Standard Chartered profits rise 20 per cent on Asia growth

STANDARD Chartered, the British-based emerging markets bank, posted record net profits of $2.5bn (£1.52bn) in the first half of 2011 as revenues surged in most of its key Asian markets, it said today.  Profit after tax of $2.52bn (£1.53bn) for the six months to June compared with net profit of…