Shareholders in HSBC approved the bank's remuneration policy - including plans for 200% bonuses - at its AGM today. But there was an uneasy moment for the board when it was suggested that chairman Douglas Flint was "underpaid".

Incoming European regulations mean that banks need to seek shareholder approval if they want to pay bonuses to senior staff of up to 200% of salary. HSBC today received a 98.01% approval vote for the measure.