The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has suspended the licence (No. 6781, issued 16 April 2024) of the exchange bureau operated by LLC Stimul Askat in Bishkek for violations of Kyrgyz legislation and regulatory requirements. The suspension applies from 16 to 25 April 2026.
The Portuguese Insurance Regulator (ASF) published the outcome of Public Consultation No. 11/2025 and finalised a regulatory standard amending the uniform general conditions for compulsory motor third-party liability insurance, aligning policy wording with Decree-Law 26/2025 and clarifying the scope of cover and the “claims history statement”. It also addresses electronic proof of insurance, clarifies the interaction between civil and insurance law in compensation, restructures provisions on coverage, duration and termination, and moves detailed international cover information to the contract’s special conditions. The updated wording will apply to existing contracts from the first renewal after entry into force, with insurers required to give advance notice to policyholders.
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority co-published a joint release on raids across Brandenburg, Berlin and Saxony targeting an alleged international money laundering network built around shell companies and linked accounts. The operation included more than 20 searches, more than 500 account freezes and the arrest of the main suspect. Authorities also seized data carriers, vehicles, assets and business records.
The National Bank of Romania published the fifth issue of its Financial Education Magazine, themed “The importance of saving in economic and social life” and aligned with its 2025–2030 Financial Education Strategy. Contributions from public authorities, academia, business and the banking sector highlight saving as an individual and collective stabilising mechanism, with Deputy Governor Cosmin Marinescu calling for a “rehabilitation” of saving to support financial sustainability, investment and macroeconomic balance over consumption and deficits.
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates issued updated anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing guidance for licensed financial institutions and Registered Hawala Providers, aligned with international standards, the UAE National Strategy 2024–2027 and Financial Action Task Force requirements. The package comprises four guidance documents on proliferation financing risk, trade-based money laundering and transshipment, correspondent banking relationship risk management, and customer due diligence, know-your-customer requirements and record keeping, plus two best-practice manuals on risk-based approaches and role-based AML/CFT/CPF training frameworks.
The Central Bank of the UAE participated in the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group, as well as G20, G-24 and BRICS meetings, with Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama delivering the UAE’s keynote address for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan region on global economic developments and geopolitical challenges. The Governor highlighted the UAE’s Proactive Financial Institution Resilience Package and held bilateral meetings with Eesti Pank and the National Bank of Georgia on monetary and financial cooperation and financial infrastructure development.
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has issued updated anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing guidance for licensed financial institutions and registered hawala providers, aligning expectations with Financial Action Task Force standards and the UAE National Strategy 2024–2027. The package comprises four guidance documents on proliferation financing risk, trade-based money laundering and transshipment, correspondent banking risk management, and customer due diligence, know your customer and record-keeping, plus two best-practice manuals on risk-based approaches, institutional risk assessments and role-based training.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan issued a public warning on rising fraud schemes where criminals offer help with housing, credit, or debt write-offs under fake government programmes in exchange for money. The agency highlighted fake websites, social media adverts, messaging apps, and bogus “consultants”, urging consumers to verify information via official resources, avoid payments to unknown intermediaries without contracts, and report suspicious offers to law enforcement.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan detailed the personal bankruptcy framework for individuals, distinguishing court and out-of-court procedures and emphasizing bankruptcy as a last resort after debt restructuring. Out-of-court bankruptcy covers debts up to 1,600 AEK (about KZT 6.9 million) under set conditions, including a separate route for debts overdue more than five years. Court bankruptcy applies when the debtor has property or does not meet these criteria. Legal consequences include a five-year ban on new loans (excluding pawnshop microcredits) and, for court bankruptcy, possible travel restrictions.
Payments Canada has approved uSecure Escrow Solutions Inc. (DoBusiness.com) for membership as a payment service provider, following five earlier PSP admissions. The decision reflects expanded eligibility under federal changes to the Canadian Payments Act, which opened membership to providers supervised under the Retail Payment Activities Act. As a member, DoBusiness.com may apply to participate in Payments Canada-operated systems, including the forthcoming Real-Time Rail, subject to technical, operational and security requirements.
The Kyrgyz Republic’s State Service for Regulation and Supervision of Financial Markets has approved a list and standardized forms for financial and other reporting by insurance and reinsurance organizations, including paper and electronic submissions. The order introduces monthly and quarterly reporting forms with appendices on key performance indicators to support transparency, supervisory monitoring and data comparability, including for takaful, imputed insurance and annuity insurance.
The Taiwan Financial Services Commission reported that domestic banks’ outstanding loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reached TWD 10,932.4 billion at end-February 2026, an increase of TWD 16.4 billion from end-January 2026. SME lending accounted for 63.67% of total enterprise loans and 67.18% of private enterprise loans, both slightly lower than in January, while the average non-performing loan ratio for SME loans remained unchanged at 0.20%.
The Taiwan Financial Services Commission published 2025 statistics on outward investments by TWSE- and TPEx-listed companies, showing a modest decline in accumulated outflows to China alongside higher China-investment profits and continued profit repatriation, and a sharp increase in accumulated outward investment to markets outside China. The commission linked the figures to a post-2018 shift away from China, with firms reducing China exposure, repatriating profits and diversifying overseas, and said it will continue monitoring these trends.
The Bank of France’s Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority published a research seminar write-up on how quantitative easing can affect bond-market structure by changing household saving allocation. Using European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority supervisory data and sectoral financial accounts, the analysis links reduced inflows into guaranteed-return life insurance to lower bond purchases by insurers and a decline in their share of euro area government bond holdings from 18.6% to 11.8% between 2015 and 2024, suggesting complications for monetary policy normalisation as central bank holdings fall.
The Bank of France’s Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority published a stocktake of complaint-handling in banking and insurance, finding simplified processes and faster responses but recurring shortcomings in customer information and governance reporting. The review highlighted issues with payment services complaint deadlines, inconsistent access to mediation, unclear disclosures, and weak oversight where insurers delegate complaint handling. The authority will monitor improvements and verify that banks and insurers implement required upgrades over time.
The Financial Conduct Authority has finalised a revised UK short selling regime aimed at simplifying rules and reducing reporting burdens while maintaining oversight. Aligned with legislative changes under the Government’s repeal and replace programme, the FCA will publish aggregated data on overall net short positions in each company instead of identifying individual short sellers, and introduce a more workable reporting timetable and streamlined annual market maker confirmations. The FCA’s powers to intervene in exceptional market conditions, including through emergency measures, remain unchanged.
The Financial Conduct Authority published reflections on firms’ second-year Consumer Duty Board reports, noting improved reporting and governance but uneven outcome-focused analysis as firms prepare for a third cycle. It highlights stronger board oversight, more structured action plans and better use of data, while calling for clearer links between data and customer outcomes, stronger oversight of intermediaries and outsourcing, more evidenced board challenge, and deeper assessment of consumer understanding and support. The FCA plans a 2026 consultation on changes to rules and guidance on distribution chains and will publish further best practice examples on monitoring outcomes.
The South African Reserve Bank has updated its exchange control manuals for Authorised Dealers and Authorised Dealers in foreign exchange with limited authority to reflect the name change of Tyme Bank to GoTyme Bank. GoTyme Bank Limited is now listed as a Restricted Authorised Dealer for permissible credit card transactions under sections B.4(B) and B.16 of the Currency and Exchanges Manual for Authorised Dealers, recorded as version 1.130 under Circular 15-2026.
The Ukraine National Commission on Securities and Stock Market reported on a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration on adapting Ukraine’s legislation to European Union requirements and the Commission’s role in the EU integration process. The Commission highlighted the need to align 187 normative legal acts with European standards and to prepare 22 draft laws as part of integrating Ukraine’s capital markets into the European financial space.
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission, at its fifth meeting on the transition to productive finance, outlined capital rule changes for banks and insurers expected to free up as much as KRW98.7 trillion in lending and investment capacity. Banks are urged to shift from collateral- and guarantee-based models toward financing future growth, export-oriented and strategic industries, while insurers are encouraged to increase investment in long-term infrastructure and energy transition projects and to support smaller firms. The Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service will monitor whether the additional capacity is channelled into productive sectors and pursue further regulatory improvements.
The Financial Services Commission and the Korea Exchange held a policy seminar to gather investor and expert views on revising rules for split listings of parent and subsidiary companies, following a government plan to prohibit such listings in principle as part of capital market reforms. The reforms would refine rules and screening to distinguish harmful from value-creating split listings, require parent boards to assess shareholder impacts and protection measures, and promote ongoing shareholder engagement with best practice guidelines.
The Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority’s 2025 Annual Report describes the financial sector as stable and highlights new market entrants, including the first licensed mortgage bond institution and several crypto asset service providers under Regulation (EU) 2023/114. It notes the entry into force of the DORA Implementation Act and a fully revised supervisory framework for banks and investment firms aligned with the European Economic Area system in early 2025. The authority also signals a 2026 focus on reducing bureaucratic hurdles and increasing efficiency.
The Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency of Türkiye has temporarily suspended Magdeburger Sigorta AŞ’s authorisation to issue and renew insurance policies across all branches due to unresolved capital adequacy weaknesses. The insurer had been under close monitoring and phased supervisory measures but failed to restore its financial position, and the Agency stated it has taken steps to ensure all obligations under existing policies, including claims, are met.
Greece’s Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis said the government’s response to the inflationary shock linked to disruption around the Strait of Hormuz will rely on targeted, temporary support measures and regulatory interventions such as price caps, calibrated to the crisis. He highlighted existing fuel and fertiliser support, called International Monetary Fund growth and inflation forecasts conservative, and said primary and overall fiscal surpluses are likely to be revised upward, though extra spending is constrained by the European Union’s expenditure rule and coordination with Brussels. He added that EU discussions focus on targeted, fiscally responsible measures that do not undermine the European Central Bank’s inflation containment efforts, with any broader response depending on how the energy shock evolves.
The Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures and the International Organization of Securities Commissions assessed the United Kingdom as having implemented the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures for two types of financial market infrastructure. The assessment includes recommendations for further improvements.
Qatar’s Ministry of Finance reported that Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari joined the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting held alongside the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., where participants examined the economic impacts of geopolitical conflicts and stressed international cooperation to support stability and resilience, amid slower global growth, trade disruptions, rising inflation and declining investment.
The BIS Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures and IOSCO published a Level 2 assessment finding that the UK framework fully implements the Principles for financial market infrastructures for systemically important payment systems and largely for central securities depositories and securities settlement systems. Based on the framework as of 30 September 2023, the review highlights remaining gaps mainly in risk and governance principles, noting that central counterparties and trade repositories were previously assessed in a February 2015 report.
The Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan has issued an audit activity licence to the limited liability company Information Technologies, Audit and Consulting. The licence authorises the firm to audit insurance organisations in accordance with Tajikistan’s laws on the National Bank, the licensing system and the relevant licensing regulation.
The Thailand Securities & Exchange Commission reported enhanced information sharing and joint investigations with the Central Investigation Bureau to trace financial flows and disrupt illicit funds and technology-related crimes in the capital market and digital assets. The cooperation has supported Anti-Money Laundering Office seizures and freezes of assets exceeding THB 20 billion and enables enforcement under multiple laws, including SEC requirements for capital market and digital asset business operators.
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets published findings of an exploratory review of listed companies’ 2024 cash flow statements and related audits, concluding that overall compliance with International Accounting Standard 7 is generally sufficient but highlighting recurring errors and clear attention points. The AFM set out five attention points and a self-assessment for companies and ten for audit firms, and expects both to implement concrete improvements, with the AFM to follow up through ongoing supervision and potential further measures.
The Vietnam State Securities Commission has opened a consultation on a draft regulation governing use of its information technology system for managing securities practitioners. The consultation targets organisations employing securities practitioners and individuals holding securities practising certificates.
The Thailand Office of Insurance Commission reported that its Secretary-General visited Udon Thani, designated a higher-risk area during the Songkran 2026 holiday, to monitor road-accident prevention efforts and insurance-related public support. The visit included a multi-agency meeting to agree proactive accident prevention and insurance protection measures, online policy direction to regional offices on field monitoring and policyholder protection, and inspections of local operations and public service points.
The Central Bank of the UAE continued its participation in the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, with Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama delivering the UAE’s keynote address for the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan region on global economic developments and geopolitical challenges. Balama highlighted the Central Bank’s Proactive Financial Institution Resilience Package as a first-of-its-kind regional initiative to reinforce financial sector resilience and sustainability, and the delegation held bilateral meetings with central bank governors and international financial institutions, including Eesti Pank and the National Bank of Georgia, on monetary and financial cooperation.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan warned that unlicensed websites and social media pages falsely present themselves as insurers and sell compulsory motor liability insurance, sometimes using names of licensed insurers and charging above-tariff prices. It reiterated that such contracts may only be concluded directly with licensed insurance companies and advised consumers to verify licences on the Agency’s website, use official insurer channels, and avoid intermediaries and unverified payment recipients to prevent invalid policies.
The World Bank Group has recognised the Central Bank of Ecuador for joining its Reserve Advisory and Management Partnership, giving it access to advisory services, executive training and asset management expertise for reserve and public asset management. Marking its 25th anniversary, the partnership reported a record 95 members and highlighted growing demand in Latin America for strengthened institutional capacity and governance in reserve and public asset management.
The IMF’s April 2026 Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia projects MENAP growth of 1.4% in 2026, a 2.3 percentage point downgrade from October, reflecting war-related disruptions to energy, trade routes and confidence. It calls for targeted, temporary fiscal support, continued anti-inflation monetary policy, and tighter supervision of liquidity and foreign-currency mismatches. The IMF cites severe but uneven impacts from disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, including a 13 million barrels per day drop in oil and gas output, Brent crude peaking at USD 118, and heightened food price risks for low-income and fragile states, while noting sovereign spreads have partially normalised after a ceasefire announcement. Projections, based on data to mid-March and a short-lived conflict, assume a 2026 reference oil price of USD 82 versus USD 100 in an adverse scenario.
The Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan met the World Bank’s Vice President for Europe and Central Asia during the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings to review future cooperation priorities. Discussions covered energy security, private investment, job creation, private sector development, economic digitalisation, the investment climate and sustainable finance, with Tajik authorities highlighting ongoing reform support via budget-support programmes and readiness to deepen engagement with the World Bank Group.
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance will pilot blockchain-based treasury disbursements using deposit tokens for certain government operating expenses under a 2026 regulatory sandbox led by the Office for Government Policy Coordination. The initiative will test replacing government purchasing cards with token-based payments subject to pre-set controls on payment times and merchant categories, aiming to enhance transparency and reduce fee burdens for small merchants, following an earlier pilot applying digital currency and deposit tokens to electric vehicle charging subsidies.
The South Korea Financial Supervisory Service reported that in March 2026 foreign investors were net sellers of KRW43.505 trillion in listed stocks and KRW10.916 trillion in listed bonds, with equities seeing three consecutive months of net selling and bonds turning to net outflows. Foreign holdings stood at KRW1,576.2 trillion in listed stocks (30.7% of market capitalisation) and KRW323.8 trillion in listed bonds (11.5% of total listed bonds), with equity net selling concentrated in the United Kingdom and the United States and bond outflows led by Europe.
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority has reached a full and final settlement with CBL Corporation Limited (in liquidation), resolving its civil claims relating to the insurer’s 2015 initial public offering and NZX listing. The action followed CBL’s collapse in 2018, when it was valued at NZD 750 million, and concerns about misleading or inadequate information provided to investors. The parties will now proceed to a pecuniary penalty hearing before the High Court.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a Phase 2 Notice for Insurance Australia Group Limited’s proposed acquisition of RAC Insurance, finding the deal could substantially lessen competition and requires an in-depth review. The authority’s preliminary concerns focus on motor vehicle and home and contents insurance in Western Australia, and it is also assessing potential impacts on smash repair services.
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, has requested data from the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators on state escheatment practices, citing concerns that current processes may be ineffective in reuniting unclaimed property with owners. The letter highlights reported policy shifts such as more aggressive inactivity standards and shorter dormancy periods, and seeks information on state escheatment laws and a state-by-state breakdown of escheated funds.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren reiterated Democrats’ demand that no hearings or votes be held on Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh until criminal investigations involving Jerome Powell and Lisa Cook are closed. She raised concerns over Warsh’s potential conflicts of interest, citing his refusal to disclose over USD 100 million in assets, his appearance in Epstein files, and what she described as an FBI review that did not examine his financial holdings or those references.
The National Bank of Angola and seven other central banks agreed to establish the Network of Central Banks of Portuguese-speaking Countries (BCPLP) to formalise cooperation through structured knowledge sharing and closer coordination, including in multilateral forums. BCPLP will have an annual rotating presidency, regular high-level meetings, technical working groups, and an economic policy committee to analyse and discuss cross-cutting policy issues.
Mexico’s Ministry of Finance and Public Credit reported on a meeting between Finance Secretary Édgar Amador Zamora and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent focused on deepening bilateral cooperation against drug trafficking, prioritizing stronger information exchange to disrupt illicit proceeds. The officials also discussed shared priorities under the United States–Mexico Action Plan on Critical Minerals and reaffirmed that cooperation will occur through institutional, coordinated dialogue that respects Mexico’s sovereignty and preserves its decision-making powers.
Mexico's National Commission for the Protection and Defence of Users of Financial Services published fourth-quarter 2025 results of its User Service Performance Index for Sociedades Financieras Populares, showing a sector score of 9.05 out of 10, down 0.09 points from the previous quarter. The index evaluates timeliness, quality of responses and process improvements, with top scores for Crediclub and SFP Porvenir (10.00 each) and the lowest score for Klar Technologies (5.25).
The Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Funds of Peru ordered the dissolution and liquidation of Caja Rural de Ahorro y Crédito del Centro S.A. following its intervention, citing deterioration in solvency, credit management deficiencies and lack of shareholder capital support. The authority also found that Grupo Kuria was the ultimate beneficial owner of 100% of the institution without prior authorization under Law No. 26702. Individual and non-profit depositors are covered by the Deposit Insurance Fund up to PEN 117,200.
The Bulgaria Financial Supervision Commission approved the prospectus for the initial public offering and admission to trading of a EUR 2.5 billion unsecured bond issue by SOFIA COMMERCE-PAWNSHOPS AD, and entered the issue in the register of public companies and other issuers. It also notified the Slovenian authority of the termination of several Expat Asset Management EAD UCITS ETF offerings and requested further information from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and Freedom Finance Europe Ltd regarding planned tied-agent activity in Bulgaria.
The Bulgaria Financial Supervision Commission imposed a temporary ban on the publication of Harisson Management Limited’s proposal to purchase shares in Aroma AD and removed an Allianz Bank Bulgaria AD bond issue of EUR 39,500,000 (ISIN BG2100003230) from the Register of Public Companies and Other Issuers of Securities. The authority also requested additional information and documents from InvestPRO Capital EOOD in relation to its application for a licence as an investment intermediary.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo met with the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department to review progress on prior recommendations and more than ten technical assistance projects. Discussions covered follow-up to the Financial Sector Stability Review and Safeguards Assessment, implementation of the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process, development of a transparency code, crisis management models, and enhanced IT supervision and cyber risk management. The delegation will also hold bilateral meetings in Washington DC with international partners on legislative reform and capacity-building related to the central bank’s mandate.
The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo met Clearstream during the 2026 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings to review developments following its Clearstream membership, focusing on liquidity access, collateral management, and operational aspects of holding and settling international securities. They also discussed expanding Kosovo’s Central Securities Depository infrastructure, alternative capital market financing instruments, and integrating modern practices into international reserve management via a more active approach with the World Bank Treasury. Both parties agreed to explore further cooperation aligned with the bank’s strategic objectives.
The Central Bank of Cyprus published detailed interest rate data on deposits and loans for each credit institution for February 2026. The release provides institution-level interest rate information for that reference month.
The Montenegro Capital Market Authority held an awards ceremony for students from the Mirko Vešović Secondary Economic School who participated in a simulated trading competition, organised with investment firm TF CAPITAL AD under Montenegro’s 2023–2027 Financial Education Development Programme. The competition followed workshops on capital market functioning, virtual trading, market analysis and investment strategy, and the Authority said it will continue similar financial education initiatives with partners.
The Montenegro Capital Market Authority hosted a presentation on the Corporate Governance Code and forthcoming obligations for issuers listed on the regulated market regarding its application. The Authority highlighted consistent application of the Code as key to investor confidence, governance and transparency, while the Montenegro Stock Exchange and Central Clearing Depository Company stressed coordinated implementation and provided practical guidance on the compliance questionnaire.
The Angola Capital Markets Commission has published for consultation its 2026 Risk-Based Supervision Plan, outlining priority risk segments in the securities market. The plan details supervisory measures to prevent and remedy risks across different types of entities, with a focus on investor protection, market efficiency and regularity, transparency and integrity, and the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Angola Capital Markets Commission held a financial literacy session under its Financial Education Programme for the United Methodist Church community, focused on strengthening personal and household budgeting skills. Delivered by the Studies and Financial Education Division, the session covered budgeting, debt prevention and responsible credit use, savings planning, ethical investing, and conscious consumption, and included an interactive Q&A.
The Japan Financial Services Agency has launched a public comment process on draft amendments to rules on travel expenses and allowances for reference persons and appraisers involved in adjudication procedures under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and the Certified Public Accountants Act. The proposal would raise the maximum daily allowance in surcharge-related adjudication proceedings, increasing the cap for a reference person from JPY 8,450 to JPY 8,750 and for an appraiser from JPY 8,050 to JPY 8,350.
The European Securities and Markets Authority’s latest Spotlight on Markets newsletter focuses on simplifying the retail investor journey and its 2026 Trends, Risks and Vulnerabilities report, which identifies a high-risk environment for EU financial markets. It also covers annual transparency calculations for equity instruments, an EBA-ESMA consultation on revised suitability assessments, proposals to simplify MiFID II/MiFIR market data obligations, measures to support Listing Act and simplified prospectus implementation, and updates on EMIR 3, market abuse, sustainability reporting, and supervisory actions.
The European Securities and Markets Authority has published reporting templates and instructions for Active Account Requirement reporting under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation 3, setting out how in-scope entities should report to their competent authorities. The templates are intended to support a harmonised and efficient reporting framework across the European Union.
The Bank of Italy released updated statistics on public finances, including the borrowing requirement and public debt, with data as of February 2026.
The Bank of Italy published updated Financial Market statistics, providing data for February and March 2026. The release is accompanied by a report detailing the new figures.
The Bank of Cape Verde released its quarterly Excel compilation of provisional aggregated financial and prudential indicators for the Cape Verdean banking system as at December 2025. The data cover balance sheet, income statement and financial stability metrics.
The Brazilian Pension Funds Authority (PREVIC) outlined strategic guidelines for the closed pension fund sector centred on PREVIC Resolution 26/2025, which modernises governance, strengthens member communications, and sets more efficient investment parameters. Key pillars include expanding coverage, embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) guidelines, updating rules, enhancing communications, and reinforcing PREVIC’s capacity. Under Resolution 26/2025, pension foundations must incorporate ESG considerations into investment policies using a dual materiality approach, updating PREVIC Resolution 23/2023 and aligning with National Monetary Council Resolution 5202/2025.
The Brazilian Pension Funds Authority (PREVIC) issued an ordinance appointing 11 successful candidates from the National Unified Public Service Exam (CPNU 1) in a third round to fill permanent roles at the agency. The appointments comprise three Administrative Analyst (Information Technology) positions, seven Complementary Pension Specialist positions, and one Administrative Analyst position, to fill remaining competition vacancies and replace staff who moved to other public bodies.
The Brazil Securities Commission (CVM) approved two settlement agreements to close administrative proceedings, with payments of BRL 340,000 by Alexandre Jerussalmy and BRL 1,438,200 by Ricardo Paixão Pinto Rodrigues. The cases concern alleged failures to timely disclose and respond to material information in relation to Unipar Carbocloro S.A. and MRV Engenharia e Participações S.A., in potential breach of Articles 3 and 6 of CVM Resolution 44.
The Brazil Securities Commission (CVM) Board approved a commitment term with Housi Serviços Digitais S.A. and Alexandre Lafer Frankel in an administrative sanctioning proceeding, requiring total payment of BRL 200,000, despite the Commitment Term Committee’s recommendation to reject the proposal. The case concerns alleged irregularities in Housi’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 Brazil Securities Commission announced LEAP Connect 2026, an event at its Rio de Janeiro headquarters to present outcomes from the first edition of its Experimentation, Learning and Prototyping Laboratory with Fenasbac. The agenda includes demonstrations of 2025 LEAP prototypes on regulatory automation, AI for market supervision, sustainability reporting, carbon market infrastructure and secondary-market crowdfunding, the launch of a consolidated LEAP Report, and the formal start of the LEAP 2026 cycle with new challenge themes and applications. Attendance will be curated, prioritising strategic CVM staff, financial sector leaders and startups able to collaborate with the regulator.
Argentina Superintendency of Insurance Superintendent Guillermo Plate outlined plans at the 21st National Insurance Forum to streamline regulation while preserving enforcement powers and modernise supervision through enhanced data use and integrated analysis focused on policyholders. He framed the revocation of Galeno ART as a legally required supervisory action linked to solvency and governance shortcomings, and underscored insurance producer advisers as a key market pillar and early source of risk signals.
The Argentina Superintendency of Insurance announced that the deadline for timely verification of credit claims against TPC Compañía de Seguros S.A. expired on 8 April 2026 under the 2 December 2025 resolution. Creditors who did not file on time may still submit claims through the late verification procedure under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Law.
The Argentina Superintendency of Insurance announced that, in a court-ordered forced liquidation of an insurer, shareholders and prospective creditors may submit objections or observations within 10 days after the deadline for filing credit verification requests, in line with Article 34 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law. Access to the credit files must be requested via the Trámites a Distancia procedure “Objections and Observations to credit files”.
The Argentina Superintendency of Insurance has upgraded its interactive statistical dashboards, adding data for the last quarter of 2025 and enabling automatic updates following quarterly balance filings. The enhancements aim to accelerate access to key insurance market information in a more dynamic format, covering financial statements, investments, receivables and payables, statistical bulletins, portfolio structure, indicators, geographic distribution, and vehicles exposed to risk via the General Dashboard in the Statistics section of its website.
The Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT) reported that Honduras hosted a Strategic Preparation Course for Mutual Evaluation from 24 to 27 March 2026 to strengthen readiness for the fifth round of mutual evaluations. The course set objectives and a roadmap, prioritised effectiveness gaps, and focused on preparing verifiable evidence aligned with Honduras’s money laundering and terrorist financing risk profile, covering risk assessment, beneficial ownership transparency, risk-based supervision, asset recovery, financial intelligence, and investigation and prosecution of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
The Argentina Superintendency of Insurance outlined a strategic agenda focused on insurers’ real capacity to pay claims and addressing distortions that allow firms to appear solvent while failing to settle obligations. Superintendent Guillermo Plate backed recent supervisory interventions, signalled a more assertive state role in oversight and enforcement, and highlighted plans to modernise the system through technology, stronger controls, and rebuilding trust on verifiable foundations.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned more than two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels linked to the oil transportation network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, and separately designated Iranian national and Hizballah financier Seyed Naiemaei Badroddin Moosavi and three associated companies over an oil-for-gold money laundering scheme benefiting Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Qods Force. The measures, taken under Executive Orders 13902 and 13224 (as amended), block all property and interests in property of designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction and extend to entities they own 50 percent or more.
The U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets held a hearing on strengthening protections against financial fraud and scams amid rising investment schemes affecting retail investors and seniors. Participants highlighted a 25% increase in securities and investment fraud between 2020 and 2024 and nearly USD 6 billion in investor losses in 2024, and discussed a multi-level response involving the SEC’s Cross-Border Task Force and FINRA’s supervisory and enforcement capabilities. The hearing also flagged emerging risks such as “ramp-and-dump” schemes involving small Chinese companies listed in the United States and called for a more proactive, intelligence-driven regulatory framework.
Bermuda’s Ministry of Finance announced that Premier and Minister of Finance David Burt is leading a delegation to the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group, marking Bermuda’s first invitation. Burt joined the Caribbean Ministerial Meeting on fiscal institutions’ role in reducing public debt and rebuilding buffers and is engaging with Members of the United States Congress to strengthen United States–Bermuda cooperation.
The Central Bank of Nicaragua published the 2025 Nicaragua Tourism Satellite Account, reporting tourism value added of NIO 39,245.7 million, up 11.6% from 2024 and representing 5.4% of total value added. Tourism-oriented production reached NIO 79,550.5 million (+11.8%), while domestic tourism consumption rose 11.8% to NIO 85,305.6 million, driven by a 14.6% increase in resident spending and a 3.2% rise in non-resident spending linked to higher average daily per-capita outlays.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved a limited exemptive order allowing Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation to extend their cross-margining arrangement to certain customers, subject to safeguards. Joint clearing members dually registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as broker-dealers and with the CFTC as futures commission merchants may now hold futures customer funds in a commingled customer account at FICC, which the CFTC said supports more efficient risk management and strengthens resilience and liquidity in the U.S. Treasury market.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reported that its Rapid Response Program has helped interdict more than USD 268 million in stolen funds for U.S. victims since President Trump took office, bringing total interdicted funds to over USD 1.8 billion. The program partners FinCEN with U.S. law enforcement and foreign counterparts in more than 96 jurisdictions to target cyber-enabled fraud schemes, including business email compromise, investment fraud, and phone scams. Victims or their financial institutions must first file a complaint with law enforcement, and financial institutions are encouraged to report suspicious activity to FinCEN and promptly notify law enforcement.
The Bank of Spain released a video and slides of Governor José Luis Escrivá’s remarks at the Peterson Institute on strengthening monetary policy decision-making and communication under heightened uncertainty. Escrivá highlighted challenges from non-bank financial intermediation and tokenised payment systems, the need to modernise supervision, and argued that under Knightian uncertainty and fat-tailed risks, scenario analysis with explicit tail events and asymmetries is preferable to modal projections, with distinct approaches for internal analysis and external communication.
The Chile Financial Market Commission published biannual indicators on motor vehicle insurance repair times for July–December 2025, showing an average of 52.3 days from claim filing to vehicle pickup and extending a downward trend since 2023. The Commission also released a public web tool to compare repair times by insurer, vehicle brand and model, insured region, and workshop type, based on insurers’ biannual reports under Circular Letter No. 2,236.
The Central Bank of Brazil published its monthly foreign exchange flow update, covering contracted foreign exchange transactions and banks’ foreign exchange positions in the spot market. The data provide an overview of recent foreign exchange market activity and banks’ exposure.
The New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Commission issued a consumer alert about increased complaints and scam risks involving unlicensed door-to-door sellers offering home-related work. It reminded that door-to-door sellers must be licensed and bonded under the Direct Sellers Act and launched a spring multi-media campaign with guidance on verifying licences, checking costs and contact details, avoiding pressured upfront payments, and using the 10-day cooling-off period to cancel contracts.
The Financial Conduct Authority has published CP26/13 consulting on proposed perimeter guidance to help firms determine when activities fall within the UK’s future regulated cryptoasset perimeter and what permissions will be required under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026. The draft Q&A-based additions to the Perimeter Guidance Manual explain the application of the regime to qualifying cryptoassets and stablecoins, new regulated activities such as operating trading platforms, dealing, safeguarding, issuing stablecoins, arranging staking, cross-border services, exclusions, automated or decentralised arrangements, and interaction with the Money Laundering Regulations, including transition for currently registered firms.
The Financial Conduct Authority has published a supervisory review of principal firms’ oversight of appointed representatives that report no regulated activity, warning that unexplained inactivity can signal weaknesses in governance, monitoring and risk management and increase consumer harm risk. Drawing on two years of REP025 data, the review highlights misreporting and misclassification of AR income, unclear explanations of inactivity, weak engagement with inactive ARs, inadequate monitoring of consumer-facing materials and non-compliant AR agreements. The authority expects principals to reassess inactive AR arrangements, improve data quality and oversight, and ensure timely offboarding and Register updates where relationships are no longer appropriate.
The State Bank of Vietnam met a US-ASEAN Business Council delegation to discuss US companies’ concerns on banking regulation and payment system development, and indicated an indicative 2026 banking credit growth rate of around 15% subject to adjustment. Discussions covered clearing mechanisms, SWIFT use, factoring rules, credit growth limits, foreign ownership caps, and US firms’ potential role in digital transformation, cashless payments and payment system security. The State Bank highlighted coordination with fiscal and other macro policies and support for capital market development, and said the delegation’s recommendations would inform policy and future cooperation.
The State Bank of Vietnam published a recap of a Hanoi roundtable on non-performing loans, focusing on obstacles to NPL resolution and reforms to support debt recovery and banking system safety. Participants discussed international experience in debt markets, the impact of new policy mechanisms and the amended Law on Credit Institutions, and implementation challenges. Delegates noted progress in NPL handling and backed strengthening the Vietnam Asset Management Company of Credit Institutions and developing a more modern, transparent and effective debt trading market.
The Financial Markets Standards Board has appointed Javier Muñoz as Technical Director to support implementation of its workplan and work with the Conduct and Ethics Committee Co-Chairs on focus areas and related publications. Muñoz is a dual-qualified European lawyer and English solicitor with over 20 years’ capital markets legal and compliance experience, most recently serving as Chief Compliance Officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Santander Corporate and Investment Banking.
Croatia’s Ministry of Finance has assumed the co-chairmanship of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action alongside Uganda, succeeding the Netherlands, and aims to strengthen international cooperation and integration of climate risks into economic and fiscal policymaking. Its priorities include shifting the Coalition’s focus from policy design to implementation, positioning climate action as a driver of growth, enhancing the role of finance ministries in mobilising finance, and developing fiscal and macroeconomic tools, particularly for countries with limited capacity.
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority has launched a consultation on proposals to shorten 13 sets of Solvency II Guidelines to simplify regulation and reduce administrative burdens, covering Pillar I topics and key Pillar II requirements including system of governance and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment. The initiative targets at least a 25% reduction in the length of the 294 guidelines, limited to streamlining existing text without introducing new or substantively amended guidelines, with further reviews possible under the ongoing fitness check.
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority has launched a consultation on a draft Annex to its Opinion on risk mitigation techniques, focusing on proportional reinsurance treaties whose features may weaken the link between solvency capital requirement (SCR) relief and actual risk transfer. The draft sets out expectations for undertakings to test and, where appropriate, qualitatively assess whether risk transfer is commensurate with SCR relief, and to disallow recognition of risk-mitigating effects where this is not the case, while clarifying the treatment of reinsurance commissions.
Argentina’s Superintendent of Insurance, Guillermo Plate, outlined the Superintendency’s strategic direction, stressing that deregulation must not weaken policyholder protection and that supervision should focus on insurers’ actual ability to pay claims. He backed recent interventions against firms that fail to honour claims despite appearing solvent “on paper,” and called for a more effective state role, system modernisation through technology and stronger controls, and rebuilding trust on the basis that insurance which does not pay is not genuine.
The National Bank of Moldova reported that Governor Anca Dragu met World Bank Group Executive Director Eugene Rhuggenaath on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings to discuss macroeconomic stability, World Bank technical assistance, and implementation of Financial Sector Assessment Program recommendations. Discussions covered the EUR 1.9 billion Republic of Moldova Growth Plan for 2025–2027 and ongoing support needs, including digitalisation and fintech, strengthening Savings and Credit Associations, bank resolution mechanisms, and development of a Sustainable Finance Taxonomy under the 2024–2028 roadmap.
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has established rules for umbrella funds containing at least two sub-funds with segregated assets and liabilities. Eligible funds need at least PHP 100 million in subscribed and paid-up capital, relevant regulatory approvals, and sub-fund-level reporting and financial disclosures. Investors may transfer between sub-funds under disclosed terms.
The Central Bank of Russia has updated its Lombard List to add regional government bonds and a broad range of corporate and mortgage-backed exchange-traded bonds, following a 10 April 2026 Board of Directors decision. It also removed one issuer’s bonds that lacked sufficient disclosures and did not have two credit ratings meeting the Central Bank of Russia’s requirements.
The Central Bank of Russia published April 2026 monitoring results showing an average maximum interest rate of 13.43% on Russian ruble deposits at the 10 largest household deposit-taking credit institutions for the first 10 days of April. Average maximum rates by maturity were 13.06% for up to 90 days, 13.28% for 91 to 180 days, 12.72% for 181 days to one year, and 11.63% for over one year, based on indicative data from banks’ websites and excluding special and conditional deposit products.
The Central Bank of Russia reported that its Business Climate Index rose to 2.2 points in April from -0.1 points in March, reflecting improved assessments and expectations for output and demand. Business price expectations were broadly unchanged, while firms reported weaker investment activity in the first quarter of 2026 but anticipate a slight increase in the second quarter, with capacity utilisation remaining well above 2017–2019 levels.
The World Bank Group’s Reserve Advisory & Management Partnership has entered a non-exclusive Cooperation Agreement with CFA Institute to collaborate on asset management education, professional training, and research for public-sector and institutional investment professionals globally. The partnership combines RAMP’s advisory, training, and asset management activities with CFA Institute’s education and ethics expertise to support professional standards and technical capacity in asset management.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission said the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered a consent order against John Fortini for retail fraud, fraud as an associated person of a commodity pool operator, and related violations, requiring disgorgement of USD 1,347,867.56 and imposing permanent trading, registration, and anti-fraud injunctions. The order resolves all CFTC claims against Fortini in its September 30, 2024 enforcement action; proceedings against other defendants continue.
The Central Bank of Libya said its governor and delegation met JPMorgan Chase executives in Washington to discuss correspondent banking ties, international economic conditions and geopolitical developments in the Middle East as part of efforts to support financial stability and diversify foreign exchange reserve returns.