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2026-04-09•Australia•Australian Securities & Investments Commission
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has permanently banned Aristotle Papapavlou from providing financial services and engaging in credit activities, finding he engaged in dishonest, misleading and unprofessional conduct and is not a fit and proper person. ASIC linked his conduct to a high-volume advice model at Venture Egg involving unlicensed referrers, conflicted superannuation rollover advice into Shield and First Guardian, misuse of Statements of Advice, and falsified credit references, and has recorded the orders publicly.
EnforcementSanctions & designations
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2026-04-09•Australia•Australian Securities & Investments Commission
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission announced that the Federal Court has ordered Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited to pay an AUD 4 million pecuniary penalty for breaching continuous disclosure requirements by failing to disclose a materially significant downgrade to its 2022 revenue forecast for about 14 weeks. The Court found EOS contravened section 674A(2) of the Corporations Act from 25 July 2022 to 31 October 2022 by not correcting guidance that 2022 revenue would equal or exceed AUD 212.3 million when it was aware revenue was likely to be about AUD 164 million, with a possibility of an additional AUD 27 million. ASIC has separately commenced proceedings against former EOS chief executive officer and director Ben Greene for alleged breaches of directors’ duties.
EnforcementInvestigations & enforcement actionsDisclosures
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2026-04-09•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s latest Mongolia Economic Update projects GDP growth of 6.9% in 2025 and 5.0% in 2026, with medium-term growth averaging about 5.5% in 2027–28 amid elevated inflation and uncertainty. The report highlights downside risks from global trade and geopolitical tensions and domestic fiscal pressures, and calls for safeguarding macroeconomic stability, protecting vulnerable households, and advancing diversification, infrastructure investment, critical minerals development and climate resilience. It also underscores the productivity benefits and congestion risks of firm and worker clustering in Ulaanbaatar, stressing the need to improve urban efficiency and promote more balanced spatial development.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-09•Kazakhstan•Astana Financial Services Authority
The Astana Financial Services Authority and the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation, mutual assistance and information sharing on digital and virtual asset activities. The agreement establishes a framework for coordination on licensing, supervision, enforcement and compliance, including exchange of regulatory experience and best practices, aiming to reduce regulatory fragmentation and support smoother cross-border activity.
Policy & regulationCooperationCross-border cooperation
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2026-04-09•South Korea•Ministry of Economy & Finance (South Korea)
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance reported on the Korea–China–Japan and ASEAN+3 Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meetings, which focused on spillovers from the Middle East conflict, energy price and supply risks, and coordinated policy responses including targeted fiscal support, cautious monetary policy and energy supply-chain diversification. Deputies also advanced regional financial cooperation, prioritising reforms to shift the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation toward a paid-in capital model and preparations for the 2027–2030 Asia Bond Market Initiative roadmap.
Policy & regulationCooperationCross-border cooperation
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2026-04-09•South Korea•Bank of Korea
The Bank of Korea’s preliminary 2025 Flow of Funds statistics show domestic net lending rose to KRW 158.2 trillion from KRW 116.6 trillion in 2024, driven by higher net lending by households and non-profit institutions serving households and reduced net borrowing by non-financial corporations. General government net borrowing widened and financial corporations shifted to net borrowing, while the domestic non-financial sector’s financial assets-to-liabilities ratio increased to 1.73, with the ratio for households and related non-profit institutions rising to 2.54.
Data & statisticsFinancial and market indicatorsSupervisory data
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2026-04-09•South Korea•South Korea Financial Supervisory Service
The South Korea Financial Supervisory Service’s 2025 review of domestic financial holding companies reported 8.3% year-on-year growth in consolidated assets to KRW 4,067.4 trillion and a 12.4% rise in consolidated net income to KRW 26.7 trillion, alongside weaker financial stability indicators. Banking remained dominant, financial investment income rose sharply, insurance income declined, and capital, asset quality and leverage metrics indicated higher risk. The authority will press holding groups to bolster financial stability and loss-absorbing capacity, improve risk assessment of diversified portfolios and unfair conduct, and support “productive and inclusive finance” initiatives.
SupervisionRisk monitoring & watch pointsFinancial stability and systemic riskAsset quality
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2026-04-09•Tanzania•Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority
The Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority announced the launch of two national insurance strategies covering 2025 to 2030. One targets wider access to insurance in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, mining and forestry, while the other focuses on research, innovation and insurance market development. Together they are intended to support financial inclusion and sector growth.
Policy & regulationReform agendas & prioritiesMarket developmentFinancial inclusion
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2026-04-09•Hong Kong•Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority
The Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority announced the 2024-25 Good MPF Employer Award recipients and will temporarily suspend the programme for review amid the transition to the eMPF Platform, expected to be fully operational by end-April 2026. A record 2,378 employers covering over 330,000 employees were recognised for compliance with Mandatory Provident Fund legislation and enhanced retirement protection, and may continue using the 2024-25 award title and logo until further notice.
Policy & regulationImplementation, projects & pilotsOther
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2026-04-09•New Zealand•New Zealand Financial Markets Authority
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority published its Financial Statements Monitoring Insights 2022–2025 report, urging directors, preparers and auditors to improve the quality, accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting amid global uncertainty. While overall standards were described as high, the authority identified recurring weaknesses in disclosures, measurement of significant balances, support for complex estimates, application of newer judgement-heavy standards, and consistency between financial statements and climate-related reporting, and outlined enforcement actions for serious or repeated non-compliance.
SupervisionReviews, inspections & stress testsActivity and performance reporting
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2026-04-09•Brazil•Brazil Securities Commission (CVM)
The Brazil Securities Commission (CVM) has published its Sanctioning Activity Report for Q4 2025, highlighting increased preventive measures and higher investigative and sanctioning activity. Stop orders nearly tripled to 37, alert letters rose to 434, ongoing potentially sanctionable administrative proceedings reached 804, and referrals to the Public Prosecutor’s Office increased to 95. The CVM Board approved settlement agreements in 42 cases involving 64 proponents, with BRL 33.31 million proposed for diffuse damages.
EnforcementEnforcement statistics
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2026-04-09•Argentina•Argentina Superintendency of Insurance
The Argentina Superintendency of Insurance reported on Superintendent Guillermo Plate’s remarks at the 21st National Insurance Forum, where he outlined a modernisation agenda focused on more efficient, data-based supervision and framed “deregulating to supervise better” as compatible with strong supervisory powers. Plate emphasised policyholder protection, said the revocation of Galeno ART’s authorisation reflected legally required solvency control, and highlighted the central role of insurance producer advisers as early detectors of system failures.
SupervisionSupervision approach, priorities & toolkitOther
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2026-04-09•United States•U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Adam Schiff and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to Fight Fight Fight LLC seeking documents and communications regarding an April 25, 2026 Mar-a-Lago conference and gala tied to the $TRUMP cryptocurrency. The inquiry focuses on President Trump’s potential role, financial benefit and investor access arrangements, citing concentrated token ownership, trading-related revenue to affiliated entities, a price spike after the event announcement, and reports of retail losses alongside large gains for a small group of early wallets.
Other
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2026-04-09•Argentina•Argentina Securities Commission (CNV)
The Argentina Securities Commission held a further stakeholder meeting on the planned regulatory framework for Labour Assistance Funds, focusing on key design aspects, implementation challenges and capital markets opportunities. The authority positioned these funds as long-term institutional investors to support market stability and sustained financing and indicated that forthcoming rules aim to provide clarity and predictability, as it continues to gather industry input ahead of implementation.
Policy & regulationCooperationMarket development
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2026-04-09•Argentina•Argentina Securities Commission (CNV)
The Argentina Securities Commission has issued General Resolution No. 1128 introducing a new exemption for non-residents from the ARS 200 million daily limit on transfers of negotiable securities to foreign depository institutions. The cap will not apply where the securities have been held in the transferor’s sub-accounts at the central securities depository for at least 365 consecutive days, irrespective of issuance law, and the measure forms part of a broader easing of operational restrictions in the capital markets.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsCross-border payments
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2026-04-09•Canada•Canadian Securities Administrators
The Canadian Securities Administrators has proposed clarifying insider reporting requirements for transactions involving investment funds and certain structured products. The proposal covers structured notes, American Depositary Receipts and Canadian Depositary Receipts based on securities of the reporting insider’s reporting issuer.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsMarket abuseRegulatory reporting
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2026-04-09•Global•G30
The Group of Thirty has issued a special report warning that rapid post-crisis growth in nonbank financial intermediation has created vulnerabilities that could amplify market stress and trigger systemic events, and calls for urgent, coordinated policy action. With nonbank assets at an estimated USD 260 trillion at end-2024, the report links rising systemic risk to liquidity mismatches, high leverage and tighter interconnections with bond markets and banks, and recommends reforms to curb excessive borrowing and procyclical margining, strengthen market infrastructure, expand interconnectedness-focused stress tests, and enhance data and transparency.
ResearchFinancial stability and systemic riskMarket development
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2026-04-09•Denmark•Danish Finanstilsynet
The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority has introduced a simplified application process for credit institutions seeking general prior authorisation to buy back their own Common Equity Tier 1 instruments, capped at 0.5% of CET1, under its national proportionality regime. The streamlined route lowers information requirements, removes the need for a stress test, and is available to institutions meeting specified capital, MREL and debt buffer overcoverage, Liquidity Coverage Ratio and leverage ratio thresholds, with use cases including market making and employee remuneration, and additional CRR limits for converted banks and savings banks.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsLicensing framework and process
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2026-04-08•Bulgaria•Bulgaria Financial Supervision Commission
The Bulgaria Financial Supervision Commission approved the prospectus for the initial public offering of up to 710,250 ordinary shares in Smart Organic AD at an issue price of EUR 15.00 per share and registered the share issue as being in the process of issuance. It also approved a new manager for bound agent Edge Capital Ltd., acknowledged the qualifications of an investment consultant and broker of financial instruments, and registered PALAUZOV EOOD as an insurance broker.
SupervisionAuthorisations & approvalsSecurities offerings and listings
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2026-04-08•Montenegro•Montenegro Capital Market Authority
The Montenegro Capital Market Authority has launched a public consultation on two draft rulebooks under the Law on Alternative Investment Funds, setting out procedures for approving management-body appointments and issuing operating licences to alternative investment fund management companies. Following review of stakeholder feedback, the Authority will finalise the rulebooks.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsOther
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2026-04-08•Montenegro•Montenegro Capital Market Authority
The Montenegro Capital Market Authority has published for consultation two draft implementing rules for open-ended investment funds with a public offering, covering compensation of damage to investors or the fund and the forced transfer of fund management. The drafts, prepared under the Law on Open-ended Investment Funds with a Public Offering, aim to further define investor protection mechanisms and procedures for supervisory intervention.
Policy & regulationRules & requirements
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2026-04-08•South Africa•National Treasury (South Africa)
South Africa’s National Treasury has appointed Thabiso Lucas Thiti as Director of the Financial Intelligence Centre for a five-year term from 15 April 2026, replacing Acting Director Advocate Pieter Smit. The appointment, made under section 8 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act following a formal recruitment process, is intended to support continued progress after South Africa’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force greylist ahead of a forthcoming mutual evaluation.
Institutional developmentLeadership change & appointmentsLeadership change and appointments
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2026-04-08•Angola•Angola Capital Markets Commission
The Angola Capital Markets Commission participated in the Committee of Insurance, Securities and Non-Banking Financial Authorities bi-annual Governance Council and Subcommittee Meetings in Mauritius, contributing to strategic priority-setting for the next biennial cycle. Discussions covered supervisory cooperation, harmonisation of regulatory practices, institutional development, capacity building, information sharing and emerging challenges affecting regional financial markets, plus a review of CISNA’s internal governance and coordination instruments.
Policy & regulationCooperationCross-border cooperation
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2026-04-08•Japan•Japan Financial Services Agency
The Japan Financial Services Agency has published for comment a draft partial revision to the Comprehensive Supervisory Guidelines for Insurance Companies to update supervisory expectations in light of insurers’ growing use of reinsurance. The revisions aim to promote more sophisticated risk management at individual insurers and clarify the existing supervisory approach to reinsurance transactions.
Policy & regulationGuidance & interpretationRisk management
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2026-04-08•Japan•Japan Financial Services Agency
The Japan Financial Services Agency and the Bank of Japan held the 24th Financial Services Agency–Bank Liaison Meeting to exchange views on developments affecting the financial system and financial markets. The meeting focused on information sharing and coordination between the two authorities.
Policy & regulationCooperationDomestic cooperation
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2026-04-08•Japan•Japan Financial Services Agency
The Japan Financial Services Agency highlighted an interview in Eurofi Magazine with Toshiyuki Miyoshi, International Advisor on Financial Services and Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Organization of Insurance Supervisors, on the IAIS work agenda for supervisory cooperation. The interview outlines efforts to promote cross-border consistency and strengthen international cooperation in insurance oversight amid rising geopolitical fragmentation, and sets out the IAIS’s future priorities.
Policy & regulationCooperationCross-border cooperation
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2026-04-08•Japan•Bank of Japan
Japan’s Financial Services Agency and the Bank of Japan held the twenty-fourth meeting of the Council for Cooperation on Financial Stability. Senior officials, including the Financial Services Agency Commissioner and Bank of Japan Deputy Governors, exchanged views on current conditions in the financial system and markets.
Policy & regulationCooperationFinancial stability and systemic riskDomestic cooperation
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2026-04-08•Europe•European Securities and Markets Authority
The European Securities and Markets Authority has issued Questions and Answers on onboarding data contributors to the European Union’s Consolidated Tapes and on operational rules for Consolidated Tape Providers, to give market participants greater certainty ahead of the bonds and equities tapes going live. ESMA reiterates that trading venues and Authorised Publication Arrangements must contribute data from go-live and should engage early with fairCT for the bonds tape and EuroCTP for the equities tape, while selection of a derivatives tape provider continues.
Policy & regulationGuidance & interpretationMarket infrastructure
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2026-04-08•Peru•Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP del Peru
The Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Funds of Peru has updated the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework for casinos and slot machine operators supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, aligning it with Financial Action Task Force standards and replacing the 2016 regime. Resolution SBS No. 01015-2026 also extends the infringements and sanctions regulation to remote gaming and remote sports betting operators, and clarifies AML/CFT system requirements and the division of responsibilities between the Financial Intelligence Unit of Peru and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsAML and CFT
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2026-04-08•Brazil•Brazilian Pension Funds Authority (PREVIC)
The Brazilian Pension Funds Authority (PREVIC) will hold a Conexões PREVIC seminar to explain new licensing procedures for closed private pension entities (EFPC) under PREVIC Resolution 26/2025. PREVIC technical staff and a guest speaker will present key changes to pension fund licensing, including registration data, adhesion agreements, relevant dates, authorisation interviews, prior authorisation lead times, EFPC wind-down representation, participation of interested parties, and registration of plan offerings and management transfers, followed by Q&A.
Policy & regulationGuidance & interpretationOther
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2026-04-08•Brazil•Brazil Securities Commission (CVM)
The Brazil Securities Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock have signed a two-year technical cooperation agreement to develop the agribusiness sector by expanding the role of capital markets in agricultural financing. The partnership envisages joint studies, dissemination of technical knowledge, and initiatives to promote access to financing, including new agribusiness funding instruments, coordinated by the Ministry’s Agricultural Policy Secretariat and the CVM’s Superintendence of Securitization and Agribusiness.
Policy & regulationCooperationMarket developmentDomestic cooperation
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2026-04-08•Brazil•Brazil Securities Commission (CVM)
The Brazil Securities Commission (CVM) has suspended the public company registration of Cia Industrial Schlosser S.A. under Article 21 of Law 6.385 for more than one year of non-compliance with information disclosure obligations under CVM Resolution 80. While suspended, the company’s securities cannot be admitted to trading on any regulated or over-the-counter market, and the company, its controlling shareholders, and administrators remain liable for any prior infractions.
EnforcementInvestigations & enforcement actionsSecurities offerings and listings
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2026-04-08•Brazil•Brazil Securities Commission (CVM)
The Brazil Securities Commission, through its Office of Economic Analysis, Risk Management and Integrity, has extended its survey on investors’ perceptions of the Lâmina de Ofertas Públicas (Public Offerings Sheet). Anonymous responses will feed into a Regulatory Outcome Analysis on the effectiveness of recent public offerings reforms under CVM Resolutions 160 and 161, including the introduction of the Lâmina to simplify communication of essential offer features, as part of CVM’s 2026 Regulatory Agenda.
Policy & regulationImplementation, projects & pilotsDisclosures
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2026-04-08•Argentina•Argentina Superintendency of Insurance
The Argentina Superintendency of Insurance has launched the Integrated Claims Information and Analysis System (SINIAS), a new platform for insurers to submit and consult claims data and related updates. SINIAS will centralise information on notifications, claims, reserves, payments and recoveries to improve traceability, efficiency, data integration and compliance monitoring, and is expected to replace various historical reporting requirements in the short term.
SupervisionRegulatory reporting
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2026-04-08•Argentina•Argentina Superintendency of Insurance
The Argentina Superintendency of Insurance has amended mandatory standard contract terms for motor vehicle and trailer insurance to align with updated rules from the National Directorate of Motor Vehicle Registries and streamline claims settlement. The changes clarify documentation required for total loss due to damage, fire, theft or robbery, including vehicle deregistration evidence, police and registry reports, proof of title, no-debt certificates, assignment of rights to the insurer, and delivery of keys.
Policy & regulationRules & requirements
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2026-04-08•Canada•British Columbia Financial Services Authority
The British Columbia Financial Services Authority has obtained a court-appointed receivership over frozen trust funds held by Jovi Realty and Lighthouse Realty Ltd., transferring management and distribution of those funds to a centralized, court-supervised process. D. Manning & Associates Inc. was appointed receiver to control the accounts, assess claims, and distribute funds in accordance with legal requirements. BCFSA’s investigation into Balpreet Singh Bal, Jovi Realty, and Lighthouse Realty Ltd. continues and may result in enforcement action under the Real Estate Services Act.
EnforcementInvestigations & enforcement actionsClient asset custody and safekeeping
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2026-04-08•Global•International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund’s April 2026 World Economic Outlook analysis finds that armed conflicts cause sharp, lasting economic losses, severe fiscal and external pressures, and slow, uneven recoveries. Major conflicts bring output losses of about 7 percent within five years, rising deficits and debt, capital outflows, exchange rate depreciation, reserve losses, and higher inflation, while defense spending buildups typically last nearly three years and significantly worsen fiscal positions. The research underscores that durable peace, early macroeconomic stabilization, decisive debt restructuring, and international support are central to post-war recovery.
ResearchGeopolitical risk
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2026-04-08•United States•U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Mexican national Gabriel Arturo Castillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in a two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based scheme moving drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico. According to court documents, the scheme used a black-market peso exchange involving U.S. dollar drug proceeds, U.S. merchandise purchases, and peso transfers in Mexico to conceal the source of funds for drug trafficking organizations.
EnforcementInvestigations & enforcement actionsAML and CFT
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2026-04-08•Global•International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund published a technical assistance report on its mission to the Bank of Ghana, reviewing the macroprudential policy framework and toolkit and providing guidance on implementing a countercyclical capital buffer and a domestic systemically important bank buffer. The report recommends establishing a dedicated macroprudential decision-making process and strategy, enhancing communications, upgrading systemic risk monitoring with more forward-looking assessments, and broadening and further operationalizing the macroprudential toolkit.
Policy & regulationGuidance & interpretationMacroprudential policy and toolsPrudential risks
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2026-04-08•Global•International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund published a technical assistance report on supporting the Central Bank of Cabo Verde in operationalizing macroprudential policy and enhancing monitoring of financial sector vulnerabilities. Based on a 2025 mission to Praia, it recommends strengthening institutional arrangements and inter-agency coordination, addressing staffing and capacity constraints, upgrading data and systemic risk assessment tools, and introducing core macroprudential instruments, supported by continued IMF assistance and Basel III implementation.
Policy & regulationImplementation, projects & pilotsMacroprudential policy and tools
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2026-04-08•United States•Federal Reserve Board
The Federal Reserve Board published research estimating that 2025 tariff changes raised core goods personal consumption expenditures (PCE) prices by 3.1 percent through February 2026 and increased overall core PCE prices by 0.8 percent, with pass-through effectively complete within about seven months. The analysis finds slower and weaker pass-through than for the 2018–19 China tariffs, notes that the November 2025 reduction in China tariffs materially limited inflationary effects, and highlights remaining uncertainty around long-run pass-through.
Research
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2026-04-08•United States•Federal Reserve Board
The Federal Reserve Board published research on the “tariff rate gap” between the effective tariff rate implied by announced U.S. policy changes and the realized rate based on duties actually paid, finding the gap was substantially larger in the 2025 tariff episode than in 2018–2019. The note estimates that by December 2025 the effective tariff rate reached 14.7 percent, with a 5.43 percentage point gap driven by faster import substitution and larger product-country rate discrepancies, including shipment timing and changes in United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement exemption compliance.
Research
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2026-04-08•Australia•Australian Financial Complaints Authority
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority released a video explaining what happens after a consumer accepts an AFCA determination, depending on whether the financial firm is solvent, insolvent, or non-compliant. AFCA expects solvent firms to pay compensation within 30 days and may seek explanations, propose payment plans, and notify the Australian Securities and Investments Commission if payment is not made. If a firm is insolvent or non-compliant, AFCA issues an “appropriate steps notice” enabling a claim to the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, which applies its own eligibility criteria without reassessing the complaint.
Financial literacy & educationOther
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2026-04-08•Barbados•Central Bank of Barbados
The Central Bank of Barbados has opened calls for abstracts and registration for its 46th Annual Review Seminar in Bridgetown in August 2026, focused on “Shifting Economic Landscapes: Strategic Responses of Small Open Economies”. The event will examine trade and tourism dynamics, energy transition and climate risk, digital transformation, demographic change and productivity, monetary and exchange rate policy, fiscal sustainability, and financial sector development and stability, with presented papers eligible for the Bank’s Working Paper Series following peer review.
ResearchEconomic data and developmentsFinancial stability and systemic risk
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2026-04-08•Barbados•Central Bank of Barbados
The Central Bank of Barbados has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Barbados Association of Retired Persons to deliver a digital literacy programme for senior citizens focused on using BiMPay, the national instant payment system. The Bank will sponsor and supply tablets, develop and deliver a BiMPay training module tailored to elderly users, deploy technical staff for hands-on sessions and troubleshooting, and jointly promote the initiative with BARP to support financial inclusion and reduce the digital divide.
Financial literacy & educationFinancial literacy and education
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2026-04-08•Cyprus•Central Bank of Cyprus
The Central Bank of Cyprus published CAP statistics from the Central Information Repository for March 2026.
Data & statisticsSupervisory data
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2026-04-08•Bahamas•Ministry of Finance (Bahamas)
The Bahamas Ministry of Finance published remarks by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Phillip Davis confirming the government will retain and invest in the Post Office and the Post Office Savings Bank rather than shut them down. Davis noted that more than 35,000 Bahamians hold accounts, the deposit cap has been raised from BSD 6,000 to BSD 10,000, and a five percent interest rate will be maintained, arguing closure would destabilise Family Island communities, cut 98 jobs and leave many unbanked.
Other
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2026-04-08•United States•New York State Department of Financial Services
The New York State Department of Financial Services has partnered with the New York State Police to run a specialized training symposium to strengthen statewide capabilities to detect, investigate, and prosecute financial crimes, including auto insurance fraud. The programme will train 250 law enforcement personnel on statutes, case studies, and investigative techniques, and will be permanently incorporated into the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation curriculum following the initial session.
Institutional developmentCooperation & capacity buildingFraud and scams
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2026-04-08•Palestine•Palestine Monetary Authority
The Palestine Monetary Authority and the Capital Market Authority, through the National Financial Inclusion Committee, approved the 2026–2028 action plan for the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, focused on small enterprises, marginalized groups, financial technology, digital infrastructure, and the legislative and consumer protection framework. The committee will propose adding the Ministry of Labor to strengthen coordination, while ongoing initiatives include digital financial infrastructure and e-payments linked to the Reduction Use of Cash Law, incentives for electronic payment of insurance premiums, and development of agricultural insurance and microinsurance.
Policy & regulationReform agendas & prioritiesFinancial inclusion
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2026-04-08•Canada•Ontario Securities Commission
The Ontario Securities Commission will host OSC Dialogue 2026: Competitive edge, a full-day Toronto event bringing together policy and regulatory experts to discuss how Canada’s capital markets can remain resilient, competitive and adaptive. The programme features remarks from Ontario’s Representative in Washington, DC, a keynote from the Secretary General of IOSCO, and sessions on digital asset regulation, capital formation and competitiveness, next-generation investors’ impact on market structure, and cross-border approaches to financial crime risks.
Policy & regulationCooperationAML and CFTMarket development
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2026-04-08•Canada•Ontario Securities Commission
The Ontario Securities Commission has opened applications for its new Capital Markets Advisory Committee, a pilot senior-level forum to provide strategic insight on trends in Ontario’s capital markets and consolidate advisory input. The committee will advise on proposed rules, guidance, regulatory initiatives and strategic priorities, with membership from a broad range of participants and a focus on diversity. During the 12‑month pilot, several existing advisory committees will be paused, while the Securities Advisory Committee and Registrant Advisory Committee will continue.
Policy & regulationImplementation, projects & pilotsHiring and recruitment
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2026-04-08•Chile•Chile Financial Market Commission
The Chile Financial Market Commission has launched a nationwide financial education campaign to promote more secure digital authentication methods and reduce fraud amid increasingly sophisticated financial crime. The initiative, which began in the Ñuble Region with targeted talks for senior citizens and students, includes training Commercial Engineering students from the University of Concepción to help disseminate practical fraud-prevention guidance across several municipalities.
Financial literacy & educationFinancial literacy and education
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2026-04-08•United States•U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed David Woodcock as Director of the Division of Enforcement, effective 4 May 2026, with Sam Waldon continuing as Acting Director until then. Chairman Paul S. Atkins framed the leadership change within a continued enforcement focus on cases that deliver meaningful investor protection and strengthen market integrity.
Institutional developmentLeadership change & appointmentsLeadership change and appointments
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2026-04-08•Canada•Canadian Bankers Association
The Canadian Bankers Association argues that consumer protection rules for payments should be aligned across banks and newer payment service providers so that similar services are subject to comparable conduct standards. It welcomes the Retail Payment Activities Act as a modernization step focused on oversight and safeguarding, but highlights gaps in areas such as disclosures, complaint handling and error resolution compared with the Financial Consumer Protection Framework under the Bank Act.
Policy & regulationReform agendas & prioritiesPayments and payment systems
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2026-04-08•Estonia•Central Bank of Estonia
Economists at the Central Bank of Estonia reported no strong improvement in Estonia’s labour market in 2025, with the prolonged recession and firms’ labour reserves weighing on hiring and the war between the United States and Iran flagged as a key risk via energy prices and corporate sentiment. Employment was broadly flat as public sector hiring in healthcare and social care offset a 0.6% decline in private sector employees, unemployment averaged 7.5% with youth joblessness at 20.7%, and wage growth slowed to 5.6% from 8.1%, though public sector wages are expected to accelerate in 2026.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•United States•Federal Reserve Board
The Federal Reserve Board published a FEDS Notes article on 2025 stablecoin developments, highlighting rapid market growth, deeper links with decentralised and traditional finance, and emerging financial stability risks. It flags increasingly complex intermediation chains, vertical integration and accelerating retail adoption via digital wallet and payments partnerships as new vulnerabilities, including greater contagion and operational risk. It contrasts reserve practices at major issuers, associating safer, more liquid reserves with stronger adoption, and clarifies the analysis reflects staff views, not official policy.
ResearchStablecoins
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2026-04-08•United States•Federal Reserve Board
The Federal Reserve Board published a FEDS Note analyzing India’s expanding role in the global economy, contrasting its services-led growth with the manufacturing export-led paths of earlier high-growth Asian economies. It highlights demographic strengths alongside constraints such as low female labor force participation, trade barriers, a difficult business environment and weak inward foreign direct investment, while noting recent gains in smartphone exports and policy support for electronics and semiconductors. It also underscores the limits of a services-led model for absorbing largely unskilled labor and the potential impact of generative artificial intelligence.
Research
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2026-04-08•Cyprus•Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission issued an investor warning that the websites obsidian-group.org, ext-ltd.com and harindale.trade are not authorised to provide investment services or perform investment activities under Article 5 of Law 87(I)/2017. The authority urged investors to verify firms’ licensing status on its website before engaging in investment services or activities.
SupervisionAlertsUnlicensed or unauthorized activity
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2026-04-08•United Arab Emirates•Central Bank of the UAE
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the Central Bank of Bahrain have established a bilateral currency swap agreement between the UAE dirham and the Bahraini dinar with a nominal value of AED 20 billion (BHD 2 billion) and a five-year tenor. The swap is intended to deepen financial and monetary cooperation, support trade and investment, promote the use of local currencies, and contribute to financial stability and regional financial integration.
Monetary policyMonetary policy instruments & operationsCross-border cooperation
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2026-04-08•Portugal•Portuguese Insurance Regulator (ASF)
The Portuguese Insurance Regulator (ASF) has issued Circular No. 3/2026 updating multiple reporting templates and instructions (ContasES, Contas SGFP, FResponsabilidades, the Look-through file and AtivosFP) to reflect new EIOPA regular information requests for occupational pension schemes, changes to Portugal’s pension funds regime and the NACE 2.1 classification. Key changes include a new “Sales and services rendered” worksheet for ContasES and Contas SGFP, revised FResponsabilidades and Look-through reporting from end-2025, and an additional NACE 2.1 issuer sector field in AtivosFP from Q1 2026.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsRegulatory reporting
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2026-04-08•Azerbaijan•Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan has restored the licences of 12 individual insurance agents after the circumstances leading to their suspension were resolved, in accordance with Article 111.1 of the Law on Insurance Activity. The notice lists each agent together with licence issue date, licence number and taxpayer identification number.
SupervisionAuthorisations & approvalsLicence withdrawal
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2026-04-08•United States•Council of Economic Advisers
The U.S. Council of Economic Advisers published a model-based assessment finding that a binding prohibition on stablecoin yield, as contemplated in the GENIUS Act and some CLARITY Act variants, would have negligible impact on bank lending under an ample-reserves framework while imposing net welfare costs by removing competitive returns for stablecoin holders. Eliminating stablecoin yield raises bank lending by USD 2.1 billion (0.02% of total loans) but generates a net welfare cost of USD 800 million, with large banks capturing 76% of the additional lending and community banks about USD 500 million. The paper notes issuer-focused yield bans may not fully bind where intermediaries offer rewards funded by issuer revenue-sharing, and that even under stacked “worst-case” assumptions the largest lending effect is USD 531 billion (4.4% of projected 2025Q4 bank loans).
ResearchStablecoins
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2026-04-08•Global•International Monetary Fund
The heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group and World Food Programme warned that the Middle East war has caused one of the largest disruptions to global energy markets in modern history, with higher oil, gas and fertilizer prices and transport bottlenecks expected to raise food prices and worsen food insecurity. They cautioned that low-income, import-dependent economies with high debt burdens will be hardest hit and said the institutions will monitor developments, coordinate tools and provide support within their mandates to protect vulnerable populations and support recovery.
OtherEconomic data and developmentsFinancial stability and systemic risk
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2026-04-08•India•Securities & Exchange Board of India
The Securities and Exchange Board of India issued a circular amending the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018, allowing specified securities that cannot be formally locked in to be recorded by depositories as “non-transferable” for the lock-in period. Depositories have introduced an issuer-facing framework, updated systems and processes, and SEBI has directed stock exchanges, depositories, merchant bankers and issuers to ensure compliance with the new lock-in mechanism.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsCorporate governance
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2026-04-08•South Africa•South African Reserve Bank
The South African Reserve Bank’s Financial Surveillance Department has amended the Currency and Exchanges Manual for Authorised Dealers to double the single discretionary allowance for South African residents aged 18 and over to ZAR 2 million per calendar year and the travel allowance for residents under 18 to ZAR 400,000. The amendments update the definition and use of the single discretionary allowance, including for travel-related transactions, offshore share incentive and rights-related transactions, and transfers of domestic listed securities abroad up to ZAR 2 million without a TCS PIN letter where a Financial Surveillance Department confirmation letter is viewed. Current transfers above ZAR 2 million require Financial Surveillance Department verification.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsCross-border payments
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2026-04-08•Philippines•Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission ordered Melot’s Catering Services and associated persons to stop offering unregistered investments promising 10% monthly interest. The order also halts the scheme’s online presence and restricts transactions and asset transfers to preserve funds for investors.
EnforcementInvestigations & enforcement actionsUnlicensed or unauthorized activitySecurities offerings and listingsFraud and scams
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s Nepal Development Update projects Nepal’s growth to slow to 2.3% in fiscal 2026 from 4.6% in 2025, before recovering to an average of 4.4% in 2027–2028, with services most affected amid a highly uncertain outlook. The report highlights risks from a prolonged Middle East conflict and domestic unrest, and calls for improving the business environment, infrastructure, private finance mobilisation and support for tourism, IT and agribusiness. As a companion to the South Asia Economic Update, it situates Nepal in a region where growth is projected to ease to 6.3% in 2026 before rebounding to 6.9% in 2027, and urges more effective industrial policy and stronger regulatory predictability.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s South Asia Economic Update projects regional growth to slow to 6.3% in 2026 from 7% in 2025 amid global energy market disruptions, before recovering to 6.9% in 2027, and calls for policy reforms to sustain growth and jobs. The outlook is highly uncertain given reliance on imported energy and downside risks from Middle East conflict spillovers, global financial turbulence, climate shocks and potential artificial intelligence impacts on service exports, with growth still led by India’s robust domestic demand and recent trade agreements, including a free trade agreement with the EU. The report also highlights intensive, mixed-use industrial policy in South Asia and includes development updates for Bangladesh and Nepal.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s biannual Africa Economic Update warns Sub-Saharan Africa’s recovery is stalling, with 2026 growth cut by 0.3 points to 4.1% and inflation seen rising to 4.8%. It cites mounting risks from geopolitical tensions, high debt-service burdens and structural constraints, noting public investment is about 20% below 2014 levels and the external public debt service-to-revenue ratio will double to 18% in 2025. The report urges protecting vulnerable households while preserving macroeconomic stability and backing targeted industrial policy for more productive, diversified, private-sector-led growth and deeper regional integration.
ResearchEconomic data and developmentsGeopolitical risk
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s Bangladesh Development Update warns of slowing growth, persistent inflation, rising poverty and elevated financial-sector vulnerabilities, with growth projected at 3.9% and inflation at 8.5% in FY26. It cites a non-performing loan ratio of 30.6% in December 2025, bank capital adequacy below regulatory minimums, a tax-to-GDP ratio under 7% in FY25, and urges urgent macroeconomic, financial-sector, revenue and business-environment reforms. Released alongside the South Asia Economic Update, it says regional growth will slow to 6.3% in 2026 from 7% in 2025 before recovering to 6.9% in 2027, and that South Asia’s industrial policy has yielded mixed results.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•South Africa•South African Reserve Bank
The South African Reserve Bank has amended its Currency and Exchanges manuals for Authorised Dealers and those with limited authority, updating permissions, conditions and reporting expectations for foreign exchange transactions. The revisions reaffirm quantitative limits on discretionary, capital and travel allowances, tighten controls on import advance payments and merchanting settlement, and clarify card and cash provisions, including caps on small cross-border card payments, restrictions on funding international trading accounts and limits on exporting Rand notes.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsForeign exchange policy and markets
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2026-04-08•India•Securities & Exchange Board of India
The Securities and Exchange Board of India and the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority held the sixth Niveshak Shivir in Bhubaneswar to facilitate recovery of unpaid dividends and unclaimed shares and reduce unclaimed investor assets. Conducted with market infrastructure institutions and registrar and transfer agents, the camp provided support on long-outstanding claims, know-your-customer and nomination updates, and direct interaction with officials. Similar events are proposed in other cities with significant unclaimed investor assets.
Financial literacy & educationConsumer and investor protection
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2026-04-08•United States•U.S. Department of the Treasury
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Office of Foreign Assets Control have jointly proposed a rule to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act for payment stablecoins. The proposal would classify permitted payment stablecoin issuers as financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act, subjecting them to anti-money laundering obligations and requiring a “fit for purpose” sanctions compliance program aligned with broader Bank Secrecy Act modernization efforts.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsStablecoinsAML and CFT
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2026-04-08•India•Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India has issued draft Directions for the Trade Receivables Discounting System to rationalise and harmonise existing guidance for platforms that facilitate financing of trade receivables of micro, small and medium enterprise sellers. The draft follows a comprehensive review announced in the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsSME financing
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2026-04-08•India•Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India has issued draft amendments to its governance directions for banks, proposing to rationalise items requiring board consideration and to replace the existing theme-based framework for board engagement with principle-based guidance. The proposals follow a comprehensive review intended to help boards focus more effectively on strategy and risk governance and apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks and local area banks.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsCorporate governance
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2026-04-08•India•Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India has issued draft Amendment Directions revising Investment Fluctuation Reserve (IFR) requirements under its investment portfolio framework and related prudential and disclosure norms. The proposals would remove IFR for banks that maintain a capital charge for market risk and follow revised investment portfolio norms, and otherwise shift IFR compliance from a continuous requirement to measurement at balance sheet dates, with harmonised instructions across commercial, small finance, payments, local area, urban and rural co-operative, and regional rural banks.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsPrudential risksAccounting and financial reporting
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2026-04-08•United Kingdom•HM Treasury
HM Treasury and the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a joint statement on the 12th U.S.–UK Financial Regulatory Working Group meeting, covering economic and financial stability, the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, digital finance, innovation, and regulatory modernisation. They reported progress on the Taskforce after a joint industry roundtable, and exchanges on digital assets regulation (including supporting stablecoins for payments), the UK’s Digital Securities Sandbox, payments modernisation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and operational resilience, non-bank financial intermediation, domestic banking regulation, and UK capital markets reform, including a move to a T+1 settlement cycle in October 2027.
Policy & regulationCooperation
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2026-04-08•Serbia•National Bank of Serbia
The National Bank of Serbia published its weekly overview of global financial market developments for 30 March to 3 April 2026, highlighting elevated cross-asset volatility linked to shifting expectations around the Middle East conflict. The report notes a marginally stronger euro against the US dollar, lower core government bond yields in the United States and Germany, rising US and European equity indices, higher gold prices and lower Brent crude prices, alongside key US labour and euro area inflation data. It also observes steadier conditions in selected developing markets, including broadly stable or stronger Central and Eastern European currencies and easing local-currency bond yields, and records Romania’s EUR 1.2bn foreign exchange reserves sale in March to support the leu.
Data & statisticsFinancial and market indicatorsForeign exchange policy and markets
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2026-04-08•Jersey•Financial Services Unit (Jersey)
The Financial Services Unit (Jersey) has announced a second annual allocation of GBP 1.5 million from the Jersey Reclaim Fund to support local charitable and voluntary organisations, with grants distributed via the Jersey Community Foundation. The allocation forms part of a three-year package of at least GBP 4.5 million for 2025–2027, funded from dormant bank accounts where customer contact has been lost for more than 15 years.
Other
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2026-04-08•Isle of Man•Isle of Man Financial Services Authority
The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority issued its April 2026 stakeholder bulletin outlining priorities and regulatory and financial crime prevention updates, including progress on legislative changes and support for firms ahead of the MONEYVAL mutual evaluation. The bulletin covers a revised bill following consultation, plans to modernise the pensions framework, a revised fee structure, minor AML/CFT Handbook updates, updated AML/CFT country lists, Travel Rule changes, and forthcoming questionnaires.
Policy & regulationReform agendas & prioritiesOther
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2026-04-08•Georgia•National Bank of Georgia
The National Bank of Georgia reported an official visit by its delegation to the Central Bank of Azerbaijan under their memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation and information exchange, particularly on financial stability and sustainable finance. Representatives from the Financial Stability Department shared expertise on macroprudential policy, financial stability analysis, financial sector stress testing and the sustainable finance framework.
Policy & regulationCooperationCross-border cooperationFinancial stability and systemic risk
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2026-04-08•Netherlands•De Nederlandsche Bank
De Nederlandsche Bank statistics show a shift in the Dutch securitisation market from predominantly residential mortgage-backed securities to a broader mix of loans, with non-mortgage loans rising from 12% to 29% and volumes nearly doubling to EUR 8.5 billion between 2020 and 2025. Growth was mainly driven by non-banking entities, while mortgage securitisations declined amid stricter regulation and alternative funding. Overall outstanding securitisations sold to investors fell from EUR 38.0 billion in 2020 to EUR 29.6 billion in 2025 but rose 14% between end-2023 and end-2025.
Data & statisticsFinancial and market indicatorsSupervisory data
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2026-04-08•Iceland•Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (Iceland)
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs reported that Iceland’s Financial Stability Council held its first 2026 meeting to review financial system conditions, key risk factors and the broader economic outlook. The Council discussed real estate and housing market developments, preparations to shorten the securities settlement cycle to T+1, deposit insurance legislation, offline card payment capabilities to enhance payment resilience, and recent work by the resolution authority.
SupervisionRisk monitoring & watch pointsOperational risk and resilience
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2026-04-08•Malta•Malta Financial Services Authority
The Malta Financial Services Authority has launched a public-private partnership to enhance national coordination in detecting, preventing and disrupting financial fraud, initially focusing on consumer retail payment fraud. The partnership brings together key public authorities and selected private sector institutions to enable systematic information sharing, guidance, policy development and targeted supervisory efforts, subject to confidentiality and data protection safeguards.
Policy & regulationCooperationFraud and scams
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2026-04-08•Denmark•Danish Finanstilsynet
The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority issued a sector update on its dialogue with major credit institutions on geopolitical credit risks, concluding that geopolitical turbulence is now a structural driver of credit risk requiring enhanced monitoring, scenario analysis, stress testing and greater management judgement in loan loss allowances. Supervisory discussions focused on exposures to export-reliant sectors, global supply chains and energy- and commodity-dependent firms, highlighting disruptions after the United States and Israel’s 28 February 2026 attacks on Iran and the risk that a prolonged conflict could tighten credit conditions. Larger institutions have expanded quantitative risk analyses but face data gaps on indirect value chain exposures, while smaller institutions rely more on qualitative assessments and customer dialogue, with some clients already experiencing material losses or elevated loss risk, including certain renewable energy producers.
SupervisionRisk monitoring & watch pointsGeopolitical risk
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2026-04-08•Sweden•Finansinspektionen
Sweden's Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen, FI) has appointed industry participants to a reference group for its first Innovation Compass guidance project on the reliability of automated and AI-based methods for ESG data. Through workshops, the project will identify practical questions and challenges in using such data for external sustainability reporting and for assessing and managing sustainability risks, with participants including Climate Tracker Initiative, Metria AB, SEB, Handelsbanken, SBAB Bank, Norion Bank and Länsförsäkringar AB.
SupervisionInnovation & testingArtificial intelligenceESG
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2026-04-08•Pakistan•State Bank of Pakistan
The State Bank of Pakistan reported workers’ remittances of USD 3.8 billion in March 2026, up 16.5% month on month but down 5.5% year on year. Cumulative remittances for July to March FY26 increased 8.2% to USD 30.3 billion, with March inflows mainly from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Data & statisticsBalance of payments and other external statistics
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2026-04-08•Peru•Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP del Peru
The Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Funds of Peru has updated the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework for legal entities operating casino games and slot machines supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. Resolution SBS No. 01015-2026 clarifies the scope and core components of AML/CFT prevention systems and extends the infringements and sanctions regime to entities offering remote games and sports betting, enhancing the Ministry’s sanctioning powers and aligning the regime with Financial Action Task Force standards.
Policy & regulationRules & requirementsAML and CFT
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2026-04-08•Seychelles•Seychelles Financial Services Authority
The Seychelles Financial Services Authority has announced that the accreditation of Mr. Paris Evros Stylianides (SDR247) as a Securities Dealer’s Representative of BLUEPINE LTD has been terminated, effective 3 September 2025. The notice, issued under Section 4(1)(m) of the Financial Services Authority Act, 2013, is for informational and public awareness purposes only and does not constitute an enforcement action or adverse determination.
SupervisionAuthorisations & approvalsLicence withdrawal
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s latest Latin America and the Caribbean Economic Update projects regional growth of 2.4% in 2025, 2.1% in 2026 and 2.4% in 2027, amid high borrowing costs, weak external demand and geopolitical uncertainty. The report says modest consumer spending, subdued investment, elevated public debt and higher energy prices are constraining growth and fiscal space, and identifies four priorities to raise productivity: closing skills gaps, expanding access to finance, strengthening insolvency frameworks, deepening trade integration, and building institutional capacity.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Economic Update forecasts growth in developing economies to slow to 2.1% in 2026, reflecting the Middle East conflict, broader geopolitical tensions, higher energy costs and trade fragmentation. It projects Russia’s growth at 0.8%, Central Asia at 4.9%, Central Europe at about 2.4%, the Western Balkans at 3.1%, and Ukraine at 1.2%, and flags an escalation of the Middle East conflict as a key downside risk via energy and food price shocks. The report also notes growing reliance on industrial policies, mostly targeting agriculture and food, and recommends more narrowly targeted, temporary interventions that support dynamic private firms, competition and structural reforms.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s Economic Update for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan warns the latest Middle East conflict is weakening the region’s 2026 growth outlook by disrupting markets, increasing financial volatility and damaging infrastructure. Excluding Iran, regional growth is now projected to slow from 4.0% in 2025 to 1.8% in 2026, with the downgrade concentrated in Gulf Cooperation Council economies and Iraq, where GCC growth is expected to fall from 4.4% to 1.3%. The update also highlights downside risks from a prolonged conflict and reviews the region’s mixed industrial policy efforts, often implemented through sovereign wealth funds and state-owned enterprises.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific Economic Update projects regional growth to slow to 4.2% in 2026 from 5.0% in 2025, driven by an energy shock linked to the Middle East conflict, elevated trade barriers, global policy uncertainty, and domestic challenges. China’s growth is forecast at 4.2% in 2026 and 4.3% in 2027, while the rest of the region is expected to grow 4.1% in 2026 and rebound to 5.0% in 2027. A sustained 50% fuel price increase could cut household incomes by 3% to 4%. The update highlights AI-related exports and investment as near-term support but notes limited adoption, and calls for targeted support to households and SMEs plus renewed structural reforms.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s biannual Africa Economic Update revises its 2026 Sub-Saharan Africa growth projection down by 0.3 percentage points from October 2025, while keeping growth at 4.1% for both 2025 and 2026, and warns that recovery from a decade of shocks is stalling amid rising downside risks. It cites conflict in the Middle East, high debt-service burdens, structural constraints, rising fuel, food and fertilizer prices, tighter financial conditions, and declining external financing, with inflation projected at 4.8% in 2026, public capital investment about 20% below 2014 levels, and external public debt service rising from 9% of revenue in 2017 to 18% in 2025. The report highlights industrial policy as a special focus, recommending it be used sparingly and anchored in learning, clear performance benchmarks, credible exit strategies, and stronger regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank Group’s South Asia Economic Update projects regional growth to slow to 6.3% in 2026 from 7% in 2025 due to global energy market disruptions, before recovering to 6.9% in 2027, with India’s domestic demand and trade agreements as the main driver. The report highlights risks from imported energy dependence, global financial turbulence, climate shocks, and AI’s impact on service exports. It finds South Asia uses industrial policy at roughly twice the rate of other emerging economies, with mixed results, and recommends more targeted measures in urban development, tourism, and digital services, backed by a better business environment and stronger state capacity.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s Bangladesh Development Update projects growth slowing to 3.9% in FY26 and warns that persistent inflation, rising poverty, weak revenue mobilization, subdued private investment, and banking-sector stress are undermining resilience to external shocks. It cites elevated vulnerabilities, including a 30.6% non-performing loan ratio in December 2025, capital adequacy below regulatory minimums, and a tax-to-GDP ratio under 7% in FY25, and urges reforms to restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen the financial sector, boost revenues, and improve the business environment.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Global•World Bank
The World Bank’s Nepal Development Update projects growth to slow to 2.3% in FY26 from 4.6% in FY25, then average 4.4% in FY27–FY28, driven by reconstruction, hydropower expansion and election-related consumption. It flags heightened uncertainty, with downside risks from a prolonged Middle East conflict affecting tourism and remittances, and upside risks from improved political stability, macroeconomic management and structural reforms. Regionally, the World Bank Group’s South Asia Economic Update forecasts South Asia growth easing to 6.3% in 2026 from 7% in 2025, then rising to 6.9% in 2027.
ResearchEconomic data and developments
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2026-04-08•Singapore•Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore told Parliament it is reviewing safeguards for GIRO billing, working with the Association of Banks in Singapore and member banks to strengthen protections against errors and misuse. The review will consider allowing customers to set monthly limits on the value and number of GIRO deductions for individual arrangements, and enhancing transaction monitoring and due diligence on billing organisations, taking into account suggestions from Members of Parliament and the public.
Policy & regulationGuidance & interpretationKYC
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2026-04-08•Singapore•Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore, in a parliamentary reply on the 19 March 2026 DBS and POSB digital banking disruption, outlined its supervisory expectations on system resilience and confirmed that investigations identified the root cause. MAS reiterated that banks must limit unscheduled downtime for critical systems to four hours over any rolling 12-month period and restore services swiftly and safely, and will follow up with DBS Bank to strengthen its change management process after an erroneous step during a system change caused the outage.
SupervisionInterventionsOperational risk and resilience
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2026-04-08•Singapore•Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore outlined safeguards, including interest rate floors in Total Debt Servicing Ratio calculations and Housing & Development Board loan affordability assessments, to pre-empt over-borrowing for property purchases and bolster resilience to rising interest rates. The Housing & Development Board offers concessionary loans to eligible buyers and pegs its mortgage rate to the Central Provident Fund Ordinary Account rate, while the authority said domestic interest rates remain stable but urged borrower prudence amid global uncertainty.
Policy & regulationGuidance & interpretationLendingMacroprudential policy and tools