Standard Chartered posts better-than-expected Q3 profit, lifts guidance

(Sharecast News) - Standard Chartered lifted its full-year income and return guidance on Wednesday as it posted better-than-expected third-quarter profit.

In the three months to September end, pre-tax profit rose 27% on the same period a year earlier to $2.25bn, beating analysts' expectations of $1.99bn. Operating income grew 14% $5.8bn, driven by a third successive record quarter in Wealth Solutions, along with strong growth in Global Markets and Global Banking, the bank said.

Income in Wealth Solutions was 26% higher, with broad-based growth in Investment Products and Bancassurance, while Global Markets saw a 21% increase, driven by double-digit growth in both flow and episodic income.

For 2026, the bank now expects operating income growth above a previous range of 5% to 7% and return on tangible equity of around 14%, up from previous guidance of more than 12%.

Chief executive Bill Winters said: "We delivered another strong quarter, with broad-based growth across our businesses and year-to-date earnings per share up 27%. We have long believed that the structural shifts in trade, investment and wealth creation would create significant opportunities for Standard Chartered, and our performance this quarter provides further evidence that we are capturing them.

"The consistency and breadth of our performance reflects the strength of our franchise and disciplined execution across the group. This gives us confidence to raise our 2026 income guidance, and we now expect to deliver a RoTE of around 14% in 2026."

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