Standard Chartered Bank will continue to invest and hire in the second half of this year, after posting record first-half profits for the 10th consecutive year.
Net profit rose 12 per cent to US$2.8 billion compared with the same period last year, boosted by growth across all regions except India, where non-performing loans jumped 2.5 times to US$649 million.
Although this was the slowest growth in three years, analysts said it was a creditable performance as Standard Chartered delivered a solid set of results without being involved in any scandals and amid a slowing global economy.
The bank plans to add 1,000 to 1,500 jobs and increase investment by about US$100 million in the second half of this year.
'We start the second half extraordinarily well positioned in an extraordinarily turbulent world,' chief executive Peter Sands said.
Sands said the bank remained on track to deliver double-digit revenue growth, double-digit earnings per share growth, and maintain a firm grip on costs this year.