# Standard Chartered has demonstrated that its growth strategy is gaining traction

By Matt Britzman — 2026-07-29

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Standard Chartered delivered a stronger-than-expected second quarter, with the result underpinned by broad-based revenue growth, disciplined cost control and lower-than-feared credit losses.

“The earnings beat was driven by more than just higher interest income, with strong momentum across fee-generating businesses powering the result.

“Wealth Solutions continued to stand out, while Global Banking and Markets also contributed to a quarter that showed the benefits of Standard Chartered’s increasingly diversified business mix.

“Just as importantly, management felt confident enough to upgrade its income outlook for the year and announce a fresh $1bn share buyback, signalling confidence that the momentum seen in the first half can continue.

“While the headline result was clearly ahead of expectations, the bigger story is that Standard Chartered continues to make progress on areas investors have wanted to see for some time.

“Growth is increasingly coming from businesses tied to wealth management, transaction banking and capital markets activity rather than relying heavily on interest rate tailwinds.

“There are still reasons for caution, including questions over how much of the stronger performance will translate into consensus upgrades and whether some of the capital benefits will unwind later in the year. But the overall direction of travel remains encouraging.

“Standard Chartered is generating stronger returns, returning more capital to shareholders and demonstrating that its growth strategy is gaining traction, leaving investors with a picture of a bank that looks more balanced, more resilient and increasingly capable of delivering sustainable growth.”

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