By Kosaku Narioka

Standard Chartered is scheduled to report its first-quarter results on Friday. Here's what you need to know:

NET PROFIT FORECAST: Standard Chartered is expected to post a roughly 6% decline in net profit to $1.15 billion for the three months ended March, according to a poll of analysts by Visible Alpha. That would compare with a net profit of $1.22 billion in the year-earlier period.

Shares listed in Hong Kong have gained 18% this year. The stock has largely recovered from losses in early April, which were driven by fears about trade frictions between the U.S. and its trading partners.

WHAT TO WATCH:

--Fourth-quarter net interest income--the difference between interest earned on loans and that paid on deposits--fell 8.1% to $1.71 billion as central banks cut rates in many of its key markets. Investors will be watching closely for any signs of recovery in this key source of earnings.

--The bank recorded $129 million of credit impairment in the fourth quarter, up from $55 million a year earlier. Investors will focus on credit costs as economic uncertainty has risen amid trade tensions between the U.S. and its trading partners. Rival HSBC Holdings booked higher expected credit losses and other impairment charges in the first quarter to reflect a deterioration in the economic outlook.

--Standard Chartered announced a $1.5 billion share buyback in February and reiterated plans to return at least $8 billion to shareholders over the three years ending in 2026. Investors will be watching for any updates on buybacks and dividends.

Write to Kosaku Narioka at kosaku.narioka@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 01, 2025 05:29 ET (09:29 GMT)

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