you hold, you will receive at maturity $1,000 plus an additional amount that will not exceed the Maximum Return of 19.00% of the Principal Amount, regardless of the appreciation in the Reference Asset, which may be significantly greater than the Maximum Return. You will not receive a return on the Notes greater than the Maximum Return.

SUITABILITY OF NOTES FOR INVESTMENT – A person should reach a decision to invest in the Notes after carefully considering, with his or her advisors, the suitability of the Notes in light of his or her investment objectives and the information set out in this free writing prospectus. Neither the Issuer nor any dealer participating in the offering makes any recommendation as to the suitability of the Notes for investment.

CERTAIN BUILT-IN COSTS ARE LIKELY TO ADVERSELY AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE NOTES PRIOR TO MATURITY — While the Payment at Maturity described in this free writing prospectus is based on the full Principal Amount of your Notes, the original issue price of the Notes includes the placement agent’s commission and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes through one or more of our affiliates. As a result, the price, if any, at which HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. will be willing to purchase Notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the original issue price, and any sale of Notes by you prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.

NO INTEREST OR DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the Notes, you will not receive interest payments, and you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of securities composing the Reference Asset would have.

LACK OF LIQUIDITY — The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. may offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market but is not required to do so and may cease making such offers at any time. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the Notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your Notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. is willing to buy the Notes. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the Notes easily.

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the Notes, including acting as calculation agent and hedging our obligations under the Notes. In performing these duties,

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the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes. We will not have any obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the Notes in taking any corporate action that might affect the level of the Reference Asset and the value of the Notes. The calculation agent is under no obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the Notes in taking any actions that might affect the value of your Notes.

THE NOTES ARE NOT INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION — The Notes are not deposit liabilities or other obligations of a bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or program of the United States or any other jurisdiction. An investment in the Notes is subject to the credit risk of the Issuer, and in the event that we are unable to pay our obligations as they become due, you may not receive the full Payment at Maturity of the Notes.

MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS WILL IMPACT THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — In addition to the level of the Reference Asset on any day, the value of the Notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:

the expected volatility of the Reference Asset;

the time to maturity of the Notes;

the dividend rate on the equity securities underlying the Reference Asset;

interest and yield rates in the market generally;

a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the Reference Asset or the stock markets generally; and

our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.

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Description of the Reference Asset

General

This free writing prospectus is not an offer to sell and it is not an offer to buy interests in the Reference Asset or any of the securities comprising the Reference Asset. All disclosures contained in this free writing prospectus regarding the Reference Asset, including its make-up, performance, method of calculation and changes in its components, where applicable, are derived from publicly available information. Neither HSBC nor any of its affiliates assumes any responsibilities for the adequacy or accuracy of information about the Reference Asset or any constituent included in the Reference Asset contained in this free writing prospectus. You should make your own investigation into each Reference Asset.

We urge you to read the section “Sponsors or Issuers and Reference Asset” on page S-37 in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

The S&P 500® Index

HSBC has derived all information relating to the Reference Asset, including, without limitation, its make-up, performance, method of calculation and changes in its components, from publicly available sources. That information reflects the policies of and is subject to change by, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). S&P is under no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue or suspend the publication of the Reference Asset at any time.

S&P publishes the Reference Asset

The Reference Asset is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement. The calculation of the level of the Reference Asset, discussed below in further detail, is based on the relative value of the aggregate Market Value (as defined below) of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular time compared to the aggregate average Market Value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. S&P chooses companies for inclusion in the Reference Asset with the aim of achieving a distribution by broad industry groupings that approximates the distribution of these groupings in the common stock population of the Standard & Poor’s Stock Guide Database, which S&P uses as an assumed model for the composition of the total market. S&P may from time to time in its sole discretion, add companies to or delete companies from, the Reference Asset to achieve these objectives.

Relevant criteria employed by S&P include the viability of the particular company, the extent to which that company represents the industry group to which it is assigned, the extent to which the market price of that company’s common stock is generally responsive to changes in the affairs of the respective industry and the market value and trading activity of the common stock of that company. Ten main industry groups comprise the Reference Asset: Information Technology, Financials, Consumer Staples, Health Care, Energy, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, Utilities, Materials and Telecommunication Services. Changes in the Reference Asset are reported daily in the financial pages of many major newspapers, on Bloomberg Professional® service under the symbol “SPX” and on the S&P website. Information contained in the S&P website is not incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered a part of, this document.

The Reference Asset does not reflect the payment of dividends on the stocks included in the Reference Asset and therefore the payment on the Notes will not produce the same return you would receive if you were able to purchase such underlying stocks and hold them until the Maturity Date.

Computation of the Reference Asset

Prior to March 2005, the Market Value of a component stock was calculated as the product of the market price per share and the total number of outstanding shares of the component stock. In March 2004, S&P announced that it would transition the Reference Asset to float-adjusted market capitalization weights. The transition began in March 2005 and was completed in September 2005. S&P’s criteria for selecting stock for the Reference Asset was not changed by the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the Reference Asset (i.e., its Market Value). Currently, S&P calculates the Reference Asset based on the total float-adjusted market capitalization of each component stock, where each stock’s weight in the Reference Asset is proportional to its float-adjusted Market Value.

Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the Reference Asset reflect only those shares that are available to investors, not all of a company’s outstanding shares. S&P defines three groups of shareholders whose holdings are subject to float adjustment:

holdings by other publicly traded corporations, venture capital firms, private equity firms, strategic partners, or leveraged buyout groups;

holdings by government entities, including all levels of government in the U.S. or foreign countries; and

holdings by current or former officers and directors of the company, founders of the company, or family trusts of officers, directors, or founders, as well as holdings of trusts, foundations, pension funds, employee stock ownership plans or other investment vehicles associated with and controlled by the company.

However, treasury stock, stock options, restricted shares, equity participation units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock, and rights are not part of the float. In cases where holdings in a group exceed 10% of the outstanding shares of a company, the holdings of that group are excluded from the float-adjusted count of shares to be used in the index calculation. Mutual funds, investment advisory firms, pension funds, or foundations not associated with the company and investment funds in insurance companies, shares of a U.S. company traded in Canada as “exchangeable shares,” shares that trust beneficiaries

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may buy or sell without difficulty or significant additional expense beyond typical brokerage fees, and, if a company has multiple classes of stock outstanding, shares in an unlisted or non-traded class if such shares are convertible by shareholders without undue delay and cost, are also part of the float.

For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated by dividing the available float shares, defined as the total shares outstanding less shares held in one or more of the three groups listed above where the group holdings exceed 10% of the outstanding shares, by the total shares outstanding. The float-adjusted index is then calculated by dividing the sum of the IWF multiplied by both the price and the total shares outstanding for each stock by an Index divisor (the “Divisor”). For companies with multiple classes of stock, S&P calculates the weighted average IWF for each stock using the proportion of the total company market capitalization of each share class as weights.

As of the date of this document, the Reference Asset is also calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology: the level of the Reference Asset reflects the total Market Value of all the component stocks relative to the Reference Asset base period of 1941-43. The daily calculation of the Reference Asset is computed by dividing the Market Value of the Reference Asset component stocks by a Divisor, which is adjusted from time to time as discussed below.

The simplest capitalization weighted index can be thought of as a portfolio consisting of all available shares of the stocks in the index. While this might track this portfolio’s value in dollar terms, it would probably yield an unwieldy number in the trillions. Therefore, the actual number used in the Reference Asset is scaled to a more easily handled number, currently in the thousands, by dividing the portfolio Market Value by the Divisor.

Ongoing maintenance of the Reference Asset includes monitoring and completing the adjustments for additions and deletions of the constituent companies, share changes, stock splits, stock dividends and stock price adjustments due to company restructurings or spin-offs. Continuity in the level of the Reference Asset is maintained by adjusting the Divisor for all changes in the Reference Asset constituents’ share capital after the base period of 1941-43 with the level of the Reference Asset as of the base period set at 10. Some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends do not require Divisor adjustments because following a stock split or stock dividend, both the stock price and number of shares outstanding are adjusted by S&P so that there is no change in the Market Value of the component stock. All stock split and dividend adjustments are made after the close of trading on the day before the ex-date.

To prevent the level of the Reference Asset from changing due to corporate actions, all corporate actions which affect the total Market Value of the Reference Asset also require a Divisor adjustment. By adjusting the Divisor for the change in total Market Value, the level of the Reference Asset remains constant. This helps maintain the level of the Reference Asset as an accurate barometer of stock market performance and ensures that the movement of the Reference Asset does not reflect the corporate actions of individual companies in the Reference Asset. All Divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the closing levels of the Reference Asset. As noted in the preceding paragraph, some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends, require simple changes in the common shares outstanding and the stock prices of the companies in the Reference Asset and do not require Divisor adjustments.

The table below summarizes the types of Reference Asset maintenance adjustments and indicates whether or not an Divisor adjustment is required.

Type of Corporate Action	Comments	Divisor Adjustment

Company added/deleted	Net change in market value determines Divisor adjustment.	Yes

Change in shares outstanding	Any combination of secondary issuance, share repurchase or buy back—share counts revised to reflect change.	Yes

Stock split	Share count revised to reflect new count. Divisor adjustment is not required since the share count and price changes are offsetting.	No

Spin-off	If spun-off company is not being added to the index, the divisor adjustment reflects the decline in Index Market Value (i.e., the value of the spun-off unit).	Yes

Spin-off	Spun-off company added to the Reference Asset, no company removed from the Reference Asset.	No

Spin-off	Spun-off company added to the Reference Asset, another company removed to keep number of names fixed. Divisor adjustment reflects deletion.	Yes

Change in IWF	Increasing (decreasing) the IWF increases (decreases) the total market value of the Reference Asset. The Divisor change reflects the change in market value caused by the change to an IWF.	Yes

Special dividend	When a company pays a special dividend the share price is assumed to drop by the amount of the dividend; the divisor adjustment reflects this drop in Index Market Value.	Yes

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Type of Corporate Action	Comments	Divisor Adjustment

Rights offering	Each shareholder receives the right to buy a proportional number of additional shares at a set (often discounted) price. The calculation assumes that the offering is fully subscribed. Divisor adjustment reflects increase in market cap measured as the shares issued multiplied by the price paid.	Yes

Each of the corporate events exemplified in the table requiring an adjustment to the Divisor has the effect of altering the Market Value of the component stock and consequently of altering the aggregate Market Value of the Reference Asset component stocks (the “Post-Event Aggregate Market Value”). In order that the level of the Reference Asset (the “Pre-Event Index Value”) not be affected by the altered Market Value (whether increase or decrease) of the affected component stock, a new Divisor (“New Divisor”) is derived as follows:


·	Post-Event Aggregate Market Value New Divisor	=	Pre-Event Index Value

·	New Divisor	=	Post-Event Aggregate Market Value Pre-Event Index Value

Another large part of the Reference Asset maintenance process involves tracking the changes in the number of shares outstanding of each of the companies whose stocks are included in the Reference Asset. Four times a year, on a Friday close to the end of each calendar quarter, the share totals of companies in the Reference Asset are updated as required by any changes in the number of shares outstanding and then the Index Divisor is adjusted accordingly. In addition, changes in a company’s shares outstanding of 5% or more due to mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, private placements, tender offers, Dutch auctions or exchange offers are made as soon as reasonably possible. Other changes of 5% or more (due to, for example, company stock repurchases, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participations or other recapitalizations) are made weekly, and are announced on Wednesdays for implementation after the close of trading on the following Wednesday. If a 5% or more change causes a company’s IWF to change by 5 percentage points or more (for example from 0.80 to 0.85), the IWF will be updated at the same time as the share change, except IWF changes resulting from partial tender offers will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Changes to an IWF of less than 5 percentage points are implemented at the next IWF review, which occurs annually. In the case of certain rights issuances, in which the number of rights issued and/or terms of their exercise are deemed substantial, a price adjustment and share increase may be implemented immediately.

License Agreement with S&P

HSBC has entered into a nonexclusive license agreement providing for the license to it, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use indices owned and published by S&P in connection with some products, including the Notes.

The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its third party licensors. Neither S&P nor its third party licensors makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the SPX to track general stock market performance. S&P's and its third party licensor’s only relationship to HSBC USA Inc. is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P and the third party licensors and of the SPX which is determined, composed and calculated by S&P or its third party licensors without regard to HSBC USA Inc. or the Notes. S&P and its third party licensors have no obligation to take the needs of HSBC USA Inc. or the owners of the Notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the SPX. Neither S&P nor its third party licensors is responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the Notes or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Notes or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Notes are to be converted into cash. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Notes.

NEITHER STANDARD & POOR’S, ITS AFFILIATES NOR THEIR THIRD PARTY LICENSORS GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE SPX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR ANY COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. STANDARD & POOR’S, ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR THIRD PARTY LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR DELAYS THEREIN. STANDARD & POOR’S MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE MARKS, THE SPX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL STANDARD & POOR’S, ITS AFFILIATES OR THEIR THIRD PARTY LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE.

“Standard & Poor’s®”, “S&P®” and “S&P 500®” are trademarks of Standard and Poor’s and have been licensed for use by HSBC USA Inc.

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Historical Performance of Reference Asset

The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Reference Asset based on the daily historical closing levels from February 2, 2006 through February 2, 2011. The closing level for the Reference Asset on February 2, 2011 was 1,304.03. We obtained the closing levels below from Bloomberg Professional® service. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg Professional® service.

The historical levels of the Reference Asset should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the Official Closing Level on the Final Valuation Date. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Reference Asset will result in the return of any of your initial investment.

Historical Performance of the S&P 500® Index

Source: Bloomberg

Market Disruption Events

If the Final Valuation Date is not a scheduled trading day, then the Final Valuation Date will be the next day that is a scheduled trading day. If a market disruption event (as defined below) exists on the Final Valuation Date, then the Final Valuation Date will be the next scheduled trading day for which there is no market disruption event. If a market disruption event exists with respect to the Final Valuation Date on five consecutive scheduled trading days, then that fifth scheduled trading day will be the Final Valuation Date, as applicable, and the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset will be determined by means of the formula for and method of calculating the Reference Asset which applied just prior to the market disruption event, using the relevant exchange traded or quoted price of each stock included in the Reference Asset (or a good faith estimate of the value of a security included in the Reference Asset which is itself the subject of a market disruption event). If the Final Valuation Date is postponed, then the Maturity Date will also be postponed by an equal number of scheduled trading days and no interest will be paid in respect of such postponement.

Notwithstanding the definition of market disruption event in the accompanying product supplement, “market disruption event” means any scheduled trading day on which any relevant exchange or related exchange fails to open for trading during its regular trading session or on which any of the following events has occurred and is continuing which the calculation agent determines is material:

(i)

Any suspension of or limitation imposed on trading by any relevant exchanges or related exchanges or otherwise, (A) relating to any component security included in the Reference Asset then constituting 20.00% or more of the level of such Reference Asset or (B) in futures or options contracts relating to the relevant Reference Asset on any related exchange; or

(ii)	Any event (other than any event described in (iii) below) that disrupts or impairs the ability of market participants in general (A) to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for any component security included in the Reference Asset

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then constituting 20.00% or more of the level of such Reference Asset or (B) to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, futures or options contracts relating to the Reference Asset on any relevant related exchange; or

(iii)

The closure on any scheduled trading day of any relevant exchange or related exchange prior to its scheduled closing time (unless the earlier closing time is announced by the relevant exchange or related exchange at least one hour prior to the earlier of (i) the actual closing time for the regular trading session on the exchange and (ii) the submission deadline for orders to be entered into the relevant exchange or related exchange for execution at the close of trading on that day).

Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)

Pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., an affiliate of HSBC, will purchase the Notes from HSBC for distribution to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at the price indicated on the cover of the pricing supplement, the document that will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) containing the final pricing terms of the Notes. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC will act as placement agent for the Notes and will receive a fee that will not exceed $15.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes.

In addition, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. or another of its affiliates or agents may use the pricing supplement to which this free writing prospectus relates in market-making transactions after the initial sale of the securities, but is under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice.

See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” on page S-52 in the prospectus supplement. All references to NASD Rule 2720 in the prospectus supplement shall be to FINRA Rule 5121.

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Issuer:	HSBC USA Inc.
Issuer Rating:	AA- (S&P), A1 (Moody’s), AA (Fitch)*
Reference Asset:	The S&P 500® Index (“SPX”)
Principal Amount:	$1,000 per Note.
Pricing Date:	February 8, 2011
Trade Date:	February 8, 2011
Original Issue Date:	February 11, 2011
Final Valuation Date:	February 6, 2013, subject to adjustment as described herein and in the accompanying product supplement.
Maturity Date:	3 business days after the Final Valuation Date and is expected to be February 11, 2013. The Maturity Date is subject to further adjustment as described under “Market Disruption Events” herein and under “Specific Terms of the Notes — Market Disruption Events” in the accompanying product supplement.
Payment at Maturity:	For each Note, the Cash Settlement Value.
Cash Settlement Value:	For each Note, you will receive a cash payment on the Maturity Date that is based on the Reference Return (as described below):
	If the Reference Return is greater than or equal to 0.00%, you will receive an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Amount plus the lesser of:
	(i) the product of (a) the Principal Amount multiplied by (b) the Reference Return multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate; and
	(ii) the product of (a) the Principal Amount multiplied by (b) the Maximum Return.
	If the Reference Return is less than 0.00%, you will receive an amount equal to the greater of:
	(i) the product of (a) the Principal Amount multiplied by (b) 1 plus the Reference Return; and
	(ii) $800.00.
	If the Reference Return is less than 0.00% at maturity, you may lose up to 20.00% of your initial investment.
Upside Participation Rate:	100.00%
Maximum Return:	19.00%
Reference Return:	The quotient, expressed as a percentage, calculated as follows:
	Final Level – Initial Level
	Initial Level
Initial Level:	The Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Pricing Date.
Final Level:	The Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Final Valuation Date
Official Closing Level:	The Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset on any scheduled trading day as determined by the calculation agent based upon the value displayed on Bloomberg Professional® service page “SPX <Index>” or any successor page on Bloomberg Professional® service or any successor service, as applicable.
Calculation Agent:	HSBC USA Inc. or one of its affiliates
CUSIP/ISIN:	4042K1DX8 /
Form of Notes:	Book-Entry
Listing:	The Notes will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or quotation system.

	Price to Public(1)	Fees and Commissions	Proceeds to Issuer
Per Note	$1,000	$15	$985
Total