Standard Chartered's Hong Kong-listed shares surged 5.10% during intraday trading on Tuesday, marking a significant upward movement for the emerging markets-focused bank.
The sharp rise follows the bank's release of its full-year 2025 financial results, which showed a 16% increase in pretax profit to $6.96 billion, alongside the announcement of a $1.5 billion share buyback program and a 65% hike in the full-year dividend. While the profit figure slightly missed analyst estimates, investors responded positively to the robust capital return initiatives and strong underlying performance in key divisions.
Management highlighted that the wealth management business saw income soar 24% in 2025, while the global banking division reported a 15% income rise. The bank also provided guidance for 2026, expecting statutory operating income growth near the lower end of a 5-7% range and a statutory return on tangible equity above 12%, contributing to the positive market sentiment.