StanChart cautious on tariff impact after strong first quarter
HONG KONG/SYDNEY (Reuters) -Standard Chartered said on Friday uncertainty created by the impact of trade tariffs boosted its clients' activity in the first quarter but warned that major deals could be put on hold if the trade tensions persisted. The bank's cautious stance provided more evidence of how the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs could weigh on long-term dealmaking and hit lenders' income, after a busy first quarter when clients rushed to hedge risks. StanChart on Friday reported a 10% profit rise in the first quarter, ahead of analysts' forecasts, as a strong performance from its wealth, markets, and global banking businesses boosted revenue, while net interest income fell from the previous quarter on a constant currency basis.