FORM 6-K
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
 
For the month of May
 
HSBC Holdings plc
 
42nd Floor, 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ, England
 
 
 
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F).
 
Form 20-F   X              Form 40-F ......
 
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
 
Yes.......          No    X
 
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ..............)
 
 
26 May 2016
 
 
HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
FIRST INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2016
SCRIP DIVIDEND ALTERNATIVE
 
 
On 3 May 2016, the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc declared a first interim dividend for 2016 of US$0.10 per ordinary share. The first interim dividend will be payable on 6 July 2016 to holders of record on 20 May 2016 on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom, the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register or the Bermuda Overseas Branch Register. The dividend is payable in cash in United States dollars, sterling or Hong Kong dollars, or a combination of these currencies, with a scrip dividend alternative.
 
The 'Market Value' for the issue of new shares under the scrip dividend alternative is:
 
US$6.3288 for each new share
 
The 'Market Value' is the United States dollar equivalent of £4.3274 being the average of the middle market quotations for the ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange as derived from the Daily Official List for the five business days beginning on 19 May 2016.
 
Dividends payable in cash in sterling or Hong Kong dollars on 6 July 2016 will be converted from United States dollars at the forward exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in London at or about 11.00am on 27 June 2016. These exchange rates will be announced to the London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Bermuda stock exchanges.
 
Particulars of the dividend arrangements will be sent to shareholders on or about 3 June 2016 and elections must be received by the Registrar by 23 June 2016.
 
For and on behalf of
HSBC Holdings plc
 
Ben J S Mathews
Group Company Secretary
 
Note to editors:
 
HSBC Holdings plc
 
HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 6,000 offices in 71 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,596bn at 31 March 2016, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations.
 
ends/all
 
 
 

 
SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
HSBC Holdings plc
 
 
 
                                                       By:
 
                                                                                     Name: Ben J S Mathews
 
                                                                                                Title: Group Company Secretary
                     
                      
                                                                               Date: 26 May 2016