Q1 profit of 1.9 billion beats estimates
Shares rise 6 as analysts hail strong allround performance
StanChart39;s China real estate and banking woes linger

LONDONHONG KONG, May 2 Reuters Standard Chartered PLC beat forecasts on Thursday with a 5.5 rise in firstquarter pretax profit, as a surge in income from its trading and wealth businesses more than compensated for additional credit losses.

The bank, which makes the bulk of its revenue and profits in Asia, saw profit at its investment banking unit climb 13 in the quarter.

Crucially, the bank grew feebased revenues as it raked in more wealthy clients and saw robust trading activity across its markets product set, a key target for it and rivals such as HSBC.

Peaking central bank interest rates worldwide have capped the recent gains banks have made from lendingbased income, putting pressure on them to increase noninterest revenue from such feebased businesses.

StanChart39;s shares, a focus for CEO Bill Winters, jumped more than 6 in London by 0720 GMT, matching earlier gains in Hong Kong.

After some years in the doldrums having been the darling of the UK banking sector, Standard finds itself in something of a revival, said Richard Hunter, Head of Markets at interactive investor.

Although a potential takeover by First Abu Dhabi Bank previously came to nothing, such bid speculation remains close to the surface, he said.

StanChart, which has been the subject of repeated takeover speculation in the last decade,…