Standard Chartered reported sharply higher net profit for the second quarter and announced a $1.3 billion share buyback despite continuing global economic uncertainty caused partly by U.S. tariffs.
The London-based bank said that net profit rose from a year earlier, beating analysts’ estimates, thanks to gains from macro trading as well as higher income from investment and insurance products at its wealth business.
The lender said it will start a new $1.3 billion share buyback soon and is well on its way to achieving the target of returning at least $8 billion to shareholders, including dividends, over the three years ending in 2026.

Download NOW Standard Chartered (Financial Services)  Q2 2025 including 650 Portfolio
Chief Executive Bill Winters acknowledged the persistent downside risks to the global economy amid elevated trade-policy uncertainty, but he said the bank’s unique positioning in markets leaves it well-positioned to capture opportunities and help its clients capitalize on these conditions.
StanChart’s net profit rose 81% from a year earlier to $1.71 billion for the three months ended June, beating the $1.24 billion estimate in a poll of analysts by data provider Visible Alpha. Underlying profit before tax increased 31% to $2.40 billion.

Profit from its corporate and investment banking business rose 12% to $1.65 billion, supported by gains from macro trading, while that of its wealth and retail banking business edged up 0.8% to $597 million, helped by higher income from investment and insurance products.
Net interest income—the difference between interest earned on loans and that paid on deposits—fell 8.7% to $1.46 billion. Non-net interest income, which includes net fees and commission and net trading gains, increased 33% to $4.06 billion. The bank booked credit impairments of $119 million, compared with $75 million in the year-earlier period.