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Category: Finance

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Finance news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Axa Mulls Sale of Singapore Unit

    Axa Mulls Sale of Singapore Unit

    The French insurer is reportedly considering the sale of its Singapore business as part of plans to raise funds by divesting peripheral operations.

    The firm is working with an adviser on the potential sale, which could take place in the next few weeks, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

    The business, which offers life and property and casualty insurance, could draw interest from rivals looking to expand in the region, the report said, noting that the business generated €615 million ($722.71 million) of revenue in 2019, according to Axa’s annual report.

    Axa’s net profits in the first half of 2020 tumbled by 39 percent to €1.4 billion euros ($1.7 billion), as it took a hit from customer claims arising due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Axa CEO Thomas Buberl has been trying to shift the firm’s focus on property and casualty insurance, following its $15.3 billion purchase of XL Group in 2018. It has been reviewing options for smaller businesses across the world, including in the Middle East, to help pay for the XL deal, «Bloomberg» said.

    Across the border in Malaysia, Axa is looking to raise funds from the sale of the life and general insurance joint ventures with Affin Bank. The sale could fetch some $650 million.

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  • OCBC Profits Plunge in Q2

    OCBC Profits Plunge in Q2

    The bank recorded a decline that was steeper than predicted by analysts, owing to soaring provisions for loan losses and shrinking lending income during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    OCBC’s net profit for the second quarter of 2020 was S$730 million ($533 million), up 5 percent from the previous quarter and 40 percent lower compared to a year ago, the bank said in its quarterly earnings report published on Friday.

    Provisions for credit losses stood at $750 million in Q2, higher than the previous quarter’s $657 million, and $111 million a year ago.

    Net interest income fell 9 percent to S$1.48 billion, which the bank said was largely from a 16 basis points decline in NIM as asset pricing adjusted to the significant cuts in interest rates faster than the reduction in customer deposit funding costs

    The bank recommended an interim dividend of 15.9 cents per share for the first half of 2020. This represents half of the maximum 31.8 cents dividend per share that OCBC can declare in FY20, as MAS has recommended locally incorporated banks headquartered in Singapore to cap dividends at 60 percent of FY19. A scrimp dividend is also offered, which gives shareholders the option to receive the dividend in the form of shares, with the issue price of the shares set at a 10 percent discount.

    This decline is steeper than expected – a Refinitiv poll among analysts expected net income to fall 31.7 percent to S$835 million during the quarter, with earnings per share to fall 24.1 percent year-on-year to S$0.218 per share.

    OCBC group CEO Samuel Tsien said the bank has been defensively shoring up its balance sheet and preparing for a slow recovery.

    We protected our customer franchise, managed our expenses in line with income expectations, increased our allowance coverage, preserved our capital and raised our capital efficiency to position for the future post-pandemic. We will continue to contain all discretionary expenditures, including management compensation,» Tsien said in a statement.

    Singapore’s two other listed banks reported their earnings yesterday – DBS reported a 22 percent year-on-year drop in Q2 net profit for the first quarter to S$1.25 billion, while UOB reported a 40 percent decline.

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  • DBS Private Bank Names Fund Selection Head

    DBS Private Bank Names Fund Selection Head

    DBS Private Bank has appointed a successor to Piere DeGagne, the former head of fund selection and advisory who is leaving the bank.

    John Ng was appointed as DBS Private bank’s new head of fund selection and advisory last month to replace DeGagne, who is returning to Canada this month for personal and family reasons, according to a report from Fund Selector Asia, after seven years with the bank.

    Ng joined the bank in 2017 as its head of portfolio counseling and product strategy, then a newly created role focused on providing strategic portfolio advice and building model portfolios to cater to different market segments.

    Prior to joining DBS, Ng was with Bank of Singapore for eight years where he was responsible for the cash equity, bond, fund, and private equity research teams alongside product marketing.

  • Singapore Director Charged in Wirecard Scandal

    Singapore Director Charged in Wirecard Scandal

    A Singaporean director of Citadelle Corporate Services has been charged for falsifying letters related to Wirecard.

    R. Shanmugaratnam, a director of Citadelle, has been charged by Singapore authorities for «willfully and with intent to defraud» falsifying letters from Citadelle to Wirecard representing that it held money in an escrow account when it did not, as reported on Friday.

    The 54-year-old Singaporean is the first person to be indicted in Singapore over the collapse of Wirecard the report said, according to charge sheets filed last month, which were viewed by the news wire. He faces four charges of false statements, each of which carries a maximum 10-year jail term.

    Citadelle has been under scrutiny in the Philippines since a Filipino lawyer said he opened six euro bank accounts in the name of his law firm, MKT Law, on behalf of Citadelle. The accounts were supposedly for Wirecard.

    According to a previous report on July 3, Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), which deals with white-collar crimes, launched an investigation into Citadelle, payments operator Senjo Group and its subsidiaries after scrutinizing Wirecard’s local operations.

    Wirecard is at the center of one of the region’s biggest corporate accounting scandals in recent years, having admitted that €1.9 billion is missing from its financial accounts.

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  • Axa Joint Venture Buys Amazon Japan Warehouse

    Axa Joint Venture Buys Amazon Japan Warehouse

    The firm’s real estate investment arm has acquired the ¥39 billion ($369 million) Tokyo logistics facility in a joint venture with fund manager ESR.

    The ESR-Axa vehicle purchased the 142,000-square-meter ESR Kuki, located in the north-eastern area of Saitama prefecture, from ESR-managed vehicle Redwood Japan Logistics Fund II (RJLF II) and co-investors.

    The site is built to the highest specifications and meets the latest ESG standards (CASBEE A certification), and is energy-saving compliant. The asset benefits from a human-centric design with plentiful amenity space for workers, such as children’s daycare centres, and access to 241 parking spaces, the announcement said. According to real estate intelligence platform Mingtiandi, Amazon leased nearly half of the facility just seven months ago.

    The demand for modern logistics space in this market is likely to remain strong due to tight supply and we are confident that this, coupled with the continued growth of e-commerce, will enable us to deliver secure income returns over the long term for our clients, alongside our joint venture partner, Laurent Jacquemin, Axa IM – Real Assets head of Asia-Pacific, said in a statement on Thursday.

    The acquisition adds to Axa Investment Managers – Real Assets’ Japanese logistics platform which comprises a six asset portfolio acquired on behalf of clients last year for over ¥100 billion, as part of its Japanese joint venture with ESR established in 2018.

    Axa said the joint venture will seek further investment and development opportunities diversified across Japan’s gateways cities, targeting large-high-quality modern logistics facilities that have the ability to deliver secure income returns over the long term.

    Axa IM – Real Assets is part of Axa IM Alts, which has €146 billion of assets under management as of end of March 2020, across real estate, infrastructure, private debt, structured finance and hedge funds

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  • Asian Institute of Digital Finance launched in Singapore

    Asian Institute of Digital Finance launched in Singapore

    Singapore is one of the largest financial centers of the world with a clear dominance over the Asia-Pacific region. Following the liberal economic reforms by the progressive government, this sovereign Island-State has managed to become a true leader in Asia. Today, Singapore hosts more international financial institutions from overseas than any other city within the region. Therefore, its importance in terms of the financial sector is undoubtedly big. 

    The economy of Singapore is quite completely dependent on the services industry, primarily specializing in finance. Therefore, its workforce is tailored to the country’s needs and the labor market, resulting in the ever-growing number of economists, financial advisers, and accountants. However, with the sudden rise of the forex trading sector, the workforce seems to be needing a refresh. The Singapore forex brokers list is expanding constantly and quickly due to the soaring demand for foreign currencies within the state. However, other factors such as the tolerant environment and regulation-free market are also contributing. 

    Moreover, the high rate of digitalization has brought many benefits, as well as challenges to the Singapore economy. Financial institutions benefit from faster, more efficient, and convenient services. However, Singapore, despite being highly technologically advanced, does not possess an adequate workforce with commuting abilities. Software and hardware developers are high on demand across the entire country. However, more specifically, demand is extreme for fintech specialists. This invention of the recent decade allows institutions to provide better services at lower costs. Therefore, this mega financial hub of the Asia-Pacific is taking its chances within the niche. 

    This is exactly why the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is setting up a one of a kind research facility working with the future generation of fintech learners. The work was done in cooperation with the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Yet, the institution offering courses will be the Asian Institute of Digital Finance. This is the official name of the newly established body, bracing to work within this very specific area in an attempt to deliver highly qualified workers for the Singapore labor market. It will also feature an incubation unit in order to foster innovation and novelty in the digital finance field. 

    The joint program of these very influential and well-respected educational institutions will offer a master’s degree in digital finance. Students with outstanding records will have an opportunity to access the scholarship, allowing them to conduct research studies at a doctoral level. The institution will also train post-graduate fellows in the specific areas they choose. The NUS President, Tan Eng Chye said that the new institution will serve as a hub and kind of a ‘pipeline’ for Singapore and a general region. “Fintech is making a profound impact on financial services, and will continue to drive the transformation of the financial services industry in Singapore,” he says. “NUS’ thought leadership in digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and data science makes us perfectly positioned to address the challenges of the digital economy in Singapore and other parts of the world.”

    NUS will also conduct research in fintech and discover new areas. It will operate a so-called “fincubator” project, driving innovation and developing ideas that exist within the institution and beyond. With its extensive infrastructure and the network of influential academic stuff, NUS will certainly become a jewel of modern financial education in Singapore and a wider region. Through applied research and active collaboration with industry, AIDF will help to build strong capabilities in digital finance and fintech. The Institute will facilitate the expansion of knowledge and skills among fintech leaders in the region and support the digitalization of economies in ASEAN and beyond.” said Ravi Menon, the Managing Director of MAS. 

     

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  • DBS First-Half Profits Tumble

    DBS First-Half Profits Tumble

    A five-fold surge in allowances primarily focused on coronavirus-linked risks drove net profits at DBS to tumble 26 percent in the first half.

    DBS Group posted a net profit of S$2.41 billion ($1.76 billion) in the first half of 2020, a 26 percent year-on-year drop, according to a statement. This was driven largely by a five-fold increase of total allowances which reached S$1.94 billion of which S$1.26 billion has been «conservatively set aside to fortify the balance sheet against risks arising» from the ongoing pandemic.

    Singapore bank’s ex-allowance profits increased 12 percent and reached a record S$4.71 billion driven in part by a 7 percent income rise to S$7.75 billion.

    Our solid balance sheet was further fortified by a significant increase in allowance reserves, strong liquidity inflows and healthy earnings, said DBS CEO Piyush Gupta. «Notwithstanding the uncertainties, we are in a good position to continue supporting customers and the community through the difficult months ahead of us.»

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  • UOB Reports Lackluster Quarter

    UOB Reports Lackluster Quarter

    The bank’s performance was hit by declining margins and pre-emptive credit provisioning as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to devastate the global economy.

    United Overseas Bank reported second-quarter net earnings of S$703 million ($513.41 million) – 18 percent down from the previous quarter and 40 percent down from the same period the year before, mainly due to lower margins and higher credit costs, according to its second-quarter earnings report, published on Thursday.

    Earnings for the first half of the year stood at S$1.56 billion – 30 percent lower than a year ago. Net interest income decreased 6 percent year-on-year to S$3.05 billion as a result of declining margins alongside interest rate cuts, while net fee and commission income was 4 percent lower at S$960 million due to lower consumer spending and slower loan disbursement fees.

    The board has recommended a dividend of 39 cents per share, with the scrimp scheme, which provides shareholders with the option to elect to receive new shares in lieu of part or all of the cash amount, applied. This move is in line with calls by the Monetary Authority of Singapore for local banks to conserve capital and moderate dividends.

    Our strong balance sheet, robust capital and liquidity positions equip us well to navigate the uncertain macro environment ahead and in sharpening our service and digital capabilities,» Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

    Singapore entered a technical recession in the second quarter of the year, with the economy shrinking 12.6 percent year-on-year, following -0.3 percent growth in the first quarter, as a result of a partial lockdown and widespread closures of businesses to stem the spread of Covid-19.

    DBS on Thursday reported a 22 percent year-on-year drop in Q2 net profit for the first quarter to S$1.25 billion. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation will release its earnings results tomorrow.

  • HSBC Ramps Up China Hiring Despite Tensions

    HSBC Ramps Up China Hiring Despite Tensions

    HSBC stay on course with its China ambitions with the latest target to hire 2,000 to 3,000 wealth planners over the next four years for its mainland business. HSBC’s will seek to broadly expand its count of wealth planners in Asia with much of the growing focus placed on China where it could hire up to 3,000 by 2024. The bank is already housing its first 100 digitally-enabled wealth planners in its Guangzhou and Shanghai offices.

    Our new venture in mainland China, signals not only our commitment but our progress in increasing investments in people, technology, and wealth capabilities over the next few years, said Greg Hingston, HSBC’s APAC head of wealth and personal banking, in a statement.

    This will be central to our ambitions to become the leading wealth manager in Asia.

    While accelerating its global overhaul which includes 35,000 job cuts, the bank continues to hire in the region, most notably for its China business.

    Since 2017, the bank hired 800 people for its wealth management business and opened six Jade Centers – its affluent segment – since the start of 2019. Earlier this year, the bank also reportedly said it had also planned to add another 500 to its private banking and wealth management business by 2022 with a focus on Hong Kong and Singapore.

    HSBC maintains its expansion plans for its newly merged retail and private banking unit despite increasing political uncertainty including, most notably, the British bank’s involvement in the Huawei scandal and its public support for the controversial national security law in Hong Kong.

    On the former, HSBC faces increasingly intense pressures in the mainland over its involvement which most recently included allegations that it feigned ignorance about Huawei’s dealings and even suggested that it took unnecessary risks that resulted in U.S. detection. State-backed media Global Times claimed last month that the bank’s resumption of planned job cuts may mark the beginning of the end for the embattled British bank in China, citing an unnamed Beijing observer that suggested it could be pushed out of the mainland market over the legal scandal.

    In the first half, pre-tax profits at HSBC plunged 65 percent to reach $4.32 billion missing analyst estimates of $5.67 billion. Although its China business posted $1.5 billion of pre-tax profits, the wealth and personal banking business in the country registered a $26 million loss.

  • StanChart’s Asia Human Capital Rejig

    StanChart’s Asia Human Capital Rejig

    Standard Chartered in Asia has been rejigging its mix of employees in recent years with a focus on upping headcount in certain markets while increasing digital penetration in others. Since 2018, Standard Chartered has steadily increased its number of employees in Singapore by 1,200 to reach 10,000 while maintaining its global headcount relatively stable at around 85,000 (85,389 as of June 30 this year).

    And the bank could be set to further expand its physical presence after it was awarded by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) earlier today with the city-state’s first Significantly Rooted Foreign Bank» (SRFB) status which qualifies it for additional privileges.

    Under the SRFB status, Standard Chartered will now be allowed to set up to 50 place of businesses (POBs), of which up to 35 can be branches, according to a statement. The MAS will also enhance the SRFB framework so that future businesses that substantially exceed the criteria for significant rootedness in Singapore will be allowed additional privileges including the ability to establish a separate subsidiary to develop alternative business models.

    We are honored to be awarded the SRFB status by the MAS, said Standard Chartered Singapore CEO Patrick Lee in a separate statement. We see Singapore as a key market and are fully committed to future investments. We are also aligned with the government’s and the MAS’s strategy to grow Singapore’s stature as a global financial services hub, with leading and differentiated value-added areas of expertise.

    The bank noted that it was a «key employer» in Singapore’s financial industry and quantity aside, it highlighted a qualitative focus and commitment to growing «future-ready talent.

    Of the new jobs added, more than 1,200 roles are allocated to future growth areas including digital banking, international banking, cloud technology, artificial intelligence (AI) architect, and API development.

    The bank will also invest another S$5 million to boost talent development and reselling efforts to support employees as the job market continues to undergo disruption in addition to ongoing participation in industry initiatives.

    Standard Chartered’s roots in Singapore trace back over 160 years when it set up its first branch in 1859 under its former name, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China.

    Since then, it has steadily built its presence in before becoming the first and only global bank to incorporate all its businesses in the city-state and adopt it as its global operational and innovation headquarters. It is also home to a significant portion of its management team and an $80 billion balance sheet backed by $6 billion of capital – also the largest amongst any foreign banking subsidiary.

    In contrast, Standard Chartered has maintained a relatively stable headcount of 600 in Hong Kong, according to its chief executive for the city, Mary Huen Wai-yi. Hong Kong has been faced with political uncertainty, further intensified by the recent enactment of the national security law which Standard Chartered, alongside HSBC, has publicly supported as means to inspire calm and stability.

    We are convinced that more collaboration – not less – is the best way to find a sustainable equilibrium in these complex situations, but we do not expect an easy or quick resolution, said Standard Chartered group chairman José Viñals in a statement from its first-half results, which saw global profits sink 33 percent.

    We do believe, however, that Hong Kong will continue to play a key role as an international financial hub and we are fully committed to contributing to its continued success,” he added.

    Within the Greater China business, Standard Chartered is set to significantly rejig its regional mix of employees with Hong Kong again set to make up an even smaller share. The bank recently announced its intention to set up a Greater Bay Area center, ready for operations this quarter, in Guangzhou with $40 million in investments and plans to grow headcount to 1,600 by the end of 2023.

    The Greater Bay Area is a core area of focus for Standard Chartered, and we’re using our talent, technology and deep client knowledge to develop innovative new products and services to support the GBA initiative, Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters said earlier this month.

    The launch of our new Greater Bay Area Center is a shining example of us bringing together our strength and expertise in the Belt & Road initiative, yuan internationalization and wealth management, to provide seamless cross-boundary banking services for individuals and corporate clients in the region.

    Although Hong Kong employees’ share of regional or global headcount could be set to fall, the bank has other plans to strategically cover the market without adding bodies.

    The bank is readying for an official launch of its licensed virtual bank in the city – jointly owned by telecom firms PCCW and Hong Kong Telecom, and online travel agency trip.com – as one of eight players approved to enter the digital lending market. It is now undergoing a trial to obtain feedback from select customers before rolling out to the wider public.

    Interestingly, Hong Kong and Singapore were previously both suggested as potential headquarters for Standard Chartered which is based in London but generates nearly all of its profits from emerging markets.

  • HSBC’s First-Half Profit Dive Misses Analyst Forecasts

    HSBC’s First-Half Profit Dive Misses Analyst Forecasts

    HSBC’s pre-tax profits plummeted in the first half by 65 percent year-on-year as the Asia-focused lender further boosted loan loss provisions to ready for more headwinds. HSBC registered $4.32 billion in pre-tax profits compared to $12.41 billion in the same period last year and analyst forecasts of $5.67 billion, according to compilations made by the bank.

    Given the current high degree of uncertainty, we are continuing to monitor closely the implications on our business plan and medium-term financial targets, while also undertaking a review of our future dividend policy, HSBC’s chief executive Noel Quinn said in a statement.

    The bank also expected total credit impairment provisions for the year to reach between $8 billion and $13 billion, higher than previous forecasts. Provisions reached $6.9 billion in the first half after the bank said aside $3 billion in the first quarter, compared to just $1 billion in the first half of 2019.

    The bank also warned of expected damage to its core capital ratio as worsening credit ratings impact its risk-weighted asset ratio.

    Financial and economic headwinds aside, HSBC also highlighted the risk of rising U.S.-China tensions heightened by the national security law and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.

    Like our clients, HSBC has to operate in a difficult geopolitical environment. Current tensions between China and the US inevitably create challenging situations for an organization with HSBC’s footprint, Quin added.

    However, the need for a bank capable of bridging the economies of east and west is acute, and we are well placed to fulfill this role. We will face any political challenges that arise with a focus on the long-term needs of our customers and the best interests of our investors.

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  • UOB Launches Finance Academy

    UOB Launches Finance Academy

    United Overseas Bank launched the UOB Finance Academy, a training and development program in Singapore focused on equipping all employees in the bank’s finance function with the soft and technical skills required to become future leaders in their field.

    The UOB Finance Academy, which was designed in-house, builds on Better U, the bank’s group-wide learning and development program accredited by the Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore (IBF), according to a media release sent on Monday.

    Better U helps UOB employees build five core competencies which the bank has identified as essential for its people to remain relevant in the digital future. These competencies are having a growth mindset and complex problem-solving skills, as well as skills in the areas of digital innovation, human-centered design and data storytelling.

    Once members of the bank’s finance team have completed Better U, they are then able to progress through the UOB Finance Academy’s structured three-month learning program which is designed to equip them with the skillsets and tools to help them advance in their careers.

    As with so many jobs, the role of a finance professional is changing as digital innovation impacts more areas of work. The UOB Finance Academy charts clear and achievable milestones for our people in UOB’s finance function to develop the necessary knowledge, mindset and skillsets to progress towards leadership roles in the finance industry, Lee Wai Fai, Group Chief Financial Officer, UOB, said.

    Participants will also sharpen their financial acumen through modules that encourage an analytical approach to evaluate strategies and risks, as well as accounting and bank financial analysis. Through the UOB Finance Academy, participants can also choose to develop specialized skills in areas such as asset and liability management and project management

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  • StanChart First-Half Profits Plunge

    StanChart First-Half Profits Plunge

    Standard Chartered’s profits plunge 33 percent in the first half as the pandemic forces the British lender to significantly up credit impairments by six-fold.

    Pre-tax profits fell to $1.63 billion in the first half compared to $2.41 billion in the first half of last year, according to a statement, exceeding the $1.53 billion analyst estimates compiled by the bank.

    The bank will also scrap dividends for time being, as per the request from the U.K.’s Prudential Regulation Authority, adding that it hoped to resume payments «as soon as prudently possible».

    Although the bank said it was confident in April that its main markets – Asia, Africa and the Middle East – would lead the recovery as early as later this year, the latest result announcement was accompanied by a reversal with expectations for even lower income in the second half.

    Credit impairments also shot up six-fold to $1.58 billion in the first half from $254 million a year ago, the statement added.

    Just today, the bank was reportedly looking to shave costs by axing hundreds of jobs it described as redundant roles and not related to any coronavirus-linked impact.

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  • HSBC Promotes Investment Duo at Private Bank

    HSBC Promotes Investment Duo at Private Bank

    HSBC Private Banking promotes two executives in its investment and product solutions unit in Asia, effective immediately.

    The bank appoints Jeffrey Yap as head of investment services and product solutions (ISPS) for Southeast Asia after his last role as regional head of fixed income, currencies and commodities (FICC) Asia Pacific, according to a statement. Adam Lau has also been appointed to the newly created role of regional head of market solutions, Asia Pacific.

    Yap joined HSBC in 2017 from Alliance Group (PAG), where he was managing director responsible for the firm’s public fixed-income investments. Lau is a 20-year financial veteran who joined HSBC in 2018 from Natixis where he was its Greater China head of equity solution sales. He was also previously with Deutsche Bank as its Greater China head of private banking and retail sales and J.P. Morgan as a structured product marketer.

    Yap reports to Philip Kunz, head of Southeast Asia at HSBC Private Banking and Abdel Ben Tkhayet, APAC head of ISPS while Lau will continue to report to the latter.

    In addition to developing talent internally, the bank also highlighted Singapore as a key market for its wealth business and underlined specific client segments that bank in the booking center.

    As a leading international wealth center, Singapore is one of our key wealth markets, where we serve a significant group of international clients from Southeast Asia, Greater China and other parts of the world, Kunz.

    Under the leadership of [Yap] and [Lau], I’m confident that HSBC Private Banking will build on our strong momentum and expand and enhance our range of products and services to distinctly meet our clients’ wealth needs.

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  • StanChart Axes Several Hundred Jobs

    StanChart Axes Several Hundred Jobs

    Standard Chartered will kick off a fresh round of job cuts, joining rivals that have resumed reductions amid an economically crippling coronavirus pandemic.

    The London-headquartered lender will cut several hundred jobs globally, according to a report citing unnamed sources without additional details.

    A small number of roles are being made redundant in line with our commitment to transforming the bank and ensuring its future competitiveness, according to a statement from the bank which houses around 85,000 employees.

    In March, many top players in the industry made a concerted move to pause job cuts to support households that have been undoubtedly feeling the strains from the pandemic.

    Standard Chartered said it also did not «intend to make any layoffs because of the pandemic» and that workers who have lost their jobs will be paid until the end of the year in addition to a severance payment.

    The recent round of job cuts is not the result of any impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank added.

    Standard Chartered is not alone in accelerating cost-cutting efforts following an industry-wide pause in March.

    Deutsche Bank was the first major bank to restart after abruptly ended a hiatus on staff dismissals in May to resume plans to ax 18,000 jobs or 20 percent of its workforce. Also in May, British rival HSBC not only resumed its overhaul, which originally included plans to slash 35,000 job but also deepened cuts due to increasing market and economic headwinds.

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