The National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan published the results of a foreign exchange purchase auction held on 15 April 2026, reporting a weighted-average exchange rate of 9.4891 TJS per USD. Nine participants had bids satisfied, ranging from USD 260,000 to USD 7,500,000, according to the Department of International Reserves Management and Exchange Rate Policy.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority issued an alert on scams involving fraudulent websites, fake internet banking login screens and phishing instant messages affecting Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited, Chong Hing Bank Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. It reiterated that banks do not send embedded hyperlinks for transactions or request sensitive information such as login passwords or One-Time Passwords via phone, email or SMS, and advised affected customers to contact their bank and report cases to the Hong Kong Police.
The Bank of Israel and the Ministry of Finance published the 2025 Annual Report of the Citizens of Israel Fund, noting continued build-out of management infrastructure, expansion into additional asset classes and further asset growth in the Fund’s third full year. As of 31 December 2025, assets under management were about USD 2.8 billion, with a nominal return of 18.4% and a real return of 15.4% in U.S. dollars, deposits of USD 350.7 million and an allocation of USD 51.7 million to the State Treasury. The report expects continued growth and broader exposure, including gradual expansion of private investments supported by infrastructure for non-liquid assets and enhanced real-time analytical capabilities.
The Central Bank of Chile’s first-quarter 2026 Bank Credit Survey reports continued tightening in consumer lending standards, unchanged mortgage conditions, and broadly stable supply for small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporates, with more flexible criteria for real estate firms. Banks perceived weaker credit demand across most portfolios, notably for large companies and small and medium-sized enterprises, and softer household demand for both consumer loans and mortgages.
The Central Bank of Russia’s April Regional Economy report finds that consumer demand declined across most macroregions in February–March and that overall economic activity slowed in most industries, while price growth in March was little changed from February and remained elevated. The report highlights weaker sales in several goods categories and reduced output in some manufacturing segments, alongside stronger demand for new cars in some regions and improved short-term demand expectations.
The Vietnam State Securities Commission issued Notice No. 58/TB-UBCK requesting 12 named individuals to pay the statutory fee of VND 1,000,000 each for the issuance of securities practice certificates under the Ministry of Finance’s Circular 25/2022/TT-BTC. Payment may be made by bank transfer or in person, and failure to complete certificate collection procedures within one year of the fee-payment notice will result in cancellation of the issued certificate.
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that its Chair met the Swiss National Bank Chair in Washington to discuss deepening their strategic partnership. Both central banks reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen cooperation through expert knowledge exchange and joint training programmes, noting the effectiveness of their long-running collaboration in monetary policy implementation and monetary operations infrastructure.
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic held a bilateral meeting with International Monetary Fund officials in Washington to discuss measures to support macroeconomic stability, including recent Article IV consultation findings. Chair Almaz Baketaev reaffirmed the central bank’s focus on price stability and financial sector resilience, and both sides explored broader cooperation through expanded participation in the IMF’s CCAMTAC and related capacity-building programmes for public authorities.
The Brazil Securities Commission (CVM), in partnership with Fenasbac, will host LEAP Connect 2026 at its Rio de Janeiro headquarters to present outcomes from the first cycle of its Laboratory for Experimentation, Learning and Prototyping (LEAP). The event will showcase 2025 LEAP prototypes in areas including regulatory automation, AI for market supervision, sustainability reporting, carbon market infrastructure and secondary crowdfunding markets, launch the inaugural LEAP Report, and open the LEAP 2026 cycle with new challenge themes.
The Brazil Securities Commission (CVM) Board accepted a term of commitment in a sanctioning proceeding involving Housi Serviços Digitais S.A. and CEO Alexandre Lafer Frankel, diverging from the CVM’s Term of Commitment Committee, which had opposed the settlement. The respondents will pay BRL 200,000 to the CVM over alleged irregularities in the company’s 2021–2023 financial statements, including possible recurring breaches of Article 33 of CVM Resolution 86 and Article 31 of former CVM Instruction 602.
The Thailand Office of Insurance Commission reported that its Secretary-General led a field visit to Krabi during the Songkran travel period to oversee public service points and support integrated road and marine accident prevention operations, focusing on timely access to insurance protection and guidance. A meeting with OIC Region 8 and the Krabi office set local policyholder-protection priorities around improving access to insurance benefits, service quality and confidence in the insurance system, and reiterated the government’s target to cut Songkran accidents, injuries and fatalities by at least 5% year-on-year.
The Central Bank of the UAE has launched development of a nationwide unified electronic Know Your Customer platform as a core component of its Financial Infrastructure Transformation Programme, in technical partnership with Norbloc AB. The platform will automate and streamline KYC and Know Your Business processes, integrate with trusted data sources to support anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism, and enable privacy-by-design data sharing based on explicit customer consent. It is intended to reduce duplication in due diligence, lower compliance and operational costs, accelerate digital onboarding, and be expanded in future phases to deepen integration with stakeholders.
The National Bank of Romania published provisional balance of payments and external debt data for January–February 2026, reporting a current account deficit of EUR 3,191 million, down from EUR 3,638 million a year earlier, and non-resident direct investment of EUR 1,128 million. Total external debt increased by EUR 1,500 million to EUR 229,963 million, with long-term debt at EUR 182,519 million (79.4% of total) and short-term debt at EUR 47,444 million (20.6%). Reserve-based indicators improved to 6.7 months of import cover and 107.3% coverage of short-term external debt.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan published the results of an insurance-sector attestation held on 14 April 2026, disclosing candidate scores for insurance intermediaries. Under the applicable rules, candidates pass by correctly answering 70 test tasks, while the published table shows ten candidates, with seven scoring between 34 and 64 points and no score displayed for three.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan has submitted draft legislation to Parliament to regulate credit rating agencies, setting independence, transparency and accountability requirements and a national rating system. It would establish the Kazakhstan Rating Agency as an independent national institution, introduce a recognition regime for foreign agencies, and empower the Agency to recognise, monitor and withdraw recognition. The draft also regulates methodologies, conflicts of interest, separation of activities and disclosure, including online publication of methodologies and default data.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan will hold a mobile public reception in the city of Sheki as part of its initiatives to strengthen the protection of financial services consumers’ and investors’ rights. The event will serve citizens in the administrative districts of Qakh, Zagatala, Gabala, Oguz, Balakan and Sheki, with Central Bank representatives reviewing and responding to financial services-related enquiries and providing support.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan has approved lower caps on interchange fees between payment system participants and aligned interchange tariffs for payments via the Instant Payments System (AÖS), reducing upper limits for payment card interchange by 0.25 percentage points across relevant merchant sectors. The measures aim to cut acquirers’ costs, support lower merchant fees for cashless and QR code-based payments via AÖS, and promote wider use of account-based payments.
The Central Bank of the Philippines’ 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey reports improved financial inclusion among young adults and women, a shift from informal to formal borrowing, and higher financial literacy, despite a decline in overall adult account ownership. It notes increased account ownership for 15–19 year olds and women, reduced borrowing but greater use of formal lenders, stronger consumer cyber-hygiene, and expanding household-level account access and digital channel use. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas links the findings to its National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2022–2028, emphasizing digitalization, financial literacy, consumer protection, and trust in the formal financial system.
The National Bank of Moldova reported that Governor Anca Dragu met IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura at the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings to discuss Moldova’s macroeconomic framework and transition to a non-financial cooperation framework with the IMF. Talks covered recent macroeconomic developments, European integration, implementation of Financial Sector Assessment Program recommendations and continued IMF technical assistance, with recent IMF and World Bank assessments confirming a resilient financial sector, well-managed risks and a prompt monetary policy response.
The National Bank of Moldova met senior International Monetary Fund officials during the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings to discuss Moldova’s macroeconomic outlook, a prospective new IMF programme, and the central bank’s reform agenda linked to European integration and financial stability. Discussions focused on cooperation under the Moldova Growth Plan 2025–2027, alignment of national legislation with the European Union acquis and international standards, governance strengthening, implementation of Financial Sector Assessment Program recommendations, and accession to the Single Euro Payments Area.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India announced that K.V.R. Murty has assumed office as a Whole Time Member in Mumbai, joining from the Ministry of Defence where he was Additional Controller General of Defence Accounts. SEBI highlighted his three decades of experience in national security, corporate law and public-sector financial advisory, including senior roles in defence finance, corporate law administration and ease of doing business reforms, as well as prior service as a government nominee on the SEBI Board and other regulatory bodies.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance of South Korea reported sustained foreign inflows into Korean Treasury bonds and declines in benchmark yields following South Korea’s inclusion in the World Government Bond Index. Foreign investors recorded net purchases of KRW 7.7 trillion between 30 March and 13 April, including KRW 2.8 trillion by Japan-based investors, while three- and ten-year bond yields fell about 20–23 basis points. The government will keep monitoring inflows through its taskforce and hold investor relations meetings in Tokyo with major Japan-based investors.
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy & Finance reported on Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol’s meetings in New York with senior executives from Apollo Global Management, BlackRock and PIMCO on foreign exchange and capital market reforms and the government’s “physical AI” policy. The firms signalled interest in expanding investment and cooperation in AI and data infrastructure, energy transition, and Korean government and foreign-currency bonds, while BlackRock and PIMCO highlighted Korea’s progress toward MSCI Developed Market Index and World Government Bond Index inclusion. The ministry said it would swiftly address any additional improvements needed for post-inclusion investment procedures and maintain engagement with global investors.
The Central Bank of Syria reported that Governor Dr. Abdulkader Husrieh participated in the Friends of Syria roundtable on World Bank initiatives and multilateral donor cooperation to address Syria’s financing and technical support needs in line with national strategies. Discussions highlighted the Central Bank of Syria as a priority recipient of support, given its role in delivering monetary stability and facilitating the integration of Syria’s financial sector into the global banking system.
The Central Bank of Syria reported that Governor Abdul Qader Al-Husriya participated in an Atlantic Council roundtable on developments in Syria’s banking sector, co-sponsored with the U.S.-Syria Business Council. He highlighted progress on banking sector reform, strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems, and cooperation with American partners aimed at reopening the Syrian Arab Republic’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The Bank of Albania’s Second Deputy Governor Natasha Ahmetaj highlighted at the Albanian Diaspora Summit the central bank’s reforms to formalise and improve remittance channels, develop a low-value payments strategy, implement a legal framework for payment services and support fintech-driven financial inclusion. She underscored the diaspora’s role as a key source of human and financial capital and noted that Albania’s accession to the Single Euro Payments Area is expected to reduce transfer costs and enhance cross-border payment efficiency.
The Financial Conduct Authority has issued Warning Notice Statements outlining proposed enforcement action against Hartley Pensions Limited and an individual at the firm. The FCA alleges the firm provided false and misleading information and that substantial amounts of customers’ pension funds were dishonestly withdrawn and invested without consent for the benefit of the individual and a company they owned, with attempts to mislead the FCA to conceal the misconduct. The notices are not final decisions and may lead to a Decision Notice and ultimately a Final Notice with published findings.
The Palestine Monetary Authority, with the Ministry of Labor, has launched the second phase of the “Bader” programme, providing up to ILS 40 million in cost- and interest-free financing to workers who lost jobs inside the Green Line, in settlements, and in the West Bank to establish or expand businesses. This phase adds to an initial ILS 30 million, bringing the total lending portfolio to ILS 70 million with potential for expansion, and is supported by training and capacity-building via the “Monshati” platform and Ministry of Labor offices.
The Ukraine National Commission on Securities and Stock Market reported staff participation in training webinars delivered by the Ontario Securities Commission on investor engagement, financial literacy, and regulatory responses to misconduct. The programme covered communication of complex information, use of digital channels and investor enquiries to identify market issues, approaches to investor warnings and verification tools, and enforcement practices including case selection, digital tools, and whistleblower programmes.
Bank of Indonesia reported external debt rose to USD437.9 billion in February 2026, up 2.5% year-on-year, driven mainly by higher public sector borrowing and foreign inflows into Rupiah securities, while private external debt declined. Government external debt reached USD215.9 billion, was almost entirely long term, and concentrated in health, public administration, education, construction, and transport, while private external debt stood at USD193.7 billion with 76.0% in long-term maturities. Bank of Indonesia assessed the structure as stable, citing an external-debt-to-GDP ratio of 29.8% and long-term debt at 84.9% of the total.
The Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency of Türkiye has revoked Magdeburger Sigorta AŞ’s authority to enter into new insurance contracts and renewals in all branches. The decision, adopted by Board Decision No. 1693 on 15 April 2026, takes effect from 16 April 2026.
The General Pension and Social Security Authority has launched a Pension Advisory Service on the Ma’ashi digital platform to provide legal and technical guidance on UAE Pension Law and GPSSA regulations. Customers can book consultations with a specialized team to clarify their pension position, review rights and responsibilities, and calculate current or future pension entitlements, with final decisions remaining the customer’s responsibility.
Moldova’s National Commission for Financial Markets adopted a draft law on consumer credit contracts extending regulation to additional lending forms, including interest-free credit, and introducing clear limits on consumer costs. It also approved standardised insurance product information documents for compulsory motor third party liability insurance, authorised the reorganisation of ELAT into a limited liability company, removed BASWOOL SA shares from the securities issuers register following liquidation, and again ordered TRANSELIT SA to regularise a claims file and pay an insurance indemnity, warning of a new coercive fine of MDL 12,000 after a prior MDL 4,000 fine failed to secure compliance.
The National Commission for Financial Markets has drafted a new law to replace Moldova’s consumer credit framework, aligning it with the EU acquis and developments such as digitisation and online lending. The proposal broadens the scope of regulated credit, tightens rules on advertising, pre-contractual information, tying and consent, and introduces caps on most credit-related costs and arrears penalties, while adjusting interest-rate ceilings. It also sets clearer registration, transparency and conduct requirements for credit intermediaries and treats advisory services as a distinct, consumer-focused activity, with the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization expected to advance the bill.
The Central Bank of the Republic of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange have adjusted banks’ overseas lending rules, raising prudential ceilings and refining indirect lending via overseas banks. The overseas lending leverage ratio for foreign-funded banks operating domestically is increased to 1.5 from 0.5, the Export-Import Bank’s ratio to 3.5 from 3, and the minimum approved ceiling to CNY 100 billion. For indirectly extended overseas loans of more than one year, overseas banks may lend under local laws while domestic banks must strengthen internal controls and specify fund-use conditions in contracts.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has opened consultation on an exposure draft bill to amend the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010, seeking technical feedback to ensure the changes are workable and reflect prior Cabinet policy decisions. The bill would modernise insurance regulation, align it more closely with international practice, expand the standards the Reserve Bank can issue, and introduce a proportionality principle requiring publication of a framework for tailoring regulation to insurers’ size and nature.
The Chile Financial Market Commission published updated biannual statistics on insured motor vehicle repair times for July to December 2025, reporting an average of 52.3 days from claim filing to vehicle pickup and 29 days to workshop entry, extending the downward trend since 2023. The Commission also refreshed its public comparison platform and reported 89,084 insured vehicles involved in accidents in the first half of 2025, 2,227,842 vehicles with current insurance coverage, and 4,705 reported workshop agreements in the second half.
The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (Colombia) published a commentary on the debate over the Banco de la República’s role and autonomy, drawing on an academic forum on central banks’ functions. The note contrasts a narrow focus on inflation control with broader mandates including employment, growth and financial stability, and examines how autonomy balances insulation from political pressures with coordination of government economic policy, including distributional and macroeconomic trade-offs from higher interest rates.
The Central Bank of Estonia announced that Governor Madis Müller will join an Estonian government delegation to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, focusing on coordinating economic policy amid geopolitical tensions, trade frictions and tighter financing conditions. Key themes include central banks’ role in price stability, IMF guidance on targeted, fiscally sustainable support, World Bank priorities on job creation and private investment in developing countries, and climate policy. The delegation will also hold bilateral meetings with IMF and World Bank leadership, and Estonia’s Tax and Customs Board will present digital and artificial intelligence solutions for revenue collection.
Colombia’s Ministry of Finance and Public Credit will lead an international economic forum in Bogotá to reassess Latin American monetary policy and the role of central banks amid supply shocks, geopolitical tensions and social pressures. Discussions will address whether monetary policy should move beyond price stability toward broader development, exchange-rate and employment objectives, the balance between central bank autonomy and accountability, and the implications of the Banco de la República board’s recent interest-rate increases and possible mitigation measures for vulnerable households.
The Central Bank of Uzbekistan held discussions with former Croatian National Bank Governor and IMF consultant Marko Skreb on medium-term priorities to strengthen its analytical function and research capacity. The agenda focused on clarifying the role of research, systematising processes, improving its use in decision-making, and expanding cooperation with external experts and academic institutions. The visit includes lectures, presentations and working sessions with the Research Department to support capacity-building and knowledge exchange.
The Central Bank of the UAE is developing a nationwide unified electronic Know Your Customer platform under its Financial Infrastructure Transformation Programme, in partnership with Norbloc AB, to streamline KYC/Know Your Business processes and lower compliance and operational costs. The platform will automate workflows, integrate trusted data sources, and support anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism frameworks using a privacy-by-design, consent-based data-sharing model for financial institutions and fintech companies, with future phases to expand capabilities.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan outlined its consolidated supervision framework for financial conglomerates, detailing 2025 requirements for group-wide risk management, internal controls, stress testing, and a capital adequacy methodology that limits reliance on intra-group investments. It is also developing internal risk assessment models for insurance and securities and preparing legislative reforms, including a new Law on Banks and Banking Activities and updates to insurance and securities legislation.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India has eased Social Stock Exchange requirements to facilitate participation and fundraising by not-for-profit organizations. Key changes extend the period an NPO may remain registered without raising funds from two to three years and allow the minimum subscription for zero coupon zero principal instruments to be reduced from 75% to 50% in specified circumstances, subject to Social Stock Exchange due diligence. SEBI has also tightened under-subscription disclosures, requiring explanations of alternative capital-raising plans and mandatory refunds where the minimum subscription is not achieved.
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance briefed senior executives from 13 major global financial institutions in New York on its foreign exchange and capital market reform agenda, AI strategy, and energy-price risk measures. It highlighted corporate governance and investor-protection reforms, Korea’s inclusion in the World Government Bond Index, and its goal of joining the MSCI developed-market index through measures such as 24-hour FX trading, offshore won settlement, and eased account-opening and KYC rules. The ministry pledged to accelerate reforms and keep engaging investors to address frictions and “unreasonable” regulations.
The Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan reported that senior officials met IMF Deputy Managing Director Bo Li at the Spring Meetings to discuss Tajikistan’s economic situation and the outcomes of the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI), with the IMF signalling continued engagement and support for priority reforms. The ministry highlighted the successful completion of the PCI, linking it to stronger macroeconomic foundations, improved budget transparency, development of the domestic government securities market, and progress on tax, budget and institutional reforms, while the IMF stressed the need to prepare for risks under different global outlook scenarios and reinforce macroeconomic stability. An additional IMF mission to Tajikistan is planned.
The Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan held talks in Washington with the World Bank on expanding cooperation in financial sector development, private sector access to financing, domestic capital market development, economic digitalisation and strengthening the investment climate. Both sides expressed readiness to deepen collaboration in these areas.
The Bank of Korea reported its February 2026 monetary and liquidity aggregates, showing marginal month-on-month growth in narrow money and flat broad money on a seasonally adjusted, period-average basis, with M1 up 0.1% and M2 unchanged. Liquidity of financial institutions (Lf) rose 0.8% and period-end liquidity (L) increased 0.9%, while year-on-year growth in the original series reached 7.6% for M1, 4.9% for M2, 6.9% for Lf, and 8.0% for L.
The Central Bank of the Philippines reported that ASEAN finance ministers and central bank governors endorsed measures to deepen capital markets, expand regional payments connectivity, promote financial health, and adopted the ASEAN Finance Sectoral Plan 2026–2030. The meeting underscored vigilance over risks from volatile capital flows, climate-related shocks, and geoeconomic fragmentation, and committed to enhanced cooperation in sustainable finance, disaster risk financing, regulatory alignment, and digital financial innovation, including completion of the ASEAN Taxonomy’s technical screening criteria and launch of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum Action Plan.
The Central Bank of the Philippines reported Overseas Filipino cash remittances of USD 2.79 billion in February 2026, bringing year-to-date flows to USD 5.81 billion, up 3.1%. Personal remittances reached USD 3.10 billion in February and USD 6.46 billion year to date, also up 3.1%, with the United States recorded as the top source, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia, though the bank cautioned that routing through correspondent banks can distort source-country data.
The Central Bank of Colombia published its April 2026 quarterly Financial Stability Report update, highlighting key vulnerabilities amid stronger economic activity, higher inflation expectations, and persistent fiscal risks. It flags risks from tighter local financial conditions, higher funding costs, potential valuation losses in collective investment funds, increased market risk from greater exposure to local public debt, and possible abrupt Colombian peso depreciation, while noting generally moderate risk indicators and existing mitigants. The update also cites uncertainty around potential regulatory initiatives as an additional source of risk for financial markets and intermediaries.
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority published a report on KiwiSaver providers’ investments in private assets, noting current exposures in retail funds average less than 5 percent of assets under management but are expected to rise. While most providers follow international valuation standards, the FMA identified weaknesses including infrequent valuations, limited oversight of external valuers, conflicts of interest in related-party situations, and unclear investor communications, and it encouraged stronger valuation governance and disclosure. The FMA will continue engaging with providers and supervisors to support appropriate valuation standards.
The Capital Markets Tribunal approved a settlement between the Ontario Securities Commission and Liquidnet Canada Inc. over breaches of National Instrument 21-101 relating to confidentiality on its fixed income and equities alternative trading systems. Certain trade and order information was improperly visible to employees of foreign affiliates, and the firm was not sufficiently forthcoming with the regulator when the issue arose. Liquidnet Canada Inc. will pay a CAD 600,000 administrative penalty, cover investigation costs, and retain an independent consultant to review its practices.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji plans a single, standardised QR code for all payment apps to streamline QR payments and reduce failures. It confirmed that QR payment and digital wallet providers must be licensed under the National Payment System Act 2021 and 2022 Regulations, and reported that as of December 2025 there were 957,816 registered e-money users, with 2025 wallet transactions totalling 116.4 million valued at FJD 7.3 billion, QR payments reaching FJD 672.3 million, and inward mobile-money remittances FJD 742.3 million.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued a conditional exemptive order permitting customer cross-margining between cleared cash market positions in U.S. Treasury securities and cleared U.S. Treasury futures by granting limited relief from the broker-dealer customer protection rule for certain dually registered broker-dealer futures commission merchants. The Commission also approved a Fixed Income Clearing Corporation rule change adopting a Third Amended and Restated Cross-Margining Agreement with Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., extending cross-margining from proprietary clearing members to eligible customer positions subject to specified margin, documentation, risk management and segregation conditions, including an 80% cap on margin reductions.
IMF staff and Argentine authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the second review of Argentina’s 48‑month Extended Fund Facility, which, pending Executive Board approval, would unlock about USD 1 billion (SDR 0.8 billion). The package maintains a zero-cash balance fiscal anchor consistent with a 1.4 percent of GDP primary surplus, tight monetary policy, and wider exchange rate bands. It targets an increase in net international reserves of at least USD 8 billion in 2026, supported by at least USD 10 billion in central bank FX purchases this year. The strategy also envisages refinancing FX obligations through dollar-denominated domestic-law issuance, state asset sales, central bank repos, external loans, and legislative measures including approval of the 2026 Budget.
Payments Canada issued its quarterly update on the Real-Time Rail programme, highlighting expanded membership eligibility and the onboarding of its first payment service provider members and first provincial credit union member. The update also notes completion of user acceptance testing in Q1 2026 and ongoing non-functional testing through Q2 focused on performance, resilience and security, alongside preparations for industry testing and operational readiness.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren has asked Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for all records produced or received by former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh from 2006–2011, including documents on the Fed’s 2008 crisis interventions and the ethics waiver allowing Warsh to deal directly with Morgan Stanley. The request, tied to the committee’s review of Warsh’s potential nomination as Fed Chair, cites concerns over his role in actions involving Bear Stearns, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, AIG, and previously unanswered questions.
Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren responded to reports that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission will investigate “well-timed” oil futures trading ahead of Trump Administration announcements on the Iran conflict. She urged the CFTC and Securities and Exchange Commission to probe potential insider trading by Trump officials, brief Congress and the public on accountability measures, and noted an earlier request with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse for an investigation into unusual oil futures trading patterns.
The Argentina Securities Commission (CNV) has adopted General Resolution No. 1129 to update and clarify rules for disseminating information on public offerings via prospectuses, supplements and other preliminary documents, including for automatic authorisation and regimes not requiring prior CNV approval. The resolution standardises the use and legends of preliminary documents, mandates their notification and submission through the TAD platform, reinforces issuer and governance responsibilities for information accuracy, and requires explanations of changes between preliminary and final versions, with preliminary information remaining valid for up to 20 business days if no placement occurs.
The World Bank Group announced that the Turkic Investment Fund has joined the Reserve Advisory & Management Partnership, expanding RAMP’s collaboration platform for public-sector asset managers. As a member, the Fund will access World Bank Group Treasury advisory services and executive training and join RAMP’s global network of central banks, sovereign institutions and international financial institutions focused on governance, risk management and long-term financial sustainability.
The Bank of Korea published preliminary March 2026 Export/Import Price and Trade Indexes, reporting sharp month-on-month increases in export and import prices in KRW terms and a strong year-on-year rise in export values. The Export Price Index rose 16.3% month on month and 28.7% year on year, and the Import Price Index increased 16.1% and 18.4% respectively, with price gains concentrated in manufacturing and mining products and the net barter and income terms of trade indexes up 22.8% and 50.9% year on year.
The Central Bank of Bahrain has issued directives to all retail banks and financing companies on deferring loan instalments and credit card payments under its loan deferral and liquidity support program. The three-month deferral covers both principal and interest for eligible individual and corporate customers, with firms required to communicate the deferral procedures to facilitate access and implementation.
The Bank of Japan published updated balance sheet data showing total assets, total liabilities and net assets of JPY 661,651,146,409, including Japanese government securities of JPY 530,354,354,855, loans of JPY 77,720,000,000, and foreign currency assets of JPY 11,685,221,263. Current deposits stood at JPY 456,106,762,992 and banknotes at JPY 115,874,094,111, while outstanding amounts under the Loan Support Program totalled JPY 49,131,686,080 and loans by specified funds-supplying operations JPY 28,931,300,000.
The Institute of International Bankers submitted a comment letter to the US Securities and Exchange Commission supporting targeted exemptive relief from certain US Treasury clearing requirements for transactions with no meaningful US nexus. It argues that extraterritorial application would impose unnecessary burdens and recommends exempting eligible secondary market transactions between non-US participants and non-US clients from the Trade Submission Requirement, and addressing certain transactions involving foreign affiliates and branches. The letter warns that absent relief, firms may restructure repo activity or withdraw from direct participation in US Treasury clearing, increasing costs and limiting efficient access to clearing.
The Central Bank of Cuba has published an analytical paper proposing an interdisciplinary Sustainable Finance and Innovation training programme to integrate national science, technology and innovation policy into the financial system. The paper identifies gaps in alignment with national innovation agendas, investment in clean technologies and institutional integration with the broader innovation ecosystem, and recommends making the programme mandatory, creating permanent CNSB-coordinated working groups and developing standardised metrics aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and national policy.
The Central Bank of Cuba reported on cybersecurity education initiatives for children of banking-sector staff and issued good practice guidance for parents, tutors, and children on safer use of digital technologies, the internet, and electronic payments. The update highlights activities conducted in 2025 at the National Centre for Banking Training and earlier work in the 2024–2025 school year through the “Bank Cybersecurity” interest circle at Banco Metropolitano in Old Havana.
The Central Bank of Cuba announced that banking and financial institutions have begun a new payment cycle for retirees and pensioners of the National Social Security Institute from 14 April. Bank branches and currency exchange offices will prioritise this group during the first three hours of the day, while beneficiaries paid via magnetic card are encouraged to use digital channels and ATMs to check balances and conduct transactions.
The Central Bank of Cuba is piloting a new modality for paying retirees and pensioners via the “caja extra” service, using micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and Local Development Projects as payment points. The initial April 2026 rollout in Havana, coordinated by Banco Metropolitano and involving three Mipymes and one Local Development Project, aims to bring services closer to beneficiaries and reduce congestion at bank branches, with conditions to be refined as the scheme is consolidated.
Mexico's National Commission for the Protection and Defence of Users of Financial Services awarded Banco Santander México S.A. the “Commitment in Service to Older Adults” badge following the renewal of its protocol for serving older adult customers. The updated approach focuses on clearer customer information, improved in-branch experience, risk‑anticipating practices and strengthened financial education for a growing base of older adult users.
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic warned that videos, news and other social media content falsely attributed to Governor Héctor Valdez Albizu, including audio promoting a supposed new investment platform, are fraudulent and part of a financial cybercrime campaign. It urged the public not to engage with these schemes, share personal or payment data, or access related websites, and reiterated that official information is only disseminated through its website, official social media and national press. The bank said it will pursue and sanction those responsible under Monetary and Financial Law No. 183-02, Law 53-07 on high-technology crimes and offences, and Law 74-25 of the Penal Code.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions has published its 2026-2027 Annual Risk Outlook, prioritising risks related to real estate secured lending, non-bank financial institutions, and liquidity and funding. OSFI highlights rising housing and mortgage pressures, growing risk outside the traditional banking system, and the potential for rapid liquidity events. The outlook also signals ongoing calibration of regulatory capital requirements, with risk weights expected to adjust over time to better align with evolving risks.
The Federal Reserve Board published a speech by Governor Michael S. Barr on rural investment, identifying access to capital as a central constraint and highlighting community development financial institutions, public–private partnerships and Community Reinvestment Act activities as key channels. Barr outlined structural pressures on rural communities, including demographic change, loss of local services, housing cost burdens and trade and input-cost shocks, and cited targeted financing models and federal programme aggregation as ways policy and finance can better support rural economies.
The State Bank of Vietnam reported strong growth in cashless payments alongside regulatory, infrastructure and fraud-prevention measures to support banking sector digitalisation, including expanded biometric verification and wider use of the SIMO anti-fraud system. Interbank electronic payments reached nearly VND 130 quadrillion in Q1 2026, with cashless payments up sharply year on year and cross-border retail QR code connectivity completed with Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and China. SBV also highlighted enhanced payment security linking transactions to biometric and identity verification, SIM subscriber–account matching, and SIMO-driven interventions that have paused or cancelled over VND 4.17 trillion in suspicious transactions.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of the Republic of Kazakhstan has adopted Resolution No. 60 dated 9 April 2026. The resolution grants JSC Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan permission to acquire COMRUN LLP as a subsidiary.
The European Systemic Risk Board published an introductory statement by Thorsten Beck to the European Parliament on why the euro has not become a leading global reserve currency and what is needed to expand its international use. Beck cites structural gaps versus the US—shallower capital markets, the absence of a unified European safe asset comparable to US Treasuries, institutional fragmentation, and a more limited geopolitical role—and recommends creating a unified safe asset, deepening capital markets, preserving central bank and supervisory independence, advancing European payment initiatives including a Digital Euro, and expanding non-US central bank liquidity swap lines and international cooperation.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan held a press conference in Baku on its 2025 Financial Stability Report, outlining key conclusions and initiatives to reinforce confidence and resilience in the financial sector. Senior officials highlighted measures taken in 2025 to strengthen trust, minimise risks, improve governance and shock resilience, and presented analysis of financial sector trends and ongoing work to modernise the regulatory and supervisory framework.
The Argentina Superintendency of Insurance issued a notice on the forced liquidation of an insurance entity, outlining the next procedural step following expiry of the deadline for verification of credit claims. Shareholders and prospective creditors may file objections or observations within ten days under Article 34 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law, via the “Impugnaciones y Observaciones a legajos de créditos” procedure on the Trámites a Distancia platform.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs is expected to hold a hearing next week on Kevin Warsh’s nomination as Chair of the Federal Reserve, followed by a Committee vote. Chairman Tim Scott said scrutiny will focus on the economy, price stability, inflation and Federal Reserve independence, and highlighted priorities including expanded access to credit, support for financial innovation and digital assets, and his view that stablecoins have not drawn deposits from savings accounts.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated three individuals and three gaming-related entities linked to Cartel del Noreste under Executive Orders 14059 and 13224, blocking their property and generally prohibiting U.S. persons from dealing with them. The action targets alleged money laundering, cash smuggling and cartel-linked activity around Nuevo Laredo, including use of Casino Centenario, its operator Comercializadora y Arrendadora de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., and Diamante Casino as stash houses and laundering vehicles. OFAC warned foreign financial institutions of potential secondary sanctions exposure and issued a general license for U.S. persons to wind down operations with the designated casinos and operator.
The Central Bank of Uruguay’s president, Guillermo Tolosa, used his first appearance at the IMF Spring Meetings’ Governor Talks to outline Uruguay’s monetary policy experience and the role of communication in strengthening credibility and anchoring inflation expectations. He highlighted the challenge of historically de-anchored expectations and argued that robust, transparent communication, supported by a consistent track record, is treated as a core monetary policy tool to complement rate decisions, reduce surprises and volatility, and involve the public in stabilization.
North Macedonia’s Ministry of Finance announced that Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kocoska will attend the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. from 14 to 18 April 2026 and hold bilateral meetings with senior IMF, World Bank, U.S. Treasury and investor representatives. Discussions will focus on fiscal consolidation, economic growth, crisis impacts on public finances, implementation of the World Bank Partnership Framework, and projects to strengthen institutions and resource management.
Tajikistan’s Ministry of Finance said a high-level delegation met the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department in Washington, DC to discuss the country’s economic situation and cooperation priorities. Tajikistan cited successful implementation of its IMF programme, while the IMF confirmed readiness to continue engagement on macroeconomic stability, fiscal and tax policy, public financial management, private sector development, public debt management, technical assistance, digitalisation of the financial system, and institutional capacity building.
The Ministry of Finance of Georgia reported on a meeting between Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili, National Bank of Georgia President Natia Turnava and IMF Deputy Managing Director Bo Li on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings. Discussions focused on Georgia’s fiscal and monetary policies, reforms, economic performance, cooperation with the IMF, and geopolitical challenges, including IMF-developed scenarios related to the Middle East crisis and broader global and regional trends.
The European Banking Authority and the European Central Bank, through the Joint Bank Reporting Committee, have launched a call for expressions of interest to fill vacancies and establish a reserve list for the Reporting Contact Group, a stakeholder forum on banks’ supervisory, resolution and statistical reporting. The group has up to 22 unpaid members appointed for a three-year renewable mandate, selected based on senior practical experience in relevant reporting functions and independence, and is subject to professional secrecy and confidentiality requirements.
The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan met an Asian Development Bank delegation to discuss expanding cooperation under the 2025–2029 Country Partnership Strategy, building on 145 projects worth around USD 5.5bn to date. Priority areas include economic diversification, green and sustainable development, inclusive growth, macroeconomic and fiscal reforms, and public financial management, plus potential collaboration on infrastructure, green energy, SME finance, capital markets and public-private partnerships.
The Central Bank of Russia’s Russian Financial Sector for 2025 review reports that sector assets grew almost 3.5 times over 2016–2025, with non-bank financial institutions expanding faster than banks but banks remaining dominant. The rise in non-bank assets is attributed to increased household participation in financial markets since 2019, supported by remote channels, online banking and higher financial literacy, alongside growth in brokerage, unit investment funds, life insurance and trust management. The review also notes that banks’ resilience improved due to stronger risk management, market consolidation and digitalisation, enabling them to avoid major losses during crises.
In a meeting with K2 Integrity at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings, the Central Bank of Libya highlighted recently introduced strict controls to review documentary credit applications, strengthen supervision and reinforce commercial bank compliance functions.
The Central Bank of Libya said it agreed with the International Monetary Fund on specialized technical support for draft financial sector legal reforms. The work will focus on a FATF-aligned AML CFT law, updates to the banking law and revised licensing rules for electronic payment companies. IMF support will go to Central Bank technical and legal teams preparing the initial drafts.
The Central Bank of Libya has invited commercial banks to subscribe to Issue No. 12-2026 of unrestricted Mudaraba Deposit Certificates under the procedures used in previous issuances and with the tenors and maturity dates specified in the subscription announcement.
The Superintendency of the Securities Market of Panama issued Public Communiqué No. 8 as an investor alert.
The Panama Superintendency of the Securities Market issued Public Notice No. 9 as an investor alert. The authority warns investors through this notice, but no further details are provided.
The Panama Superintendency of the Securities Market issued Public Communiqué No. 10 as an investor alert. The authority did not provide further details in the summary.
The Central Bank of Ecuador published results of its Thematic Bioeconomy Account, estimating the bioeconomy represented 16.6% of gross domestic product at end-2024 and declined by 0.6% in a year when overall gross domestic product contracted by 1.9%. The analysis highlights high self-sufficiency, increasing export orientation, a shift toward higher value-added, more diversified production, and links performance to traditional sectors and industries using biological resources, with authorities underscoring the account’s role in evidence-based policymaking.
The Ukraine National Commission on Securities and Stock Market has updated its list of administrative services to align with current legislation and capital markets regulation. The decision includes revised service names, the addition of one new service, and the removal of obsolete services, bringing the total to 76.
The Central Bank of Montenegro announced that a delegation led by Governor Irena Radovic will attend the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. from 13 to 18 April. The delegation will participate in bilateral meetings with International Monetary Fund and World Bank officials, as well as representatives of central banks and other financial institutions, in the context of broader discussions on global economic challenges and international cooperation.
The Central Bank of Luxembourg and statistics office STATEC published provisional 2025 balance of payments data showing a current account surplus of EUR 4.7bn, down EUR 1.4bn from 2024, as a weaker international services balance offset a slightly stronger goods surplus. The deterioration in services was driven by non-financial services linked to multinational restructurings, partly offset by stronger financial services, while the financial account recorded large direct and portfolio investment flows, including substantial net inflows into Luxembourg equity participations and increased cross-border loans and deposits.
Peru's Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Fund Administrators has intervened Caja Rural de Ahorro y Crédito del Centro S.A. and Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Kuria after finding both insolvent. CRAC Del Centro’s regulatory capital fell 56.26% in 12 months to PEN 7.049 million, triggering intervention and Deposit Insurance Fund coverage for eligible depositors up to PEN 117,200, while borrowers must keep paying loans. Coopac Kuria reported negative equity of PEN -21.99 million, including a PEN -6.76 million provisioning shortfall tied to an uncollectable loan under investigation, and faces a temporary intervention of up to 45 days without activation of the Cooperative Deposit Fund.
The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority has issued a Feedback Statement on its consultation on the Financial Services (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, outlining revisions including the removal, deferral and narrowing of certain measures ahead of its planned introduction into Tynwald. A key change is a revised enabling power for civil penalties, which would apply prospectively to regulated entities, designated businesses and specified individuals only where contraventions are materially attributable to their consent, connivance or neglect, and would operate as an alternative to criminal prosecution. The Authority has also dropped proposed extensions of warning notice powers and certain guidance and appeal right changes, and will consult on secondary legislation before any new civil penalty powers are brought into force.
The Guernsey Financial Services Commission has issued a sanctions notice following UN Security Council amendments under Resolution 1988 concerning the Taliban to four entries on its Sanctions List. Guernsey businesses must identify any relationships with the listed individuals or other designated persons, freeze relevant funds and economic resources, refrain from making funds or resources available except under permitted licences, and report findings to the States of Guernsey Policy & Resources Committee and the Commission in line with statutory and Handbook Rule 12.37 requirements.