On March 4， Standard Chartered PLC announced the 10th consecutive year of income， profit and dividend growth.

With operations in many of the world’s most dynamic economies， the company now has 26 markets delivering over $100 million of income.

Total group income was up 8 percent to$19.07 billion.

Performance in African and Chinese markets was particularly strong. Business income from the Chinese mainland has exceeded $1 billion for the first time.

The Greater China region is growing strongly. Hong Kong， Taiwan and the mainland registered $4.9 billion in income， nearly one quarter of the group’s total.

Hong Kong continued to perform well， with income up 10 percent to $3.35 billion. It is benefiting from renminbi liberalization and plays a unique role as a hub for trade and investment flows into and out of the region.

The Chinese mainland has become the largest generator of network income， and as the region continues to grow and converge， the company will continue to benefit from the trade and investment links across Greater China. Today， Standard Charter PLC has 100 branches and sub-branches across 25 cities in China.

Tumbling Profits

HSBC reported a pre-tax profit of $20.6 billion for 2012， down 6 percent from 2011.

Gross revenues rose 7 percent to $63.5 billion in 2012， over half of which came from the faster-growing areas.

HSBC raised dividends by 10 percent to$0.45 per share， and total dividends stood at$8.3 billion for 2012.

“Whilst the operating environment for financial institutions remains difficult， our core business will continue to reap the benefits of recovering economic growth in China’s mainland and its positive impact on other faster-growing regions，” said HSBC in a press release.

“We expect developing economies， led by China， to continue to grow briskly at 5.4 percent， while developed economies should see more gradual growth of 1 percent. We forecast growth of 8.6 percent in China in 2013.”