The Portuguese Securities Commission reported a 20.1% monthly decline in financial instrument orders to EUR 29,432.4 million in August 2026, driven mainly by lower public debt activity. Derivative orders fell 3.7% to EUR 179,053.1 million, while cumulative financial instrument orders since the start of the year remained 21.7% above the same period of 2025.
The Dominican Republic’s Pensions Superintendency and pension fund administrators are offering retirement planning information at the 2026 Santo Domingo International Book Fair. The program includes a “Your Future” information stand and a public pension education talk on Oct. 1.
The Bank of Ghana’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously held the Monetary Policy Rate at 14.0% in September, assessing inflation and growth risks as broadly balanced. Headline inflation rose to 5.0% in August, below the 8% ±2 percentage-point target, while second-quarter real GDP grew 6.0%.
The Central Bank of Lesotho’s Monetary Policy Committee raised the CBL Rate by 25 basis points to 7.00%, citing increased upside inflation risks and tighter regional and global financial conditions. The rate maintains a 25-basis-point differential to South Africa’s 7.25% policy rate, which the committee considers sufficient to sustain the exchange-rate peg and support domestic activity.
Saudi Arabia's Insurance Authority has barred ACIG from issuing new comprehensive motor insurance policies from Sept. 24, 2026, citing breaches of supervisory and regulatory instructions. Renewals are unaffected, and ACIG remains responsible for existing policies and related claims.
The Angola Capital Markets Commission’s fifth Capital Markets Forum identified financial literacy as a key challenge for market development. New listings, a wider investor base and increasingly mature financial instruments were highlighted as opportunities to deepen Angola’s capital market.
The Hellenic Capital Market Commission approved Alpha Trust Holding’s requested delisting from Euronext Athens.
A Bank for International Settlements bulletin finds that AI and robot exposure is often concentrated in industries with younger workforces, limiting automation’s ability to offset population ageing. Its index covering 135 economies shows more favourable conditions in richer economies overall, although several advanced economies face poor alignment. Policy responses may require greater labour force participation, worker mobility or immigration where automation potential is limited.
Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority is consulting on a cap of 20 algorithmic orders per executed trade for most Main Market securities. Capital Market Institutions would also face requirements for algorithm governance, testing, supervision, recordkeeping and regulatory reporting, with the final provisions scheduled to take effect on Nov. 1, 2026.
The Central Bank of Egypt’s Monetary Policy Committee held the overnight deposit, overnight lending and main-operation rates at 19.00%, 20.00% and 19.50%, respectively, and the discount rate at 19.50%, judging its restrictive stance sufficient to sustain disinflation and contain upside risks. Annual headline inflation eased to 14.5% in August and is expected to converge toward the 7% target, plus or minus 2 percentage points, in the second half of 2027.
The Saudi Capital Market Authority approved the public offering of the SNB Capital Princess Nourah University Waqf Fund. The approval confirms legal compliance and is not a recommendation to subscribe, with investors expected to assess the fund’s strategy and risks.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs announced the reintroduction of legislation that would make private equity firms and general partners liable for obligations at controlled companies while limiting value extraction and tax advantages. The bill would also strengthen worker protections, expand investor disclosures, restrict firms receiving public funds and curb real estate investment trust involvement in health care.
The U.S. Department of Justice secured the extradition of Davud Ansariy from Georgia to face charges of supporting ISIS and the al-Nusrah Front. Prosecutors allege that he led a Brooklyn-based fundraising and travel network for aspiring foreign fighters before fleeing the United States in 2016. He faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada imposed a CAD 82,500 penalty on Caisse Alliance for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing compliance failures. The deficiencies involved compliance policies, high-risk measures, risk assessments and biennial program reviews. The credit union paid the penalty in full, and the case is closed.
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada fined Your Neighbourhood Credit Union CAD 16,500 for failing to maintain and apply current, senior officer approved compliance policies and procedures. The credit union has paid the penalty in full, and the case is closed.
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada fined Pathwise Credit Union CAD 41,250 for deficiencies in its compliance policies and risk assessment. The credit union has paid the penalty in full, and the case is closed.
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada imposed a CAD 676,500 penalty on UNI Financial Cooperation for reporting, compliance policy and risk assessment failures. The credit union paid the penalty in full, and the case is closed.
The Algeria Market Authority warned against conducting regulated activities without authorization.
Biopharm Spa will pay its 2025 dividend of DZD 170 per share on Sept. 27, 2026.
The Federal Reserve Board issued a consent prohibition against former Sandy Spring Bank employee Renee Nicole Brown for embezzlement.
The National Bank of Belgium has maintained its countercyclical capital buffer at 1.25% for the fourth quarter of 2026, equivalent to about EUR 3.5 billion. The buffer addresses potential geopolitical and macroeconomic shocks and can be released to support lending during a major downturn. Banks should also ensure their credit risk provisions reflect current uncertainty and adverse scenarios.
Mexico’s National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Financial Services Users renewed Seguros Monterrey New York Life’s badge for its service to older adults. The recognition covers accessible, inclusive and safe practices for a growing market, with the insurer serving 170,000 older adults.
The Angola Capital Markets Commission presented its report on collective investment undertakings for the first half of 2026. It reviewed the segment’s performance, development and principal indicators, although the announcement did not disclose specific figures or findings.
Central Bank of Syria Governor Safwat Raslan outlined a fintech vision focused on stability, financial inclusion and regulated electronic financial channels. The bank plans to use its electronic payments and transfers regime to support supervised innovation while developing a model suited to rebuilding and modernizing Syria’s banking sector.
De Nederlandsche Bank highlighted how buy now pay later services can amplify youth debt risks when financial knowledge and age controls are weak. The services are expected to come within credit provision rules from the end of 2026, while participants advocated financial education, clearer payment design and stronger protections for young users.
The National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine reviewed 62 matters and approved a financial competency framework for entrepreneurs and smaller businesses. It also advanced work on EU-related draft legislation and handled several corporate bond issuance and registration matters.
Open Banking Limited has outlined its program for Open Banking Expo 2026 in London on Oct. 13-14. Discussions will cover the future of payments and data, commercial models, artificial intelligence, pay by bank, cross-border services and scaling open finance.
Dimitrios P. Tsomocos was sworn in as deputy governor of the Bank of Greece, joining Governor Yannis Stournaras and Deputy Governor Christina Papaconstantinou in the central bank’s administration.
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group and the Accounting Standards Board of Japan discussed their activities and IFRS accounting projects of shared interest. They plan to continue the dialogue regularly.
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group updated its endorsement status after the Accounting Regulatory Committee backed amendments to the IAS 28 fair value option for associates and joint ventures. The changes address divergent interpretations affecting IFRS 18 classification and will apply when entities first use IFRS 18 from Jan. 1, 2027, subject to EU scrutiny, with earlier application permitted.
The Central Bank of Cyprus published its second quarter 2026 Residential Property Price Index report and related time series, including a review of index results and property market developments.
HSC Insurance Limited, which is in liquidation, is no longer licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission to underwrite insurance business.
The National Bank of Moldova reviewed progress on aligning financial legislation with EU rules during meetings with European Commission and European Central Bank officials. SEPA processed 1.1 million transfers in its first 11 months, while the MIA instant payment system surpassed 1 million users.
The National Bank of Moldova has completed the first stage of the European Banking Authority’s assessment of Moldova’s prudential equivalence with the EU and is moving through the next stages. Governor Anca Dragu also reviewed reforms covering banking supervision, capital movements, payment systems and central bank independence with European Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque.
The National Bank of Romania will launch its second Economic@BNR study on Sept. 29, 2026, examining financial sustainability and Romania’s path from deficits to nominal convergence. The event will bring together policymakers and economic stakeholders to discuss vulnerabilities, policy priorities and development opportunities.
Norges Bank raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.50% to bring inflation back to its 2% target. It expects to keep rates elevated for longer than previously projected and could tighten further if inflation persists. Inflation is forecast to reach target in 2029.
Norges Bank raised its policy rate by 0.25 percentage point to 4.5% and expects to keep it near that level for longer than previously projected. It may tighten further if needed, with inflation forecast to return to the 2% target in 2029.
National Bank of Hungary Governor Mihály Varga called for simpler, less duplicative and more unified EU financial regulation to support stability and competitiveness. He said Europe must capture the benefits of digitalization and AI while addressing the banking sector’s dependence on external technology and expertise.
The European Central Bank finds that speeches and interviews between Governing Council meetings can move financial markets as much as formal policy announcements, especially at longer interest-rate maturities. A new database covering about 5,000 inter-meeting events also provides more precise estimates of how monetary tightening affects euro area inflation and unemployment.
The European Central Bank’s latest bulletin reviews its 25 basis point rate increase and forecasts inflation of 3.0% in 2026, 2.5% in 2027 and 2.1% in 2028. Growth projections were raised for 2026 and 2027 as the euro area economy proved more resilient than expected. Energy and geopolitical risks leave the inflation outlook tilted upward, and the ECB has not committed to a specific rate path.
The European Central Bank has launched an assessment with the Central Bank of Brazil into the feasibility of linking TIPS with Pix. A potential connection could support faster and lower cost instant payments between the euro area and Brazil and forms part of the Eurosystem’s wider cross border payments strategy.
The Central Bank of Estonia will publish September 2026 banking and leasing statistics at 08:00 on Oct. 27.
BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank found Germany’s smaller banks resilient in aggregate, with their Common Equity Tier 1 ratio falling 3.8 percentage points to 14.6% under severe stress. Several dozen institutions would breach capital requirements, but fewer than in 2024. A revised threshold for Pillar 2 Guidance is expected to reduce the number receiving additional capital recommendations by about 40%.
The Banking Commission of the Central African Republic has issued a national selection notice for vehicle rental services for SCX.
The Angola Capital Markets Commission will hold the first CMC Junior Competition awards ceremony on Sept. 28 to promote financial literacy among young people.
Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Finance briefed Bishkek residents on subsidized loans for clean, energy efficient heating systems. Borrowers may obtain up to KGS 1 million for five years at 6% annually to fund eligible equipment, installation and related costs through three partner banks.
The International Accounting Standards Board has completed technical discussions on revisions to IAS 28 intended to clarify the equity method and reduce diversity in practice. The revised standard is expected in the first half of 2027 and will apply from Jan. 1, 2029, with early application permitted.
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission enforcement chief Michael Duignan advocated using early guidance, voluntary resolutions and settlements to secure faster enforcement outcomes and investor redress. He cited previously announced sponsor controls and settlements providing HKD 1 billion in the China Evergrande matter and up to HKD 1.5 billion in the Giordano case. Legislative drafting continues on conditional measures as an alternative to trading suspension.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore unveiled initiatives to prepare financial sector employees for AI driven job changes. Under the new IBF AI Workforce Co-Lab, 23 institutions will train more than 80,000 Singapore employees in critical AI skills by 2028 and develop role specific pathways for leaders, wealth managers and operations staff. Additional measures cover job redesign, career transitions and AI training for undergraduates.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore outlined expanded financial sector workforce measures, including nearly 60 accredited AI programs and training on responsible AI use. Around 1,000 internship and traineeship opportunities from 20 financial institutions will be available over the next year, supported by closer links between education and industry.
The National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan licensed Muin Insurance Organization LLC to conduct insurance activities under the approved rules for the relevant insurance classes.
Ukraine's National Securities and Stock Market Commission Chair Oleksii Semeniuk outlined how securitization could release capital for new lending and attract long-term private funding for Ukraine's economy and reconstruction. Following Parliament's adoption of the securitization and covered bonds law, market development will require secondary rules, suitable assets, issuers, investors, professional infrastructure and trust in the instruments.
The Central Bank of Russia has established admission and registration rules for digital depositories, cryptocurrency exchanges and information system operators issuing digital financial rights. Effective Oct. 5, 2026, the framework sets management qualification and documentation requirements, provides simplified admission for certain existing participants and governs the maintenance and publication of registers.
Russia’s broad money supply rose 1.0% in August, led mainly by corporate deposits, while annual growth slowed to 12.2%. Credit to the economy increased from July and remained the principal source of money supply growth.
Ukraine’s National Securities and Stock Market Commission has launched an anonymous survey on public awareness of its work and capital markets role. The results will inform improvements to its communications.
European Central Bank Executive Board member Philip R. Lane reviewed projections showing euro area inflation declining from 3.0% in 2026 to 2.1% in 2028, while GDP growth rises from 0.9% to 1.5%. The 2026 inflation increase is driven partly by energy, while tighter financial conditions are expected to weigh on both growth and inflation through 2028.
The European Commission launched a EUR 25 million initiative, including EUR 10 million in EU funding, to expand women's employment in the Middle East and North Africa. It targets 500,000 additional jobs and a 5% increase in women's employment by 2030 through skills, entrepreneurship, reforms and private sector-led job creation.
The People's Bank of China's Monetary Policy Committee called for stronger countercyclical support while maintaining a moderately accommodative stance. It recommended ample liquidity, lower financing costs and targeted support for domestic demand, innovation and smaller businesses. The committee also emphasized bond market monitoring and broad renminbi stability.
The Bank of Israel reported that nonfinancial private sector debt rose 3.6% to about NIS 2.6 trillion in the second quarter of 2026. Business debt increased 4.2% to NIS 1.7 trillion, mainly through bank credit, while household debt grew 2.4% to NIS 935 billion.
HSC Insurance Limited, which is in liquidation, is no longer licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission to underwrite insurance business.
The Bank of Guatemala projects GDP growth to slow to 3.3% in 2026 and 3% in 2027. Headline inflation was 3.37% in August, while the end-2026 forecast was cut to 2.89% from 3.75% before a projected return to 4% by December 2027.
The World Bank Group approved a three-phase, 10-year infrastructure financing program for Ecuador with a total envelope of USD 800 million. The program is expected to benefit more than 3 million people and mobilize up to USD 750 million in private capital, with an initial phase of USD 200 million in World Bank financing and USD 50 million in parallel Spanish co-financing.
The World Bank Group approved USD 750 million to expand financing for farmers and agrifood businesses in Türkiye. By 2032, the project is expected to benefit about 225,000 farmers, create 110,000 additional and better paid jobs and mobilize USD 670 million in private capital.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recommends expanding microinsurance and micro-catastrophe bonds to narrow Emerging Asia’s disaster protection gap. It calls for enabling regulation, simpler approvals, appropriate capital treatment, stronger local risk data and greater community involvement. Smaller catastrophe bond issuances and growing microinsurance coverage indicate scope to extend protection to households, small businesses and local governments.
The Qatar Financial Markets Authority concluded a three-day financial statement analysis program for selected employees across the authority.
The Moroccan Capital Markets Authority approved the annual update to TGCC SA’s commercial paper program dossier. The program has a MAD 500 million ceiling, MAD 100,000 unit nominal value and maturities of 10 days to 12 months.
The Moroccan Capital Markets Authority registered an update to Crédit Agricole du Maroc’s certificates of deposit program, raising its ceiling from MAD 10 billion to MAD 15 billion. The certificates have a nominal value of MAD 100,000, maturities of 10 days to seven years and fixed or variable rates.
Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Pandit Asiama announced an upgraded Heritage Series of cedi banknotes with enhanced security, durability and modern designs. Existing banknotes will remain legal tender and co-circulate with the new series, which will be officially launched on November 3, 2026.
The Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority has required consumer finance companies to build technology linking their databases to the authority, with governing controls due within six months. The systems must provide customer and solvency data, including real-time purchase information and classifications of repayment performance, to support closer supervision and earlier risk detection.
Islamic Development Bank Group Chairman Muhammad Al Jasser will lead a delegation to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Doha from Sept. 27 to 28. He will address climate finance and hold meetings on partnerships supporting member countries’ development priorities.
Kazakhstan’s financial regulator has launched a FinOtinish pilot that lets consumers submit and track appeals involving four participating banks, with unresolved cases potentially transferred to the bank ombudsman. The free, voluntary platform will also provide anonymized data for conduct supervision and is planned to expand to other banks after the pilot.
The Banking Commission of the Central African Republic published the results of BEAC tender AON/OPIL No. 38/E7/2026, held on Sept. 22, 2026.
The Central Bank of Taiwan reported that August check clearing fell to 4 million checks worth TWD 1.06 trillion, mainly because the month had one fewer business day than July. The dishonored check value ratio rose by 0.07 percentage points to 0.36%, driven by accounts with high aggregate dishonored values.
The Central Bank of Taiwan will reduce monthly 364-day certificate of deposit auctions to TWD 110 billion from TWD 120 billion effective October, citing banking system liquidity and banks’ asset allocation needs. Monthly two-year offerings will remain unchanged at TWD 25 billion, with each bidder capped at 30% of an auction.
Bulgaria's Ministry of Finance reported that European Union finance ministers discussed financial innovation and the effects of artificial intelligence at the Sept. 18 and 19 Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting.
The Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission has backed four draft capital market laws accepted in principle by the House of Representatives. The package would modernize digital processes, broaden oversight of market participants and service providers, and strengthen enforcement and sanctions. The drafts will undergo committee review before further consideration by the House and Senate.
The Slovenia Insurance Supervision Agency outlined how insurers could shift from paying for the consequences of illness toward preventing and actively managing health and longevity risks. It emphasized evidence based innovation, responsible data and model governance, fair treatment and longer term measures of preventive investment. Insurers could also help address retirement income gaps and the risk that individuals outlive their savings.
The National Bank of Moldova discussed digital banking supervision, the MIA instant payment system and further European payment integration with a European Central Bank representative. The talks also covered central bank independence, monetary policy and preparations to align Moldova’s financial sector with EU rules.
The National Bank of Moldova reviewed financial regulatory alignment with the EU, 2026 legislative changes concerning central bank independence and the ongoing European Banking Authority assessment of Moldova’s prudential framework. Discussions also covered the central bank’s contribution to access-to-finance and capital market reforms under the EU-supported EUR 1.9 billion Growth Plan for 2025-2027.
The Slovenia Insurance Supervision Agency assessed how AI, data center and energy investment is expanding commercial insurance demand while increasing geographic and supply chain concentration risks. Slovenian gross written premiums rose 14.5% to EUR 1.22 billion in the first half of 2026, with surety insurance premiums doubling amid strong infrastructure investment.
The National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine has backed three bills to modernize voluntary pension funds and strengthen protection of participants’ savings. The proposals would tighten governance, risk management and disclosure, introduce the prudent person investment rule, and align tax and civil law with the new framework.
The Hong Kong Insurance Authority has fined FWD Life HKD 19.5 million for systemic anti-money laundering control and governance failures between April 2012 and September 2024. Deficiencies affected third-party payments, suspicious transaction monitoring, politically exposed person screening and due diligence for higher-risk customers. FWD has implemented remediation, with enhanced reviews finding no ineligible customer onboarding caused by delayed detection.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has issued rules governing the registration and trading of structured warrants after consulting on the framework. The requirements supplement applicable securities laws and exchange and self-regulatory organization rules, with a focus on market integrity and investor protection.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission will hold mandatory certification examinations in Cebu, Iloilo and Tarlac during October 2026. Each Phase 1 or Phase 2 examination costs PHP 1,500, and candidates must attend in person with a compatible laptop configured with the Safe Exam Browser. Results will generally be released on the same day.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has approved DragonFi Securities to test access to preapproved U.S. equities and exchange-traded funds through an over-the-counter depositary receipt model. The sandbox test will assess the offering’s viability, investor safeguards and regulatory implications.
The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate from around 1% to around 1.25% as underlying inflation approached its 2% target and upside risks increased. Governor Kazuo Ueda signaled further data-dependent increases, with no preset pace, and did not exclude consecutive or larger moves if inflation warrants them. The bank also moved its climate financing operation to a variable rate and set a JPY 50 trillion cap.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority warned the public about fraudulent banking websites, login screens, phishing emails and other scams. Banks do not send transaction links or request passwords and one-time passwords by phone, email or SMS.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority warned of two fraudulent websites impersonating Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. The sites seek payment card information or login credentials, with one also directing users to fraudsters posing as customer service personnel on WhatsApp.
The Bank of Spain reported that nonfinancial corporate revenue rose 6.6% and net ordinary profit increased 30.9% in the first half of 2026, with energy, refining and fuel trading driving much of the improvement. Return on assets increased to 5.7%, although excluding the atypical sectors it edged up only to 4.2% from 4.1%. More than half of the sampled companies recorded a decline in this measure.
Norges Bank’s Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee raised the policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.50%, citing the need for tighter policy to return inflation to the 2% target, forecast for 2029. The Committee expects to keep rates elevated before a modest decline and remains prepared to tighten further if warranted.
The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority found that pension companies’ discount structures for market rate products are generally reasonable and compliant with applicable rules. Companies must continue monitoring pricing to ensure value for money and prevent discounts for some groups from producing unreasonable prices for others.
The Swiss National Bank held its policy rate at 0%, judging current settings appropriate as medium-term inflationary pressure increased only slightly, and reiterated its willingness to intervene in foreign exchange markets if needed. Inflation reached 0.8% in August, while the SNB projects GDP growth of 1.5% to 2% in 2026 and around 1.5% in 2027.
The European Banking Authority has urged targeted changes to MiCA, led by stronger rules for third-country multi-issuer stablecoins and clearer crypto-asset classifications. It also recommends regulating crypto lending, including facilitated access to decentralised finance protocols, and improving issuer and service provider reporting. Existing stablecoin requirements are broadly appropriate, although reserve deposit rules should be reviewed without weakening liquidity safeguards.
The Riksbank held its policy rate at 1.75% but said stronger economic activity and continued supply shocks could require rate increases beginning in 2026 if the outlook is unchanged. It raised its 2026 growth forecast to 2.8% and warned that a larger, more persistent inflation upturn would prompt faster tightening.
European Central Bank research finds that interlinking countries’ fast payment systems is associated with about 4% more bilateral trade. Gains are greatest for smaller and underserved economies, high-cost payment corridors, and systems that support wholesale transactions.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji held the Overnight Policy Rate at 0.25%, balancing inflation of 7.6% in August against weakening growth conditions. Inflation is expected to remain above 6% through year-end, while foreign reserves remain adequate and monetary policy may be adjusted to preserve price stability and reserve adequacy.
The Central Bank of Solomon Islands and the Royal Australian Mint have released a new 50 cent coin featuring King Charles III, the second Solomon Islands circulation coin to carry his effigy. The coin retains the Eagle Spirit reverse design and will enter circulation in October 2026.
An Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigation has led to eight charges against Emre Tahsin Basar over alleged unauthorized share sales that generated about AUD 498,500. The funds were allegedly transferred to a company he controls, and the case is listed for committal mention on Dec. 17, 2026.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji held the overnight policy rate at 0.25 percent as it balanced rising inflation against weaker economic conditions. Inflation reached 7.6 percent in August and is expected to remain above 6 percent through year-end, while foreign reserves and banking system liquidity remain adequate.
Japan's Ministry of Finance reported total assets of JPY 120.139 trillion, down JPY 248.1 billion from the previous month. Loans represented 99.08% of assets, while deposits on the liabilities side fell by JPY 2.5789 trillion to JPY 28.8945 trillion.