Standard Chartered reported on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, that its third-quarter pretax profit rose 27% to $2.25 billion. The bank attributed the increase to strong client activity in its wealth and global markets divisions during a period of market volatility. Following the announcement, the company's Hong Kong-listed shares rose 5.4%.
The results for the July-September period exceeded the $1.99 billion average of 16 analyst estimates compiled by the bank. In the same quarter a year earlier, the bank reported a pretax profit of $1.77 billion. Standard Chartered, which is headquartered in London, generates the majority of its revenue from operations in Asia and Africa.
Based on the quarterly performance, the bank raised its full-year income growth target for 2026 to above 7%, up from a previous estimate in the middle of a 5% to 7% range. It also increased its target for return on tangible equity—a measure of how effectively a bank uses its capital to generate profit—to above 14%, compared to its earlier forecast of more than 12%.
The performance also provides a benchmark for the global banking sector, specifically for institutions with exposure to emerging markets in Asia and Africa. The bank reported that its fee-based revenue, which is less influenced by fluctuations in central bank interest rates, reached $2.81 billion during the quarter. This was a 19% increase from the previous year and higher than the $2.68 billion analysts had expected. The revised 14% return on tangible equity target for 2026 remains lower than the 17% expected by its competitor, HSBC.
Market participants will monitor whether Standard Chartered can maintain this momentum amid continued market volatility. The bank’s updated targets for 2026 suggest a shift in expectations for revenue growth and profitability over the next two years. No specific dates for future shareholder votes or regulatory reviews related to these targets were reported. The bank continues its operations across its primary hubs in London, Hong Kong, and Singapore.