Standard Chartered posts 10% rise in first-half profit, launches US$1b buy-back
Share price surges on 38 per cent rise in wealth-management revenue, even as Middle East tensions and bad debt temper profit growth
Standard Chartered shares rose 3.9 per cent to HK$231.40 on Wednesday after the bank announced strong first-half results and a US$1 billion share buy-back programme.
Net profit climbed 10 per cent in the first six months of 2026 to a record US$3.37 billion, or 151.6 US cents per share, from US$3.07 billion a year earlier. The result was better than the analysts’ estimate of US$3.01 billion.
Pre-tax profit increased by 9 per cent to US$4.78 billion in the first half, compared with US$4.38 billion a year earlier.
The bank announced an interim dividend of 20.4 US cents a share, up 66 per cent from a year earlier.
“Our performance demonstrates the strength of our differentiated international network and the disciplined execution of our strategy. Clients continue to turn to us to facilitate trade, investment and wealth flows across the world’s most dynamic markets,” said CEO Bill Winters in an earnings statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange.