Standard Chartered (STAN) Morgan Stanley European Financials Conference 2026 summary

Strategic progress and financial performance

• Exceeded 2025 targets a year early, delivering 14.7% ROTE, strong income growth, and increased dividends and buybacks.

• Q1 trends remain positive, with continued strength in wealth and markets businesses.

• No changes to 2026 guidance despite recent geopolitical events; cautious but comfortable with current risk exposures.

Risk management and credit quality

• Middle East credit exposure is primarily investment grade, with UAE mortgages conservatively underwritten and low LTVs.

• No significant concerns in commercial real estate in Hong Kong; exposures are limited and well-provided.

• Credit charge guidance of 30-35bps remains unchanged, reflecting portfolio diversity and conservative underwriting.

Revenue opportunities and business growth

• Wealth business has delivered consistent 10% growth over a decade, with recent acceleration and strong net new money inflows.

• Strategic focus on affluent, cross-border clients and open architecture product offering drives outperformance in Asia.

• Markets business growth led by flow products tied to trade and capital movement; episodic revenues remain stable.