The Central Bank of Aruba released its 2026 first-quarter real sector tables, including provisional estimates showing real GDP grew 3.4 percent and nominal GDP 5.8 percent in 2025. First-quarter 2026 data showed stay-over tourism up 8.9 percent year on year, a Business Perception Index of 104.3, a Consumer Confidence Index of 92.7 and end-period inflation of 1.1 percent.
The Central Bank of the Bahamas warned that SP Monza Bank, Coral Credit Bank or Coral Credit, Bahamas GTB and Bahamas Crypto Bank are not licensed to provide financial services in or from The Bahamas. It said false claims of Bahamian authorization may mislead investors and expose them to fraud, and urged the public to verify regulatory status before transacting.
The Central Bank of Brazil has removed the fixed BRL 500 cap on contactless Pix and applied the standard Pix limit framework to contactless and no-redirect Open Finance payment journeys. Users will be able to adjust daily and per-transaction limits through their bank's app. The change takes effect on 1 October 2026.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions cut the Domestic Stability Buffer for Canada’s six systemically important banks to 3% from 3.5% and narrowed its range to 0% to 3%. The change, effective June 19, 2026, gives banks more capacity for domestic lending and investment while retaining a substantial capital cushion.
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority outlined risk-based insurance supervision focused on solvency, liquidity, cyber, climate and wider systemic risks. About one-third of reported cyberattacks occur indirectly through third parties, underscoring rising outsourcing and concentration risks. FINMA will withhold approval of new products from supplementary health insurers that do not remedy billing and pricing deficiencies.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission called for balanced regulation that enables digital financial innovation while maintaining consumer protection and market integrity. Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo highlighted digital infrastructure as a driver of inclusion but warned of fraud, data misuse, abusive lending practices and emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission conditionally approved DMCI Project Developers’ registration of 2,138 rental pool participation certificates under SEC RENT. The program covers two condotel projects, with PHP 106.9 million in aggregate joining fees and an initial 10-year management term.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission will reopen its Butuan Extension Office for walk-in transactions on June 22 amid an investigation against its director. Services will include assistance with online company registration, initial document reviews, and receipt of letters and complaints.
The Central Bank of Honduras reported that net international reserves rose by USD1,181.0 million between Jan. 27 and June 18, 2026 under the 2026-2027 Monetary Program. Reserves increased to USD11,486.8 million from USD10,305.8 million, while import coverage rose to 6.6 months from 6.0 months.
The Central Bank of Iraq said FATF has adopted a joint action plan with Iraq and acknowledged progress in the country’s AML/CFT and proliferation financing framework. The plan targets remaining gaps including informal transfer services, virtual asset providers, targeted financial sanctions, suspicious transaction reporting, beneficial ownership, and more money laundering and terrorist financing enforcement. Iraqi authorities have committed to implementing the plan to set timelines.
The Banking Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina said the banking system remains stable and that the current classification linked to the Moneyval assessment should have only limited effects on international banking services. It attributed the classification to wider legal and institutional issues outside the banking sector and pointed to Action Plan implementation as the route to improve the overall assessment.
The National Bank of Moldova reported that new deposits attracted in May 2026 totaled MDL 26,216 million. Of that amount, 69.0 percent came from businesses and 31.0 percent from individuals. Deposits in Moldovan leu remained the main saving form, with MDL term deposits making up 68.8 percent of total term deposits.
The National Bank of Moldova said Governor Anca Dragu used a meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to welcome the staff-level agreement on a new Policy Coordination Instrument and discuss Moldova’s reform agenda. The release also highlighted IMF technical assistance priorities and payments modernization, including more than EUR 10 million in savings from SEPA transfers in the first 10 months of operation. MIA instant payments and further alignment with European Union financial standards were also part of the discussion.
The National Bank of Moldova said its governor’s meeting with the European Central Bank’s vice president focused on closer cooperation, Moldova’s financial integration with the European Union and current macroeconomic conditions. The bank highlighted more than EUR 10 million in savings from SEPA integration in its first 10 months and said its next objective is direct SEPA participation, while MIA has grown to more than 1.1 million users and now includes business-to-business payments. It also noted that inflation rose to 6.77% in April 2026, after which the central bank raised its base rate to 7% on June 18, 2026.
The National Bank of Moldova said Governor Anca Dragu met World Bank Vice President Antonella Bassani to discuss closer cooperation on financial sector reforms and Moldova's financial system integration with Europe. The talks covered digital financial services, financial inclusion, sustainable finance and macroprudential regulation. Dragu also outlined recent monetary policy actions and the role of World Bank support in managing the EU-backed Economic Growth Plan for Moldova.
The National Bank of Moldova used the IMF and World Bank Constituency meeting in Varna to outline its digital finance agenda, linking payment modernisation to resilience, financial access and EU integration. It highlighted the MIA instant payments system and Moldova’s October 2025 connection to SEPA, and said further work will focus on open banking, remote identification, digital resilience rules and tightly controlled internal AI tools.
Vietnam State Securities Commission highlighted major changes under Decree 200/2026/ND-CP for private corporate bond offerings. The new regime imposes clearer controls on use of proceeds, a liabilities-to-equity cap of five times for many issuers, tighter conditions for individual professional investors, and stronger disclosure and accountability requirements. The Ministry of Finance plans implementation workshops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in early July 2026.
The Algeria Market Authority said participants in the 13th Financial Markets Professionals Training Program defended their research work at COSOB headquarters. The five-month program, run with the Banking Training Institute, combines theory and practice and includes a written exam and a study visit to Tunisian market institutions.
The Central Bank of Poland published a Financial Stability Committee statement confirming that the committee upheld its recommended 2% countercyclical buffer, with the 2% rate already due to take effect on 30 September 2026 and no further legislation seen as necessary. The committee said systemic risk had eased overall, although free credit sanction risk had risen, and it backed an orderly end to WIBOR without a substitute benchmark. It also supported stopping new WIBOR-linked agreements and instruments from 1 January 2027, except derivatives used for hedging until 31 December 2036.
The Financial Action Task Force kept the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Iran on its call-for-action list for countermeasures and maintained Myanmar under enhanced due diligence. It linked the stance on DPRK and Iran to unresolved AML/CFT deficiencies and proliferation financing risks, while saying Myanmar has made some progress but still faces possible countermeasures if it does not improve by October 2026. The update also says humanitarian and other legitimate financial flows should be handled on a risk basis.
The Financial Action Task Force's latest plenary updated Recommendation 6 to incorporate a humanitarian exemption into targeted financial sanctions standards and changed its increased monitoring list by adding Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq while removing Algeria and Namibia. It also adopted mutual evaluation reports for Canada and Türkiye and approved further guidance and reports on payment transparency, public-private information sharing, terrorist financing, informal value transfer channels, gambling risks and virtual assets. Next publications are scheduled from next month through October 2026.
The Financial Action Task Force updated its increased monitoring list and newly identified Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq as jurisdictions with strategic AML/CFT and proliferation financing deficiencies. It also reviewed progress by 20 jurisdictions and kept earlier statements for Kuwait and Papua New Guinea after they deferred reporting. The FATF reiterated that grey-listing does not amount to a call for enhanced due diligence and should be handled through a risk-based approach.
The Canadian Bankers Association used its British Columbia budget submission to press for stronger anti-fraud measures, fewer interprovincial barriers in financial services, and changes to proposed insurance distribution rules for banks. Its requests include centralized fraud reporting between the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and law enforcement, harmonized rules on privacy and account transfers, and a principles-based restricted insurance agency regime aligned with other provinces. The group also backed beneficial ownership transparency, support for the Financial Crimes Agency, and coordinated derivatives fee rules.
The New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Commission warned that SkyNexFlow is not registered to deal or advise in securities or derivatives in New Brunswick. The alert also names the alias SkyNex-Flow, the websites skynexflow.com and SkyNex-Flow.com, and says the firm claims to be located in Zurich, Switzerland. Investors were told to avoid unregistered firms because investor protections are not assured.
The New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Commission warned that Montclair Partners, linked to montclair-partners.net, is not registered to deal or advise in securities or derivatives in New Brunswick. Investors were urged to avoid unregistered firms because investor protections are not assured, and the alert applies only to the specific entity identified.
The Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick warned that Montclair Partners and SkyNexFlow are not registered to deal or advise in securities in the province. It said investors should avoid unregistered firms because there is no assurance of investor protections.
Bank of Greece reported that the stock of domestic private-sector loans transferred to non-resident specialized financial institutions and serviced by domestic CSFs fell by EUR 118 million in the first quarter of 2026 to EUR 79.595 billion. Corporate loans, loans to sole proprietors and housing loans declined, while consumer loans increased.
The Bank of Greece said Greece’s current account deficit narrowed in April 2026 to EUR 1.4 billion, mainly on improvements in goods and secondary income, but widened over January to April to EUR 8.3 billion. April’s capital account moved to a surplus, helped by Recovery and Resilience Facility grant receipts, while the combined current and capital account deficit fell to EUR 900.4 million for the month. Non-residents’ direct investment in Greece reached EUR 4.4 billion in the first four months, and reserve assets rose to EUR 21.4 billion at end-April.
The Montenegro Capital Market Authority has opened a public consultation on two draft by-laws covering alternative investment funds and professional qualifications in the securities market. One would define when issuance and redemption of units in alternative investment funds can be temporarily suspended, while the other would set the criteria and process for obtaining key market professional titles. The authority will finalize the rules after a 14-day consultation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s central bank and other financial authorities said the country’s Gray List placement relates to the wider AML and CFT framework, not to failings in the banking sector, and does not threaten domestic financial stability. They said banks remain liquid and well capitalized, payment and deposit insurance systems are functioning normally, and the convertible mark remains pegged to the euro. The authorities also warned that the designation could bring extra scrutiny of international payments, longer processing times and higher costs.
The Bank of Italy said its joint Innovation Data Challenge with the Central Bank of Ireland has concluded, focusing on research into how data can promote innovation in retail payments. About 380 students and researchers from seven universities participated, and 18 proposals were selected from 35 submissions. The results were presented at virtual showcases in Milan and Dublin.
The Central Bank of Russia said scheduled website maintenance on 19 and 20 June 2026 may cause delays in the site’s operation.
Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana is consulting on draft insider trading guidelines that would convert the offences in the Securities Industry Act into operational rules for issuers, insiders and market operators. The draft would require compliance officers, insider lists, blackout periods, pre-clearance and two-day insider trade disclosures, while introducing pre-approved trading plans with a 90-day cooling-off period and a STOR regime for broker-dealers, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Central Securities Depository. Comments are due by 20 July 2026.
The South African Reserve Bank has launched a museum at its renovated Pretoria head office to make its work more accessible and improve public understanding of central banking. The museum combines economic history, school outreach and public access to the bank’s collections, including more than 1,200 artworks. Its launch also coincides with the start of a 2026 education-themed commemorative coin series led by a new R2 coin marking the 1976 Youth Uprising.
Canada's Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions cut the Domestic Stability Buffer for the country's six largest banks to 3.0% from 3.5% and reduced the range to 0 to 3% from 0 to 4%, effective immediately. OSFI linked the move to strong sector capital levels, with average Common Equity Tier 1 ratios at 13.5%, and said it is meant to free up capital deployment capacity.
The Central Bank of Montenegro said Gov. Irena Radović used the IMF and World Bank Constituency Meeting to press for stronger support on vulnerability detection, institutional preparedness and crisis response, while linking Montenegro’s reform agenda to EU financial integration. She also pointed to Montenegro’s SEPA membership and announced a forthcoming instant payment system through the TIPS Clone project.
The World Savings and Retail Banking Institute highlighted the launch of ESBG's "Competitiveness is Now" report, which calls for a more coherent, risk-sensitive EU banking framework and less one-size-fits-all regulation. Recommendations discussed at the event included a regulatory moratorium and adding competitiveness to supervisors' mandates. The report is intended to inform the European Commission's competitiveness review and the 2027 legislative agenda.
The Central Bank of Malta met a French diplomatic delegation to discuss Malta’s economic and financial outlook. Talks covered macroeconomic developments, financial sector trends and continued international cooperation.
The Central Bank of Malta’s annual financial stability forum examined increasingly complex and interconnected risks to the Maltese financial system. Discussions covered systemic risk monitoring, banks’ risk perceptions, climate-related physical risks, regulatory simplification and stress testing under adverse scenarios.
The Dominican Republic Superintendency of the Securities Market took part in a forum on how the Dominican diaspora could be linked more closely to the local capital market. The discussion, tied to the third edition of its capital market competition, focused on ways to channel remittances and external savings into projects such as infrastructure, tourism, energy and housing.
At a financial systems workshop in Astana, the National Bank of Georgia presented its payments modernization agenda and its regulatory approach to virtual assets. The central bank highlighted payment infrastructure upgrades, ISO 20022 implementation and instant payments, and said prudential supervision of the virtual asset sector has applied from 2026 after an initial AML/CFT-based framework.
The Portuguese Securities Commission updated its AML/CFT questions and answers to reflect regulatory amendments now in force. The guidance reinforces risk-based due diligence and effective screening for politically exposed and sanctioned persons. It also clarifies reporting scope, required data, unresolved deficiencies, emerging risks and aggregate transfer reporting.
The Bank of Cape Verde said it hosted the sixth meeting of Portuguese-speaking central banks on financial inclusion and financial education from June 17 to 19 in Praia. The forum focused on cooperation in financial literacy, digitalization and impact assessment of inclusion policies, including the role of fintechs, digital payments and regulatory innovation. It was presented as a step toward a common agenda and stronger institutional responses to financial digitalization.
The Bank of Cape Verde recognized Financial Education Ambassadors under the National Financial Education Plan 2021–2024 as part of the country’s 10-year financial education milestone. The awards covered institutions and individuals that contributed to financial literacy, inclusion and consumer protection. The bank also linked the event to its hosting of the sixth meeting of Portuguese-speaking central banks on education and financial inclusion.
Ante Žigman has been relieved of his duties as president of the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency’s board at his own request, ahead of his appointment as governor of the Croatian National Bank. The board will continue in its current composition until a new president is appointed. Žigman led Hanfa for more than eight years, from February 2018 to June 2026.
The Bank of Spain's monthly advance data showed Spanish general government debt at 101% of GDP in April 2026, down 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. In nominal terms, debt rose 4.4% to EUR 1.736 trillion. State and regional debt increased, local government debt fell, and total debt was EUR 37.7 billion higher than in December.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India has clarified that, in commodity derivatives, positions backed by early pay-in of certified goods may receive exemption from all margins other than mark to market margins. The revision applies to the commodity derivatives master circular and takes effect on Sept. 21, 2026. Stock exchanges and clearing corporations must update their systems and inform members.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India approved a broad reform package covering investor claims, buybacks, funds and debt markets. Key measures include Quick Transmission Processing for small securities transmissions, the return of open-market buybacks through stock exchanges from Aug. 1, 2026, intraday borrowing for mutual funds and faster AIF launches under the GARUDA mechanism. SEBI also updated listed securitisation and municipal bond rules, transferred the Social Stock Exchange capacity-building fund to a new Section 8 company, and adopted a new code of conduct for its members.
The Reserve Bank of India has told Authorised Dealer Category-I banks to file daily reports by 6 p.m. on FCNR B deposits, External Commercial Borrowings and Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings raised under its June 8, 2026 swap facilities. NIL returns are required on non-transaction days except Saturdays and holidays. Data from June 8, 2026 to the date of the circular must be submitted with the first report due on June 22, 2026.
The National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan said it discussed Islamic finance development with the Islamic Financial Services Board, including legal framework improvements and cooperation on insurance regulation and supervision. A main focus was training and the introduction of takaful, which the bank described as a key outstanding area in Tajikistan's Islamic finance agenda. The Islamic Financial Services Board signaled readiness to continue cooperation and joint projects.
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic fined a Kyrgyz citizen KGS 17,500 for conducting cash foreign currency exchange operations in Bishkek without a license.
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic revoked, effective 19 June 2026, both licenses of Mobile Wallet LLC for violations of Kyrgyz legislation. The action covers the firm’s third-party payment services and its processing and clearing activities.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of the Republic of Kazakhstan has prepared draft amendments to certain National Bank and agency resolutions on financial market regulation. The aim is to align terminology in those acts with the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and remove inconsistencies in legal application.
The Central Bank of the Philippines said gross international reserves stood at US$104.0 billion at end-May 2026, enough to cover 6.7 months of imports and 3.9 times short-term external debt based on residual maturity. The country posted a US$131 million balance of payments surplus in May, which narrowed the January to May deficit to US$7.3 billion.
The Central Bank of the Philippines has introduced temporary capital relief for banks and quasi-banks on unrealized FVOCI losses from Peso government securities, linked to market moves after the Middle East conflict. From 01 April to 31 December 2026, firms may exclude certain losses from CET1 capital when calculating capital ratios, using 28 February 2026 as the reference point. Actual losses must still be fully reported in financial statements and other regulatory reports.
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group’s May update highlights the start of endorsement work on IFRS 20 Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities and a tender for cost-benefit analysis supporting Non-EU ESRS development. It also covers the Annual Review 2025, ongoing accounting and connectivity consultations, and changes to EFRAG’s sustainability expert group.
The Bank of England has published a staff working paper on competition in UK unsecured SME lending between banks and non-banks. It finds that risk-based capital requirements, combined with differences in screening capability and funding costs, shape pricing and credit allocation. Non-banks appear to serve riskier borrowers and larger loans, while banks benefit from lower funding costs but face capital-related constraints.
A Bank of England staff working paper finds GPT-3.5 can mimic UK household inflation perceptions at an aggregate level when given price signals, especially at short horizons. The paper also finds weak individual-level alignment, unreliable longer-term expectations and inconsistent sensitivity across inflation components. The framework is presented as a way to test LLMs for research and survey design.
The National Bank of Serbia reported that online card and e-money purchases rose 39.7% year on year in the first quarter of 2026 to 32.9 million transactions. Dinar payments remained dominant, accounting for 72.2% of all online purchases, while euro payments on foreign sites also grew strongly. Domestic online stores increased 20.2% to 5,948 by the end of March.
The National Bank of Serbia published the list of candidates eligible to sit the June 2026 professional exam for the title of authorized actuary. The two listed candidates are Aleksandar S. Pejica and Ivona Z. Milanovic, and the exam is scheduled for 23 June 2026 at 10:00.
The National Bank of Serbia said API Bank has enabled deep link technology for IPS online payments through its mobile banking app. Customers selecting IPS Scan at online checkout are redirected to the app to authenticate and confirm payment. API Bank is the 15th bank in Serbia to support this process.
The Vietnam State Securities Commission has launched a request for quotations for 2027-2028 leased transmission services to connect sites supporting its IT infrastructure system. Quotations are due by 29 June 2026.
The Vietnam State Securities Commission is seeking quotations for services to manage and operate its overall information technology system supporting management and supervision, with submissions due by June 30, 2026.
The Vietnam State Securities Commission has told seven applicants to pay a VND 1,000,000 fee to complete issuance of their securities practicing certificates. Payment can be made by bank transfer or directly at the commission. Certificates will be canceled if recipients do not complete collection procedures within one year of the payment notice.
European Central Bank Banking Supervision published first quarter 2026 data for 109 significant institutions showing total assets rose to EUR 28.87 trillion, profitability stayed strong and asset quality improved marginally. Capital and liquidity ratios eased quarter on quarter, with CET1 at 15.99%, leverage at 5.80%, net stable funding at 125.63% and liquidity coverage at 153.93%. No reporting bank had a liquidity coverage ratio of 100% or less, a CET1 ratio of 10% or less, or a leverage ratio of 3% or less.
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a public tender for Azure cloud infrastructure services for its EMIR-SFTR Cloud system. Bids are due by 20 July 2026.
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a public tender for expert services to assess authorization applications, RAIF registrations and substantial changes across multiple regulated entity types. Tender submissions are due by 13 July 2026.
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission published a warning regarding unregulated entities.
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission warned that 14 websites are not linked to entities authorized to provide investment services or carry out investment activities. It urged investors to check its website to confirm whether a firm is licensed before transacting.
The Thailand Office of Insurance Commission has opened the 14th intake of its Advanced Insurance Studies Program, with 150 senior participants from the public and private sectors. The six month course focuses on insurance, risk management and strategic leadership, with added content on artificial intelligence, InsurTech, cyber risk and climate risk. It is also intended to build a network of "Insurance Ambassadors" and support wider insurance awareness and access.
From June 22, the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan will operate from 167 Heydar Aliyev Avenue in Baku's Nizami district. Document intake at 90 Rashid Behbudov Street will stop, and the new site will also serve as the bank's legal address.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of the Republic of Kazakhstan granted Bank CenterCredit permission to establish a subsidiary, BCC ODEPT limited liability partnership, through Resolution No. 96 adopted on June 15, 2026.
The Bank for International Settlements has published a bulletin finding that centralised exchanges mainly remunerate stablecoin holders through either reserve-based or activity-based models. Reserve-based yields track policy rates, while activity-based yields are more volatile and tied to crypto market demand. The bulletin says the choice of model could shape stablecoins’ effects on deposits, money markets, exchange funding and monetary policy transmission.
The Reserve Bank of India has replaced earlier Lead Bank Scheme instructions with revised guidelines that reset coordination on priority sector credit and financial inclusion at block, district and state levels. The overhaul adds tighter governance timelines, clearer responsibilities for Lead District Managers and State Level Bankers’ Committee convenors, and a bottom-up credit planning and reporting framework. It also strengthens oversight of low credit-deposit ratio districts and bars banks from seeking No Due Certificates unless a scheme specifically requires them.
The Reserve Bank of India has set a new Kisan Credit Card framework for rural co-operative banks, applicable to loans sanctioned from January 1, 2027. It establishes a six-year composite credit facility for crop, allied and investment needs, updates limit-setting rules and allows Flexi KCC of INR 10,000 to INR 50,000 for marginal farmers. Collateral and margin are waived up to INR 2 lakh per borrower, with digital access channels including UPI and debit cards to be enabled.
The Reserve Bank of India has issued new Kisan Credit Card directions for commercial banks, effective for loans sanctioned from Jan. 1, 2027. The rules establish a six-year composite KCC facility covering crop and allied working capital and investment credit, update limit-setting and collateral rules, and require digital access and quarterly reporting. Existing loans remain under current rules until maturity or renewal.
The Reserve Bank of India has issued new Kisan Credit Card directions for Small Finance Banks, effective for loans sanctioned from January 1, 2027. The framework creates a six-year composite facility for crop, allied and investment credit, sets limit and repayment rules, and provides collateral-free lending up to INR 2 lakh. It also requires support for digital KCC operations and repeals earlier KCC circulars for these banks.
The Reserve Bank of India has issued new Kisan Credit Card directions for Regional Rural Banks, applying to loans sanctioned from January 1, 2027. The rules create a six-year composite facility for crop, allied and investment needs, set drawing-limit rules linked to Scale of Finance, and introduce Flexi KCC of INR 10,000 to INR 50,000 for marginal farmers. Collateral and margin must be waived up to INR 200,000 per borrower, with existing loans remaining under current rules until maturity or the next renewal.
The National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan held a training seminar on takaful with experts from the Islamic Financial Services Board. The event focused on introducing Islamic insurance to Tajikistan’s market and building expertise among financial-sector participants. Discussions covered takaful models, regulatory standards, legal foundations and the development of Microtakaful.
INTERPOL reported that Operation CyberProtect III uncovered 34 suspicious cases, 18 suspect profiles and 27 potential victims linked to trafficking and sexual exploitation on subscription content platforms. The co-organized operation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe found traffickers using encrypted messaging, paywalled sites, crypto-linked payments and fake AI profiles to recruit and control victims.
European Central Bank Banking Supervision's first quarter 2026 statistics show lower capital and liquidity ratios for significant institutions, even as profitability improved. The CET1 ratio fell to 15.99%, the liquidity coverage ratio to 153.93% and the net stable funding ratio to 125.63%, while annualised return on equity rose to 10.02%. Asset quality was broadly stable, with the non-performing loans ratio unchanged at 2.18% and stage 2 loans edging down to 9.29%.
The Bank of Russia cut its key rate by 25 basis points to 14.25% on 19 June 2026, citing moderate economic growth and easing underlying price growth, while noting annual inflation was 5.6% as of 15 June and is projected at 4.5% to 5.5% in 2026 before returning to target from 2027. It said a more accommodative fiscal stance than assumed in its April baseline could require a higher rate path, and that any further cuts will depend on the sustainability of disinflation, inflation expectations, and domestic and external risks.
The European Central Bank published end-December 2025 consolidated banking data for the EU banking system. EU-headquartered banks' total assets increased 1.6 percent to EUR 33.50 trillion, the aggregate non-performing loans ratio stayed at 1.97 percent, return on equity was 9.3 percent and the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 16.42 percent. The dataset covers nearly the entire EU banking sector and includes some revisions to earlier figures.
In a speech, European Central Bank Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said the euro area's monetary sovereignty requires less reliance on non-European payment systems and a stronger role for central bank money in digital payments and tokenised finance. He pointed to the digital euro for retail payments, Pontes and Appia for tokenised wholesale settlement, and broader TIPS links for cross-border payments. If the digital euro Regulation is adopted by the end of 2026, the European Central Bank intends a pilot in 2027 and first issuance in 2029.
In remarks published by the European Central Bank, Frank Elderson said ECB Banking Supervision is pursuing simplification that cuts unnecessary complexity without weakening resilience, while arguing that fragmented EU banking markets rather than capital rules are the bigger drag on competitiveness. He highlighted faster approval processes, a planned dear CEO letter on cyber resilience and continued work on a digital euro pilot in 2027 with potential issuance readiness in 2029 if legislation is passed in 2026.
MENAFATF said its president hosted a dinner in Paris for member-country delegations attending the FATF plenary to support exchanges and strengthen coordination among participants.
Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force President Hamid Saif Al Zaabi hosted a dinner in Paris for member country delegations attending the FATF Plenary meeting to support closer communication, cooperation and coordination.
The Full Federal Court dismissed ASIC’s appeal over a Federal Court ruling that HCF Life’s pre-existing condition term was not an unfair contract term. The separate finding that the term was liable to mislead the public remains in place, and ASIC is considering the decision.
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission said the Federal Court has sentenced former Metigy CEO David Fairfull to nine years in prison after he pleaded guilty to misleading investors and dishonestly using his position as a director. The misconduct involved false statements used in capital raisings that brought in just over AUD 39 million and a AUD 7.7 million loan of company funds for his personal real estate purchase. The sentence carries a non-parole period of five years and four months.
The Uzbekistan Ministry of Finance said it held talks with Société Générale on expanding cooperation in international financial markets, investment, privatization and foreign capital inflows. Discussions covered Uzbekistan’s reform agenda, the privatization of state-owned enterprises and banks with state ownership, and the results of the UzNIF IPO. Société Générale expressed interest in participating in future investment and privatization projects in Uzbekistan.
The International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation has launched the ISSB Training Partner Programme, allowing authorised organisations to deliver official training on applying IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. It is also rolling out a practical ISSB Disclosure Training course for preparers of sustainability-related financial disclosures and their advisers. The Foundation has appointed an initial group of partners and is seeking additional applicants globally.
The Central Bank of Cyprus has launched a new website publication series for its macroeconomic projections for the Cypriot economy, replacing the previous press release format.
The Prudential Regulation Authority is consulting on targeted changes to the Basel 3.1 internal model approach for market risk while keeping implementation set for 1 January 2028. Key proposals include a three-year non-binding PLAT monitoring period, easier RFET treatment, a new Type 1 NMRF category, and changes to recognize diversification between IMA and Advanced Standardised Approach portfolios. The consultation closes on 18 September 2026.
Some amendments to Norway’s Financial Institutions Act and related legislation will take effect on July 1, 2026. The remaining provisions will enter into force later.
Norway’s new business crowdfunding law will take effect on Aug. 1, 2026. It implements the European Union’s Crowdfunding Regulation and consolidates national crowdfunding rules in a dedicated statute.
The Norwegian Ministry of Finance has proposed legislative changes to improve the internal securities market and ease access to capital, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Norwegian Ministry of Finance has proposed connecting Norway to the European Single Access Point to improve investor access to information on Norwegian and European companies.
Norway's Ministry of Finance has proposed amendments implementing the European Green Bond Regulation and enabling issuance under the European green bond label.
In a speech marking the launch of the SARB Museum and the completion of the South African Reserve Bank’s first major head office renovation in more than 40 years, Governor Lesetja Kganyago said the project is meant to improve public understanding of the bank’s mandate and accountability. He said the museum will give the public access to historical, numismatic and art collections, and noted that further commemorative coin releases are planned for August and December after the first R2 coin was issued.
The Croatian National Bank said the Croatian Parliament has appointed Ante Žigman as governor from 19 June 2026 for a six-year term. Žigman currently leads Croatia’s non-bank financial supervisor and previously held roles at the central bank, the Ministry of Finance and European supervisory bodies.