Standard Chartered has lowered its revenue growth forecast for the full-year but says that it expects to hire some 2,000 people over the next months, media reports show. 

Speaking to journalists on a conference call recently, Richard Meddings, finance director, reduced its revenue growth expectation from a "double digit" to a "high single digit" rate, due mostly to a one to 5 per cent depreciation in Asian currencies in the fourth quarter. Despite the drop, however, the bank is reportedly on track to deliver positive results amid a challenging market, which can be largely attributed to its strong growth prospects in Asia and its relatively small exposure to the European debt crisis.

"Although investor sentiment has been impacted by issues in the West, the consumer banking side of the business continues to drive good performance. Operations in Singapore, Hong Kong and China have helped offset weaker performance in India and Korea, and the bank's plans for a recruitment drive remain," said Meddings. 

The hiring plans contradict the massive job cuts happening at its rivals, with HSBC saying it is slashing 30,000 off its employee roster as part of a reorganisation effort by the end of 2013 and Barclays laying off 3,500 this year. Standard Chartered saw a 19 per cent rise in net income for the first half of 2011 to $2.57 billion compared to the previous year.