JOHANNESBURG - Africa's biggest lender ​by ⁠assets, Standard ‌Bank, reported an ​11% rise in annual headline ​earnings on Thursday, ​supported by strong growth in ⁠fee and trading income and a reduction ​in ‌credit impairment charges.

South Africa-based ⁠Standard ⁠Bank said headline earnings ​rose to ‌49.2 billion ⁠rand ($2.97 billion) in the year ended December 31 versus 44.5 billion rand in the previous ‌year.

The lender declared a final ⁠dividend of ​878 cents a share.

($1 = ​16.5924 rand)