LONDON, June 23, 2026, 11:02 BST
Standard Chartered climbed 0.7% to 2,086 pence on Tuesday, getting close to its 52-week high of 2,099 pence. The bank said it is looking at selling its wealth and retail banking arm in Bahrain. Shares hit 2,092 pence earlier in the session.
Standard Chartered said its corporate and investment banking business in Bahrain would stay outside the possible disposal. The bank expects a transition to last 18 to 24 months if it passes regulatory review. It said business would run as usual through the process.
Standard Chartered is moving deeper into areas where it already has more scale, like cross-border banking for companies and services for wealthier customers. The bank has sold off wealth and retail businesses in a number of African countries and is still finishing exits from other markets.
Standard Chartered pushed higher Tuesday, adding to Monday’s 1.3% gain. The move was lighter than Monday’s 3.9% jump for Barclays and 4% for NatWest, but Standard Chartered stayed near a new high for the year as European banks extended their rally.
FTSE 100 down as rate worries weigh The FTSE 100 slipped 0.7% by 0919 GMT on Tuesday, with London stocks moving lower. Investors looked ahead to more interest-rate hikes in both the US and UK. Weak UK services numbers fed fresh nerves about the economy.
Bahrain’s review matches what CEO Bill Winters laid out in May. Standard Chartered is going for RoTE over 15% in 2028 and around 18% by 2030. RoTE looks at profit against shareholder equity minus intangibles. “We are investing in the capabilities that will compound our competitive advantages,” Winters said. Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Chartered Bank saw stronger earnings heading into the review. Operating income hit a record $5.9 billion in the first quarter, up 9%. Pretax profit rose 17% to $2.5 billion. Wealth Solutions income jumped 32%, driven by $18 billion in net new money from rich clients. “It’s been a strong start to 2026,” then-interim finance chief Pete Burrill said. Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Chartered isn’t pulling back from the Gulf. The bank has been building up wealth teams in Dubai and says capital-raising in the region is helping its advisory business. “We’re quite optimistic about how that Middle East business shapes up over time,” CEO Bill Winters said after first-quarter numbers. Reuters
Standard Chartered lifted Asia ex-Japan to “overweight” this week, betting on Taiwan and China for better earnings, AI demand and hopes that oil-supply risks will fade. The bank is sticking with Asia even as it scales back some of its smaller businesses. Reuters
The Bahrain plan isn’t set to deliver an immediate lift to earnings. There’s no buyer named, no sale price out, and approval could drag on into a second financial year. Soft bids, more red tape, or more trouble in the region could shrink any capital upside and put a valuation near its 12-month peak under pressure.
