Standard Chartered Sees 16% Profit Jump as Hong Kong Remains Key Market
HONG KONG – Standard Chartered Bank reported a 16% increase in pre-tax profit for 2025, reaching US$7.9 billion, buoyed by strong growth in wealth management despite headwinds from a cooling commercial real estate market in Hong Kong. The London-based bank, which derives a significant portion of its revenue from Asia, saw its earnings per share climb to US$2.297.
The results, announced Tuesday in a stock exchange filing, align with analyst expectations of US$7.9 billion.
Hong Kong remains central to Standard Chartered’s success, contributing US$2.66 billion to the bank’s overall profit – 34% of the total. Pre-tax profit in the city jumped 40% year-over-year.
“We have made a good start to the year and continue to benefit from a supportive business environment,” said CEO Bill Winters in a statement. He highlighted the bank’s ability to capitalize on “structural shifts in global trade and investment” and meet the needs of clients in cross-border and affluent banking.
The bank plans to return value to shareholders through a final dividend of 49 US cents, bringing the total dividend for 2025 to 61 US cents, up from 37 US cents the previous year. Standard Chartered also intends to repurchase US$1.5 billion in shares, following a similar buyback program last year.
Shares in the bank rose 1.3% to HK$194.5 on Tuesday morning following the earnings announcement.
Standard Chartered is one of Hong Kong’s three note-issuing banks, playing a vital role in the region’s financial infrastructure. The bank’s performance offers a snapshot of the broader economic landscape in Hong Kong and its continued importance as a financial hub in Asia.