The Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and New York will launch a voluntary pilot survey of lending trends in the U.S. private credit direct lending market after the third quarter of 2026. Aggregate findings, covering credit availability and lending standards across three borrower-size segments, are expected in the first quarter of 2027 and will not be used for supervisory purposes.
Portugal's Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority extended the suspension of specified pension fund disclosure rules until Jan. 1, 2028.
The Guernsey Financial Services Commission welcomed Peter Deacon’s appointment as the Bailiwick’s first Finance Sector Concierge, effective Aug. 1. He will provide an early-stage contact for businesses, investors and advisers and work with the Commission and other local organizations to help prospective applicants prepare for the regulatory process.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has created a specialized enforcement unit to pursue financial reporting fraud and accounting and audit misconduct. Led by Timothy Zimmerman, the unit will combine legal and accounting expertise and work across the SEC.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury will host the United States G20 Finance Ministerial in Asheville, North Carolina. Deputies will meet on Aug. 29-30, 2026, followed by finance ministers and central bank governors on Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
The Argentina Securities Commission has made the automatic public offering regime mandatory for qualifying financial trusts and closed-end mutual funds. The changes simplify the framework, harmonize terminology and warn that repeated disclosure errors attributable to participants may lead to disciplinary measures.
The Central Bank of Iraq and the Communications and Media Commission discussed stronger oversight of digital payments, including TikTok transactions and payments to influencers and content creators. They also considered licensing global technology platforms and a memorandum of understanding covering digital payments, financial technology and electronic services.
The Central Bank of Cuba has collaborated on a guide to financing mechanisms available to agricultural producers as of July 2026. It covers credit, development and agricultural promotion funds, and subsidies, with potential availability beyond the six municipalities covered by the ALASS project.
The Dominican Republic's Pensions Superintendency presented its 2026-2030 strategy and plans for generational pension funds that adjust investment risk over a contributor’s life cycle. The strategy also covers supervisory modernization, diversified retirement savings, pension education and digital transformation.
The Financial Markets Standards Board has found that many wholesale financial market firms still struggle to manage non-financial risk holistically despite stronger frameworks and controls. Its review promotes clearer ownership, integrated decision-making, sound judgment and greater visibility of interconnected risks, but does not introduce new standards or requirements.
The Central Bank of Barbados warned of fraudulent emails promoting an unauthorized BOSS+ investment portal. Recipients should not follow links, make payments or disclose information, and should verify communications and access BOSS+ information through the bank’s official website.
The National Bank of Moldova has continued its NBM NextGen internship program for the academic diaspora, hosting more than 50 students since the start of 2026. The latest 21 participants gained experience across monetary policy, supervision, financial stability, markets and other central bank functions.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan revoked Modenis LLC’s payment institution license following its merger into legal successor Mpay LLC.
The Moroccan Capital Markets Authority registered Bank of Africa's 2025 reference document, updating the information dossier for its certificate of deposit program.
The Moroccan Capital Markets Authority registered CFG Bank’s 2025 reference document for the annual update of its certificate of deposit program information dossier. The dossier also includes the program note registered on Feb. 17, 2026.
A Ukrainian parliamentary committee backed a National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine bill to simplify registration of nonpublic share issues. The bill would allow the Central Securities Depository to handle certain registrations and provide a single electronic submission window, reducing capital-raising costs and processing times.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee minority staff argued that the current crypto market structure bill leaves gaps in securities law, consumer protection, financial stability and illicit-finance controls. The analysis also raised concerns about pension risks, small-business credit and alleged Trump family crypto conflicts.
The National Credit Union Administration finalized changes to 11 rules in the first completed round of its Deregulation Project. The measures cover lending, chartering, insurance disclosures, service contracts and third-party loan servicing, and will take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation published Community Reinvestment Act ratings assigned to 39 state nonmember banks in May 2026. Thirty-five banks were rated Satisfactory and four were rated Needs to Improve.
The Central Bank of Chile reported a 15% increase in digital payments to an annual average of 435 per person over age 15. It will consult on rules to strengthen immediate payments and expand electronic transfers for merchant purchases. An initial regulatory proposal for payment stablecoins is planned toward the end of 2026.
The Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority is recruiting a permanent systems administrator, with applications due by the end of Aug. 24, 2026.
The authority responded to 7,626 consumer requests for clarification in 2025, a 15% increase from 2024.
The Brazil Securities Commission rejected four investors’ settlement proposal in an administrative proceeding concerning alleged price manipulation. The decision reflected a legal impediment, the scale and duration of the alleged conduct, related proceedings and limited procedural efficiencies.
The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway has corrected its previous interpretation of the VAT-equivalent surcharge on debt collection costs. The original creditor’s VAT status determines whether the higher amount applies, and that treatment remains fixed when a claim changes ownership.
The European Central Bank estimates that uncertainty shocks cut euro area real GDP growth by about 0.4 percentage points between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. Business investment bears the largest impact, while private consumption is affected to a lesser extent. Elevated geopolitical and trade policy uncertainty is expected to weigh on activity through the rest of 2026.
The Central Bank of the Philippines reported that headline inflation eased to 6.2 percent in July, while core inflation fell to 4.2 percent. Average inflation for the first seven months remained above target at 5.0 percent, and the central bank is prepared to take further monetary action as needed.
The Bank of Albania held its base interest rate at 2.5% and maintained its overnight deposit and lending rates at 1.5% and 3.5%, respectively, as inflation remained controlled and growth positive. Inflation is expected to stay slightly above target in the short term before gradually returning to target, while Middle East tensions pose upside risks to inflation and downside risks to growth.
The Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority has launched an office in Pemba.
Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority approved the public offer of the Musharaka Waqf Qabas Charity Fund, while cautioning that its approval is not a recommendation to subscribe.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea issued a communiqué to money transfer institutions operating in the country.
The New York State Department of Financial Services fined Order Express USD 250,000 for deficiencies in its cybersecurity program, including inadequate system-update policies and risk assessments. The licensed money transmitter has remediated the issues and is exempt from many other requirements under 23 NYCRR Part 500 because of its limited revenue.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ first seven-year market conduct analysis found broad insurer participation and improved underwriting results in 2024, alongside mounting pressure on homeowners. Inflation-adjusted premiums rose by 18.3% to 43.3% across regions from 2018 to 2024, while insurer-initiated non-renewal rates increased by 96% to 216%.
The Reserve Bank of India is consulting on draft guidelines for the on-tap licensing of urban co-operative banks. Comments are due by September 5, 2026.
Payments Canada outlined a panel on the growth of embedded payments, credit and savings products in non-bank apps. The discussion will cover supporting infrastructure, regulatory implications and partnerships among fintechs, sponsor banks and payment platforms.
The Central Bank of Libya set August cash withdrawal limits of LYD 3,000 in the western, eastern and central regions and LYD 4,000 in the south, with distribution starting Aug. 9. It also reported approximately LYD 643 billion in electronic transactions through July and expects the total to exceed LYD 1 trillion in 2026. Banks must continue strengthening technology and cybersecurity while maintaining foreign currency services for personal allocations.
The Malta Financial Services Authority has launched a broader financial crime compliance strategy based on risk, outcomes and oversight across firms’ full regulatory lifecycle. It will target higher-risk areas, draw on wider supervisory information and strengthen coordination and guidance as Malta aligns with European Union anti-money laundering reforms and the Anti-Money Laundering Authority.
The Central Bank of Chile’s latest business survey found stronger cost pressures and rising selling prices. Median inflation expectations remained at 4% for 12 months and 3.5% for 24 months, while slightly fewer companies expected input costs and selling prices to increase over the next year.
The Central Bank of the Philippines reported that headline inflation eased to 6.2% in July from 6.4%, but remained above its 3.0% target. Core inflation slowed to 4.2%, while inflation for the lowest-income households rose to 8.2%. The central bank remains prepared to take further monetary policy action if needed.
The Central Bank of the Philippines will allow authorized agent banks to conduct Cash Service Alliance matched fit-currency exchanges at its loading bays and other designated areas, subject to prior coordination and security protocols. The transactions remain solely between the banks, which retain responsibility for the currency and any disputes.
Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited has warned of a fraudulent website impersonating its Faster Payment System services. The operator does not provide these services directly to individuals and urged the public to verify suspicious communications and report suspected fraud.
More than 2,000 single family offices received Singapore tax incentives as of end-December 2025, with most originating from the Asia-Pacific region. The asset management industry’s total assets grew 10.1% to SGD 6.7 trillion in 2025, but the response did not disclose family office-specific assets or pending application figures.
Argentina Securities Commission Chair Roberto Silva reviewed the regulator’s capital markets deregulation and modernization program. Recent changes strengthen prudential oversight of Settlement and Clearing Agents through new reporting requirements and minimum liquidity and maximum leverage parameters, while broader reforms seek to simplify market access and reduce costs.
The National Bank of Georgia has added data on international corporate bond issues by Georgian companies and their parent companies to its interactive statistics. The bilingual data will be updated monthly and can be analyzed by currency, maturity, economic sector and other parameters.
The Bank of Albania expects its TIPS Clone instant payments platform to become operational in November, or by the end of the month at the latest. Widespread electronic payment adoption could generate annual savings of up to ALL 35 billion for the financial system and ALL 38 billion for the wider economy.
The Central Bank of Cyprus published institution-level deposit and loan interest rate data for June 2026.
The Central Bank of Egypt has begun developing a sustainable finance taxonomy to classify sustainable economic activities and support environmental and social risk assessment. An interagency working group has agreed to start implementation work immediately, drawing on international standards and country practices.
The Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority outlined how Egyptians abroad can use licensed digital channels to access regulated insurance, financing and investment products. The framework covers licensing, governance, risk management and customer data protection, while the authority urged users to verify providers, understand risks and safeguard their data.
The National Bank of Ukraine reported that the government raised UAH 254.9 billion, USD 452 million and EUR 696.7 million through domestic debt auctions in January to July 2026. Individuals’ war bond holdings rose to UAH 109.1 billion as of Aug. 3, while holdings by legal persons excluding banks declined to UAH 91 billion.
The National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine has admitted five German- and Irish-registered UCITS ETFs to circulation in Ukraine. Licensed depository institutions and securities traders may record and offer the instruments, although none is currently held in the Ukrainian Central Securities Depository system.
The Bank of Italy has directed banks, Poste Italiane and other payment service providers to remove unjustified barriers to basic accounts, particularly for vulnerable consumers. Firms must strengthen their policies, systems, disclosures and controls, with eligibility and financial crime risks assessed individually rather than through automatic exclusions. Compliance and Internal Audit reviews are due by November 30, 2026, followed by board-approved remediation where needed.
The Central Bank of Estonia issued banknotes and coins worth EUR 360.9 million in the second quarter, 39% more than in the previous quarter. ATM withdrawals totaled EUR 922 million, although the number of transactions fell about 10% year over year. Authorities also detected 45 counterfeit banknotes and 26 counterfeit coins.
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has simplified equity IPO rules with immediate effect. The reforms remove the seven-day waiting period for connected research and streamline information-sharing requirements for issuers and firms.
The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority has published guidance on using simplified due diligence for lower-risk business under the AML/CFT Code 2019. Firms must reflect the National Risk Assessment in their own risk assessments and document and justify their use of each simplified measure.
The Bank for International Settlements finds that the recent energy shock requires different monetary policy responses across economies, depending on inflation persistence and the effect on growth. Global oil supply fell nearly 15% and prices rose more than 120% following the onset of the war in Iran. Central banks must weigh waiting for clarity against raising rates sooner to prevent second-round effects and unanchored inflation expectations.
The European Banking Authority is consulting on standardized reporting for counterparties seeking validation to use ISDA SIMM under EMIR. Significant OTC market participants would face comprehensive quarterly reporting, while less active entities would submit limited information annually. The first reference date is expected in December 2027, with submissions in the first quarter of 2028.
A European Central Bank blog analysis argues that energy-efficiency renovations are offsetting part of the drag from energy price shocks on euro area housing investment. Renovation activity has supported construction as new building work declines, while reduced fossil fuel use is lowering households’ exposure to energy costs and oil-driven inflation.
A European Central Bank working paper finds that textual data from earnings calls can modestly improve very-short-term forecasts of the euro area job vacancy rate. Survey measures of production constraints provided the largest gains, while unemployment added little and manufacturing supplied the most informative signals.
A European Central Bank working paper introduces MuSE, a framework for generating thousands of internally consistent adverse scenarios for top-down stress testing. Its application indicates that equity-market and sovereign shocks pose the greatest risk to euro area bank capital, with 2008-type financial stress producing the largest overall depletion.
The Luxembourg Insurance Commission reported that life premiums rose 10.93% while nonlife premiums declined 3.85% in its second-quarter 2026 indicators. Excluding restructuring effects, nonlife premiums grew 2.35%, while life technical provisions increased 13.51% to EUR 279.42 billion.
The Taiwan Financial Services Commission reported combined net sales of TWD 1.4885 trillion in listed shares by foreign and mainland area investors through July 31, 2026. July also produced combined net outward remittances of USD 2.926 billion, leaving cumulative net inward remittances at USD 394.018 billion.
Taiwan’s foreign exchange reserves declined by USD 2.88 billion in July 2026 to USD 594.27 billion. The change reflected reserve management returns, currency movements and central bank intervention to smooth volatile capital flows.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan has approved market conduct guidance covering a broad range of financial institutions. It addresses consumer protection across product design, distribution and servicing, alongside governance, internal controls, conflicts of interest and precontractual disclosures.
The National Bank of Serbia published its June 2026 Statistical Bulletin covering monetary, external, real and fiscal sector developments. The July bulletin is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2026.
The Angola Insurance Authority reported that gross written premiums rose 22% to about AOA 578.5 billion in 2025 as it reviewed ongoing risk-based supervision and regulatory reforms. It also highlighted the July 2026 registration of Angola’s first domestic reinsurer and an approval process for a new pension funds law.
The National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine approved EU-aligned market abuse rules covering share buybacks, price stabilization and investment recommendations. The measures impose disclosure, transaction-limit and reporting requirements and require analysts and firms to reveal conflicts of interest. They will become fully operational on Jan. 1, 2027.
Bank Indonesia reported 5.29% year-over-year economic growth in the second quarter of 2026, down from 5.61% in the previous period. It forecasts 2026 growth of 4.9-5.7%, supported by domestic demand and coordinated government and central bank policies.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji reported that formal financial inclusion reached a record 87% in 2025, while mobile money account ownership rose to 67%. Financial resilience remains weak, with 61% of households able to cover no more than one month of expenses after losing their main income. The findings will guide financial inclusion, digital services and small-business financing policies.
Nigeria's National Insurance Commission has begun issuing new licences to 43 insurers declared compliant with higher minimum capital requirements. The phased transition is intended to improve solvency and claims-paying capacity, with a Risk-Based Capital framework planned as the next major regulatory initiative.
Egypt’s preliminary net international reserves stood at USD 56.2939 billion at the end of July 2026.
The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway fined an AKRBP primary insider NOK 50,000 for reporting four transactions nearly four weeks late. The trades exceeded the EUR 5,000 annual threshold and should have been disclosed within three days.
The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway found audit law breaches in Ernst & Young's 2025 audit of a public-interest entity. The auditor obtained insufficient evidence and showed inadequate professional skepticism over goodwill valuation, while deficiencies also affected the group audit and documentation of general IT controls.
The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway found serious and systemic accounting, control and anti-money laundering failings at Vold Regnskap but declined to revoke its approval on proportionality grounds. The firm must implement and document effective remediation, while the authority will separately assess the roles of its chair and owner.
The National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan discussed expanding cooperation with JISPA, including greater participation by its young professionals. Potential areas include executive education, research, policy dialogue and institutional capacity development.
The National Bank of Tajikistan held a briefing for prospective JISPA applicants and banking-sector human resources officials. The session covered eligibility and application requirements for postgraduate study in economics, finance and public policy.
Kazakhstan’s financial market regulator has launched a national analytics platform to monitor bank and microfinance lending to women entrepreneurs across businesses of all sizes. Developed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, it provides portfolio, sectoral, regional and borrower-level analysis based on a new identification methodology.
The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee unanimously held the policy repo rate at 5.25% and retained its neutral stance, citing supply-led inflation pressures, resilient but slower projected growth, and inflation uncertainty. Consumer price index inflation is projected at 5.0% and real gross domestic product growth at 6.7% in 2026-27, while the Reserve Bank of India will conduct two-way liquidity operations to align the weighted average call rate with the repo rate.
The agency approved Aigerim Shokenovna Nurbekova as a chief accountant in the securities market and Rasul Ibragimovich Rysymambetov as a governing body member and independent director of Unified Accumulative Pension Fund JSC.
The Vietnam State Securities Commission is seeking quotations by Aug. 14, 2026, for tablet rental services supporting remote management and digital signing from 2026 to 2029.
The Thailand Office of Insurance Commission launched its first joint training program for 30 journalists, influencers and other insurance communicators. The curriculum covers claims, policyholder rights, regulation, communication requirements and content production, with a second cohort planned by the end of 2026.
Indonesia's Financial Services Authority appointed Rizal Ramadhani as deputy commissioner for law and investigations and Ahmad Rifqi as head of regional office management and development. The appointments form part of its leadership succession and organizational strengthening efforts.
Indonesia's Financial Services Authority has introduced transaction reporting and data-use requirements for online lenders. Providers must report accurate and timely financing data, strengthen governance and internal controls, and restrict borrower information to permitted purposes, with administrative sanctions for noncompliance.
The Timor-Leste Ministry of Finance has launched a public electronic registry for security interests in movable property. Businesses and entrepreneurs can use assets including equipment, vehicles, inventory and machinery as collateral, supporting wider access to secured credit and reducing lending risk.
The Bank of the Lao PDR consulted financial firms on draft rules for managing risks, restrictions and prohibitions linked to international restrictive measures. Feedback from commercial banks, cross-border payment providers and cryptocurrency trading service providers will inform revisions to the draft.
The Bank of Korea reported that official foreign reserves rose by USD 0.6 billion in July to USD 427.9 billion. Securities represented 88.8% of the total, and South Korea ranked 10th globally by reserve holdings at the end of June.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren asked the Commerce Department to explain its decision to grant the UAE license-free access to sensitive U.S. technology, including advanced artificial intelligence chips. She raised national security concerns and questioned whether reported UAE investments in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture influenced the decision.
The committee’s minority staff warned that the latest Clarity Act text would weaken enforcement tools related to decentralized mixers and leave other illicit finance risks unaddressed.
The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic outlined the economic rationale for reforming its charter. President Santiago Bausili presented the case to two Chamber of Deputies committees.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has launched a refreshed strategy to help small businesses and directors meet their obligations and interact more easily with the regulator. It will expand practical guidance and improve digital services while targeting illegal phoenix activity and other misconduct that harms small businesses, creditors and consumers.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has launched a digital hub providing consolidated guidance, tools and learning modules for small business directors. The resource covers obligations throughout a company’s life cycle and responds to research showing gaps in directors’ understanding and access to information.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore sees no current need for a centralised recurring payments service because major providers already offer management tools. It will review the need for further measures if circumstances change.
The Central Bank of Cuba reviewed the banking and financial system’s handling of public complaints and suggestions. It called for faster responses and clearer institutional communications, while participants discussed energy constraints, service organization and public dissatisfaction.
The Central Bank of Cuba reported that Brazilian crude production reached a record 4.5 million barrels a day in June, a 19% annual increase. Petrobras-led deepwater fields drove the rise, helping offset supply disruptions linked to the conflict involving the United States and Iran.
The Central Bank of Uruguay discussed cooperation with the Inter-American Development Bank on financial system capacity, international standards and technical knowledge. The institutions are also working with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to develop local capital markets and support long-term investment.
The Central Bank of Uruguay has completed a restructuring that separates monetary policy analysis from implementation. Bertrand Gruss was appointed chief economist, Fabio Malacrida will lead the new Financial Policy and Payments System Management division, and Carlos Herrera was named general manager.
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has launched a financial literacy campaign combining a word puzzle with creative writing under the theme “The formula for financial freedom.”
The Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico appointed Driven, P.S.C. to monitor Banex for at least six months after identifying unresolved compliance concerns and a potential USD 28.1 million liquidity shortfall. The review will cover capital, liquidity, financial reporting, related-party transactions and BSA, AML and sanctions controls. Banex must provide full access, preserve records and fund the monitor’s work.
The Superintendency of Banks of Panama has implemented a risk-based supervisory methodology for foreign bank branches and other general- and international-license entities under host supervision. It introduces tailored assessments and, for specified entities, a supervisory rating, with a pilot phase preceding formal application.
The Central Bank of Brazil’s Monetary Policy Committee cut the Selic rate by 25 basis points to 14.00% in August, its fourth consecutive reduction, while noting deanchored expectations and unusually high, upside-skewed inflation risks. It will calibrate further easing based on new data while maintaining sufficient restriction to ensure inflation converges to target.
US Federal Reserve Board staff analysis found that all-bank top-down stress models may materially overstate capital losses at banks with USD 10 billion to USD 100 billion in assets. A regional-bank model projected a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio decline that was smaller by as much as nearly 1 percentage point, although vulnerabilities to low-cost deposit funding and certain commercial real estate sectors remain.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has established a 10-member Agricultural Advisory Council within its Center for Agriculture and the Economy. Meeting twice a year, the council will advise on emerging trends, strategic priorities and stakeholder engagement.