Standard Chartered Wins "Best FX Services in the Middle East Award" from emeafinance

Rising volumes, new products

UAE – 03 October, 2011 - Standard Chartered has won the 'Best FX Services in the Middle East Award' from emeafinance, an accolade that reflects the Bank's increased turnover in GCC foreign exchange volumes and continued innovation in the market.

Standard Chartered operates the largest trading floor in the region with over 200 seats in its regional headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Against a backdrop of challenging market conditions, the Bank has continuously quoted GCC FX prices through the inter-bank market, broker market, the E-platform and to all sales clients.

Nafees Akbarali, Regional Head of Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities and Global Head of G10 Rates Trading, Standard Chartered said:
"We have continued to support our clients by structuring tailor-made offerings across the various asset classes, and the trend of the Bank increasing monthly average turnover and growing our market share has continued through the years. With deep market understanding and client relationships, we are ideally positioned to help our clients seize the opportunities available in this market."

Standard Chartered has been operating in the region for over 90 years and is a key market maker and liquidity provider in the Middle East foreign exchange markets. The Bank focuses on innovative FX solutions and has established long term partnerships with clients.

Standard Chartered is the first bank with a Shariah-Compliant online FX Offering, the first bank to introduce auto-quoting for GCC Currencies 24 hours a day, the first international bank to quote GCC FX transactions with tenors of over 10 years, a leading price maker in the GCC currency options market and the first bank to offer cross-currency and basis swaps in the bulk of the Middle East; the first to trade long-tenor GCC cross-currency swaps (CCS) and the bank behind the biggest CCS completed in the market.

In addition, the Bank provides training and schooling programmes for university students who are willing to venture into the Capital Markets industry.

For further information, please contact:

Nimmi Kamal
Head Corporate Affairs Bahrain, Standard Chartered Bank
Tel: +973 3977 0760
E-mail: Nimmi.Kamal@sc.com

Standard Chartered - leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East

Standard Chartered PLC is a leading international bank, listed on the London, Hong Kong and Mumbai stock exchanges. It has operated for over 150 years in some of the world's most dynamic markets and earns around 90 per cent of its income and profits in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This geographic focus and commitment to developing deep relationships with clients and customers has driven the Bank's growth in recent years.

With 1,700 offices in 70 markets, Standard Chartered offers exciting and challenging international career opportunities for more than 80,000 staff. It is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity. The Bank's heritage and values are expressed in its brand promise, 'Here for good'.

For more information on Standard Chartered, please visit: www.standardchartered.com