Investors may have been disappointed with Standard Chartered's (STAN) decision not to resume dividend payments at the half-year stage, but the emerging markets-focused banking group is making some progress. Though risk-weighted assets were up $4.7bn (£3.58bn) from end-2016, they are down $19bn year on year. A substantial reduction in loan impairment charges across its three core businesses delivered the real kicker to pre-tax profit. Underlying charges were down by almost half year on year to $583m.
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