Standard Chartered posts 10% rise in first-half profit, launches US$1b buy-back

Standard Chartered reported a 10 per cent rise in its first-half profit as strong wealth management gains were offset by an impairment charge tied to the Middle East conflict. The London-headquartered lender also announced a new US$1 billion share buy-back starting immediately, according to a stock exchange filing on Wednesday. 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 analysts’ estimate of US$3.01 billion. Pre-tax profit increased to 9 per cent to US$4.78 billion…