Standard Chartered PLC (STANCHART) reported a net profit of USD 3.65 billion for the six months ended 30 June 2026, a 9.4 % increase from USD 3.33 billion a year earlier. Operating income rose 6.4 % year-on-year to USD 11.60 billion, driven by a 26.6 % jump in net fee and commission income to USD 2.70 billion and a 7.0 % rise in net trading income to USD 5.82 billion.

Net interest income edged down 1.4 % to USD 3.00 billion as higher funding costs offset asset growth. Operating profit before impairment and tax advanced 13.1 % to USD 5.27 billion.

Credit impairment charges increased to USD 446 million (H1 2025: USD 336 million), reflecting overlays linked to Middle East geopolitical risks and higher non-linearity provisioning. Stage 3 loans fell to USD 5.70 billion (31 December 2025: USD 6.00 billion), while the stage 3 cover ratio before collateral improved to 54.9 % (FY 2025: 51.8 %).

Total assets expanded 8.0 % year-to-date to USD 993.41 billion, with loans and advances to customers up 4.3 % to USD 299.28 billion. Customer accounts grew 4.2 % to USD 552.64 billion, lowering the advances-to-deposits ratio to 50.9 % (FY 2025: 51.4 %).

Key capital and liquidity metrics remained strong: • Common Equity Tier 1 ratio: 14.2 % (FY 2025: 14.1 %) • Total capital ratio: 21.1 % (FY 2025: 20.6 %) • Leverage ratio: 4.7 % • Liquidity coverage ratio: 148 % • Net stable funding ratio: 137 % • MREL ratio: 35.2 % of RWA

Operating expenses were broadly stable at USD 6.34 billion (H1 2025: USD 6.25 billion). The Group completed a USD 1.50 billion share buyback in June 2026 and declared an interim dividend of 20.4 cents per share (USD 448 million), in line with one-third of the 2025 full-year dividend. A further share buyback of up to USD 1.00 billion was announced for Q3 2026, expected to reduce the CET1 ratio by around 38 basis points.

Segment performance: • Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) profit before tax rose 16.6 % to USD 3.24 billion on 4.7 % income growth. • Wealth & Retail Banking (WRB) profit before tax increased 62.9 % to USD 1.99 billion, supported by a 16.3 % rise in income. • Central & other items recorded a USD 0.44 billion loss before tax, widening from USD 0.14 billion a year earlier.

The Board affirmed confidence in capital strength and liquidity, citing a CET1 level above the 10.3 % regulatory minimum and robust liquidity buffers. No material post-balance-sheet events other than the planned buyback were reported.