Shares in Standard Chartered PLC rallied Wednesday on news that it had agreed to pay $340 million to a New York regulator to settle accusations that it hid illegal transactions with Iran and violated U.S. sanctions law.

The New York State Department of Financial Services had threatened to revoke the bank's license to operate in New York, which would have wiped out Standard Chartered's dollar-based businesses.

The DFS's Superintendent, Benjamin Lawsky, said Tuesday that Standard Chartered Bank will pay the civil penalty to the state and has agreed to strengthen oversight of overseas transactions. A hearing on the issue scheduled for Wednesday in New York City has been adjourned.

Shares in Standard Chartered closed 4.4 percent higher in London trading Wednesday at 1,430 pence. The bank's stock had fallen by nearly 12 percent since the New York regulator announced its charges last week.

However Standard Chartered's dealings with Iran are still being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Treasury and the Federal Reserve. Analysts said Wednesday that investors are likely to remain cautious about Standard Chartered shares until the other investigations are resolved.

沪江英语快讯：渣打银行和美国纽约金融服务局于当地时间本周二同时公布，双方已经就渣打银行涉嫌为伊朗洗钱案达成和解协议，渣打将支付3.4亿美元（约合21.64亿元） 的罚款，以此了结对其有关非法向伊朗相关银行进行电汇的指控，保住渣打在纽约州的银行牌照。

7月6日，纽约金融服务局提出公开指控称，渣打在过去10年里，隐瞒了与伊朗银行进行的约6万宗电汇交易，涉及金额达2500亿美元，违反美国有关反洗黑钱的法令。

股市对于渣打与纽约监管当局达成和解予以了正面回应：在和解协议达成前，渣打在伦敦的股价就上升2.74%至1370便士（13.7英镑），折合136.83元。