HSBC (HBC) may pay a $1.8B fine to settle with the U.S. as part of a money laundering suit...

HSBC (HBC) may pay a $1.8B fine to settle with the U.S. as part of a money laundering suit alleging the bank allowed clients to move illicit funds from Mexico and Iran among other countries. The potential settlement, which has been in the works for months, could be settled as early as next week. The case could serve as a litmus test for just how far U.S. prosecutors will go to try and halt illicit flows of money moving through U.S. banks.