London, Feb 4, 2026, 09:06 GMT — Regular session
- STAN.L climbed roughly 1.2% in early London trading, nearing its recent peak levels
- Investors are focused on the Bank of England’s decision set for Thursday
- Standard Chartered will release full-year results on Feb. 24, followed by a briefing for investors led by the CEO and CFO
Standard Chartered shares climbed on Wednesday, holding near the upper end of their recent range as investors weighed central bank risks against a weak mood in European stocks. Around 09:05 GMT, the stock was up roughly 1.2% at 1,901.5 pence, after closing at 1,879.0 pence the day before. Trading during the session fluctuated between 1,888.5 and 1,910.0 pence. (Investing)
The stock continued its streak after hitting a fresh 52-week high on Monday, climbing 2.36% to 19.06 pounds, according to MarketWatch data. That day’s trading volume was 2.1 million shares, noticeably under the 50-day average of 4.6 million. (MarketWatch)
Timing is key. London stocks took a hit from a sharp sell-off in AI-linked software and data-analytics firms as traders brace for the Bank of England’s Thursday policy announcement, where rates are widely expected to stay at 3.75%. “Risk appetite just isn’t fully restored,” noted Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. (Reuters)
Stocks in Europe held steady on Wednesday morning, with declines in healthcare balancing out gains in the energy sector. Investors were focused on upcoming euro zone inflation figures due later in the day. (Reuters)
UK lenders drew attention following a Reuters report that Lloyds intends to ramp up its corporate and institutional banking efforts. This strategy has intensified scrutiny on the sources of bank growth as policy rates near their peak. (Reuters)
Standard Chartered is eyeing several key dates ahead. According to its investor relations page, the bank plans to publish Q4 and full-year 2025 results at 04:00 UK time on Feb. 24, followed by a presentation from CEO Bill Winters and CFO Diego De Giorgi later that morning. Additionally, it flagged new press releases on Feb. 3, highlighting an “AI bubble meter” featured in an equities newsletter. (Standard Chartered Bank)
Investors will zero in on key metrics: income momentum, credit costs, and management’s outlook for the coming year. With the stock having already seen a sharp rerating, even subtle shifts in tone could tweak the tape.
The rally isn’t without risks. A sudden change in central bank signals or fresh risk-off moves sparked by the AI-fueled tech selloff could push recent highs to the test sooner rather than later, particularly if volatility remains high.
Traders are now eyeing Thursday’s Bank of England announcement. After that, the focus shifts to Standard Chartered’s results on Feb. 24, looking for clues on earnings strength and capital allocation.
