StanChart H1 pretax profit leaps 57%, announces $250 million buyback

 Standard Chartered PLC posted a 57% jump in its first-half pretax profit, higher than expected, as the bank benefited from an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Standard Chartered PLC posted a 57% jump in its first-half pretax profit, higher than expected, as the bank benefited from an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The bank also announced a $250 million share buyback and resumed interim dividend payments worth $94 million, or 3 cents per share.

Statutory pretax profit for StanChart, which focuses on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, rose to $2.55 billion in January-June from $1.63 billion in the same period last year, London-headquartered bank said in a stock exchange filing.

The latest profit compared with the $2.23 billion average of analyst estimates compiled by Standard Chartered.