Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q2 income increased by 15% year on year, excluding notable items, driven by double-digit growth across Global Banking, Global Markets, and Wealth Solutions [1][2] - Operating income for the Group was $5.5 billion, up 14% or 15% excluding notable items, reflecting strong performance in CIB and WRB [3][4] - Profit before tax for the quarter was $2.4 billion, up 34%, with a return on tangible equity (RoTE) of 19.7% [4][13] - Earnings per share for the first half increased by 41% year on year, with TNAV per share up 16% year on year to $16.8 [13][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - CIB income for the quarter was $3.3 billion, up 9%, driven by a 47% increase in Global Markets income [14][15] - Wealth and Retail Banking income was up 4% to $2.1 billion, with Wealth Solutions income increasing by 20% [16] - Non-NII grew by 31% year on year, driven by strong performance in Global Markets and Wealth Solutions [6][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Underlying customer deposits increased by 4% or $19 billion in the quarter, with strong net new money from affluent clients [11][16] - Intra ASEAN corridor income increased by 17%, driven by FX and commodity trading [22] - The Group's affluent AUM reached $420 billion at the end of the first half of 2025, with an 11% CAGR since 2016 [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering a cross-border strategy to support client needs, with a strong emphasis on digital asset solutions and sustainable finance [21][26][30] - The Fit for Growth program aims to simplify, standardize, and digitize operations, with a target of achieving $1.5 billion in savings [8][90] - The company is committed to exceeding $8 billion in capital returns from 2024 to 2026, with a new share buyback of $1.3 billion announced [2][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the underlying trends supporting the business, despite uncertainties in the external environment [36][41] - The outlook for net interest income (NII) is expected to be down by a low single-digit percentage year on year, with guidance for total income growth in 2025 upgraded to the bottom of the 5% to 7% range [6][19][20] - The company remains optimistic about the demand for origination in global banking, with a strong pipeline and growth in corporate lending [24] Other Important Information - The company achieved a significant gain of $238 million from the Solve India transaction, retaining a non-controlling interest in the acquiring entity [17][18] - The company is actively engaging in the digital asset space, including a joint venture to issue a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin [27][29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on net interest income and deposit performance - Management provided details on HIBOR assumptions and the sustainability of deposit momentum, indicating that current deposit growth is a positive sign for future asset management [33][34][36][44] Question: Wealth Solutions and net new money flow - Management acknowledged the current reliance on deposits but expressed confidence that clients will eventually shift towards higher-margin wealth products as uncertainty decreases [50][52][70] Question: Stablecoins and digital assets - Management discussed the strategic importance of digital assets and stablecoins, emphasizing their readiness to provide services in this evolving market [61][63][65] Question: Cost management and Fit for Growth program - Management clarified that the Fit for Growth program is a transformation initiative rather than a cost-cutting measure, with a focus on long-term efficiency and savings [87][90]