The London-based bank’s underlying pre-tax profit stood at US$7.9 billion last year, versus a gain of US$6.8 billion in 2024
This matched analysts’ estimate of US$7.9 billion.
It proposed a 49 US cents final dividend, bringing the total for 2025 to 61 US cents. A year earlier it paid 37 US cents. The bank said it would set aside US$1.5 billion to buy back shares this year, after spending US$1.5 billion on buy-backs last year.
“We have made a good start to the year and continue to benefit from a supportive business environment,” CEO Bill Winters said in the exchange statement.
“We are seeing robust growth in our larger markets, and structural shifts in global trade and investment play to our distinctive strengths serving our clients’ cross-border and affluent banking needs.”
The bank’s shares jumped 1.3 per cent to HK$194.5 on Tuesday morning before the earnings announcement.
