Standard Chartered is boosting returns to shareholders with one billion US dollars (£750 million) of share buybacks as it posted higher profits, months after unveiling plans to cut about 7,800 jobs at the bank. The London-based banking giant said it had a "record" financial performance over the first half of 2026. The bank announced the one billion dollar (£750 million) share buyback scheme, which starts imminently and follows a 1.5 billion dollar (£1.1 billion) share buyback carried out in the first half of the year. Bill Winters, chief executive of Standard Chartered, said the new shareholder returns "reflect our confidence in the business". "Clients continue to turn to us to facilitate trade, investment and wealth flows across the world's most dynamic markets," he said.