The London-based banking giant said it had a "record" financial performance over the first half of 2026. Pre-tax profits reached 4.8 billion US dollars (£3.6 billion) for the half-year, an all-time high and up 9% compared with the same period a year ago. 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.