A catalyst for the hydrogenation, hydroisomerisation, hydrocracking and/or hydrodesulfurisation, of hydrocarbon feedstocks, the catalyst consisting of a substantially binder free bead type support material obtained through a sol-gel method, and a catalytically active component selected from precious metals, the support comprising 5 to 50 wt. % of at least one molecular sieve material and 50 to 95 wt. % of silica-alumina.