HSBC lowers return targets, to shrink asset base by $290 billion

HONG KONG (Reuters) - HSBC will reduce its asset base by $290 billion, sell units in Brazil and Turkey and shrink its investment bank in an effort to cut costs and improve its sluggish performance, Europe's biggest bank said in a Hong Kong stock exchange filing on Tuesday.

The announcement comes ahead of a presentation to investors and analysts by Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver that will give more detail on his second major strategic plan since he took the helm at the start of 2011.

The new strategy, which involves shrinking the global banking and markets division to less than one third of HSBC's $2.6 billion balance sheet from its current level of around 40 percent, marks a significant shift for the lender.

HSBC also set its new target for return on equity at greater than 10 percent by 2017, down from its previous target of 12-15 percent by 2016.

(Reporting By Lawrence White; Editing by Rachel Armstrong)