London, January 31, 2026, 09:01 GMT — Market closed
- Standard Chartered ended Friday’s session at 1,862 pence, gaining 1.28%.
- London bank shares pushed higher as the month closed, with traders turning their focus to interest rates and upcoming earnings forecasts.
- Key dates coming up include Feb. 5 for the UK rates decision and Feb. 24, when Standard Chartered reports earnings.
Standard Chartered shares closed Friday 1.28% higher at 1,862 pence, hovering roughly 0.9% shy of their 52-week peak. The stock fluctuated between 1,847 and 1,875 pence, with around 4 million shares traded.
The market’s focus on banks as a rare safe play amid rate and currency shifts is clear heading into February. The UK banking sub-index jumped 1.6% on the day, chalking up a 5.3% gain for the month. A weaker pound and renewed volatility following Donald Trump’s choice of Kevin Warsh to head the Federal Reserve helped spark the move. “The weaker pound is obviously beneficial for the multinationals,” said Fiona Cincotta at City Index. Reuters
That context matters a lot for Standard Chartered. Despite focusing on Asia and other emerging markets, its stock remains part of the London bank basket—and can get swept up in the same market moves.
Earnings are the next key trigger. Lloyds Banking Group reported a 12% jump in annual profit this week and announced a £1.75 billion share buyback. It also raised its return on tangible equity target — a measure excluding goodwill — to over 16% by 2026. CEO Charlie Nunn said, “Our continued business momentum and strategic delivery enable us to upgrade guidance.” Reuters
UK data remains mixed. Bank of England figures revealed mortgage approvals dropped to 61,013 in December—the lowest level since June 2024. This points to a sluggish housing market heading into early 2026. “Activity in the housing market remained tepid between the Budget and Christmas,” said Simon Gammon of Knight Frank Finance. Reuters
Markets beyond Britain have been volatile. Gold was on track for its sharpest daily drop since 1983, after Trump’s Fed nominee and a stronger dollar led to heavy profit-taking. “Whether we look at the dollar or expectations for real yields, a combination of these drivers has helped trigger profit-taking,” said Suki Cooper. Reuters
Thursday brings the first key event this week with the Bank of England set to unveil its latest policy decision. Sterling will be in focus, alongside how risk appetite in the sector shapes up once London’s markets reopen Monday.
The U.S. jobs report drops a day later. For Standard Chartered, the focus isn’t on U.S. consumer demand but on how payrolls will impact dollar rates and cross-border risk appetite.
The countdown has started for Standard Chartered. The bank is set to unveil its Q4 2025 earnings at 04:00 UKT (12:00 HKT) on Tuesday, Feb. 24. CEO Bill Winters and CFO Diego De Giorgi will follow up with a presentation that same morning.
That month-end boost can vanish quickly. If currencies shift back or global risk appetite falters, bank stocks could lose their gains just as fast — and Standard Chartered’s heavy exposure to emerging markets could amplify those swings.
Traders will be watching closely to see if Friday’s bid holds once London trading kicks off on Monday. The next key milestones are the Feb. 5 rates decision and the results due Feb. 24.
