National Bank of Georgia publishes August macroeconomic and financial sector reviews
The National Bank of Georgia has published its August macroeconomic and financial sector reviews to provide timely analytical data.
The National Bank of Georgia has published its August macroeconomic and financial sector reviews to provide timely analytical data.
The Central Bank of Russia will broaden digital ruble access from September 1, 2026, through major banks and retailers. Individuals may add up to RUB 300,000 monthly, while businesses have no top-up limit and will receive fee-free transactions through the end of 2026.
The Central Bank of Estonia reported second-quarter GDP growth of 1.8% year over year and 0.3% quarter over quarter, led by goods exports and manufacturing. Domestic demand was weaker as corporate investment fell and household spending growth slowed. Improving business assessments indicate further economic growth in the second half.
India’s International Financial Services Centres Authority and Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission have established a referral mechanism for fintech businesses seeking to operate in each other’s markets. Building on their December 2025 cooperation framework, the agreement also covers information sharing on financial innovation, technology, market trends and regulatory developments.
The Bank of Thailand reported that the economy expanded from the previous month in July, driven by technology-related exports, manufacturing and tourism. Headline inflation declined, the current account deficit narrowed and labor market conditions remained stable, while private investment softened.
The Central Bank of Uruguay reported improved risk-adjusted reserve performance in the first half of 2026 as it further diversified the international reserve portfolio. Its management strategy continued to prioritize liquidity, security, capital preservation and risk control.
China's National Financial Regulatory Administration will establish a permanent mechanism to address performance-related shortcomings across its four-tier supervisory system. The measures include recurring reviews, integration with inspection and audit remediation, results-based personnel practices and an initiative to strengthen supervisory discipline and efficiency.
The Indonesia Financial Services Authority has imposed 1,277 sanctions, prohibitions and written orders so far in 2026 for capital markets and reporting compliance breaches. These included 93 enforcement measures for substantive violations and 1,184 sanctions for late reporting, with fines totaling IDR 73.99 billion and IDR 253.07 billion, respectively.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority published data on Hong Kong’s foreign currency reserves and liquidity at the end of July 2026 under the International Monetary Fund’s dissemination standard.
Mexico's government and fuel retail sector have renewed their voluntary gasoline and diesel price stabilization strategy for six months. Regular gasoline has remained below MXN 24 per liter in most of the country, while diesel has stayed below MXN 27 per liter and below MXN 25.39 in border areas.
Hong Kong mortgage applications fell 24% month on month in July, while approved loans declined 11.4% to HKD 44.8 billion. Drawdowns rose 6%, outstanding lending increased 0.4%, and the delinquency ratio remained low at 0.11%.
Hong Kong deposits rose 0.9% and total loans increased 0.2% in July 2026, taking growth in the year to end-July to 5.8% and 6.6%, respectively. RMB deposits reached RMB 1,125.4 billion, while the HKD loan-to-deposit ratio declined to 70.7%.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority warned of fraudulent banking websites, fake login screens, phishing emails and other scams. Customers should not provide passwords or one-time passwords through embedded links and should contact their bank and the Hong Kong Police Force if affected.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority published an alert about fraudulent websites impersonating Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited and offering purported Faster Payment System buyer protection and transaction support. The sites seek identity and bank account information and may connect users with fraudsters posing as customer service staff.
Argentina's Economy Minister Luis Caputo told the G20 that spending cuts, the elimination of fiscal and quasi-fiscal deficits, tax reductions and recently approved reforms underpin the country's growth strategy. He reported about USD 50 billion in approved large investment projects and another USD 150 billion under evaluation.
The Central Bank of the Republic of San Marino has opened a sealed-bid auction covering 228 lots of vehicles and other movable property. Unsold lots will return in two later sessions at discounts of 30% and 60% from initial base prices, with deposits and five-working-day payment requirements applying.
The National Bank of Georgia has begun publishing individual data on investment funds’ assets under management. Market assets rose 2.4-fold year over year to GEL 546 million at the end of the second quarter of 2026, with 11 asset managers and 24 funds operating as of June 30.
The Central Bank of Russia outlined a baseline and three alternative economic scenarios for the next three years, with monetary policy under each aimed at returning inflation to 4%.
The Central Bank of Russia’s draft three-year monetary policy guidelines project inflation returning to its 4% target in 2027. The baseline requires an average key rate of 13.7–14% for the rest of 2026 and 10.5–12.5% in 2027, with the rate returning to its neutral range in 2029.
The Bank of the Lao PDR’s Party Executive Committee reviewed first-half implementation of Laos’ 2026 socioeconomic, budget and monetary plans and outlined second-half priorities. It also certified 31 internal party units as clean, strong and steadfast and classified 25 as strong.
Ukraine’s financial authorities reported that the National Financial Literacy Development Strategy remains on schedule, with 13% of its 82 measures completed and 61% under planned implementation by the end of 2025. Progress included compulsory financial literacy education for eighth-grade students and targeted resources on financial behavior, entrepreneurship and payment security. Funding constraints could put nine measures involving interactive learning tools at risk.
Türkiye's Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency publishes key financial information from supervised institutions each month to support transparency and public information.
The Malta Financial Services Authority, Malta Police Force and Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services have launched scamalert.mt to help individuals and businesses identify and respond to financial scams. The platform provides alerts and practical guidance and directs suspected victims to the appropriate reporting authority.
Estonia's Ministry of Finance outlined Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi’s schedule for Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. Key events include presenting the summer economic forecast to parliamentary committees and meeting financial supervisory, government and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development officials.
The Estonian Ministry of Finance assessed that revised data show the economy grew in 2022 and remained stronger in subsequent years than previously estimated. Growth slowed from 2.9% in the first quarter of 2026 to 1.8% in the second, while recovering exports, lower income taxes and improving confidence support moderate near-term growth.
Norges Bank will make net foreign currency purchases equivalent to NOK 176 million per day in September 2026. This reflects daily purchases of NOK 300 million on behalf of the state and sales of NOK 124 million to fund dividend and interest transfers.
Sveriges Riksbank Deputy Governor Per Jansson said policymakers have scope to wait before adjusting monetary policy, despite a slight increase in the risk of elevated inflation. The Riksbank will assess whether unexpectedly high summer inflation is temporary or more persistent ahead of its end-September meeting.
The Central Bank of Bahrain and the National Cyber Security Center held a cybersecurity awareness event for financial services professionals focused on data protection in the AI era. Sessions covered human risk, secure practices, artificial intelligence and emerging cyber threats.
A European Central Bank working paper finds that environmental policy uncertainty offsets about 75% of the policy-induced increase in US cleantech projects and about 50% of the increase in capital expenditure. The effect is stronger for foreign investors and persists for at least two years, while disaggregated capital expenditure results are less robust.
HM Treasury has launched four competitions under its GBP 100 million Sovereign AI procurement scheme, covering health care productivity, computing efficiency, defense AI integration and AI agent security. Successful British startups may receive upfront payments and will retain intellectual property developed through the program.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance convened a workshop on domestic and international climate policy, climate finance and the Circular Carbon Economy Approach. The National Debt Management Center also reviewed the Kingdom’s March 2024 Green Finance Framework for encouraging public- and private-sector climate and environmental finance.
Financial Stability Board Chair Andrew Bailey warned that frontier AI models could intensify cyber risk and urged authorities to support safe deployment. Financial firms should strengthen recovery capabilities and the resilience of critical service providers. He also cautioned that leverage, stretched valuations and AI-related optimism could amplify a market correction.
A European Central Bank blog finds that growing US hyperscaler issuance has broadened the euro area corporate bond market without materially crowding out other issuers so far. Hyperscalers have about EUR 40 billion outstanding and account for nearly 10% of new euro-denominated non-financial corporate bond issuance. Further growth could increase concentration and borrowing costs as investors adjust portfolios and demand higher risk premiums.
The Astana Financial Services Authority has set an approach for testing financial and economic event-based contracts exclusively within the AIFC FinTech Lab. Access is limited to qualifying professional and semi-professional clients, while full collateralization, no leverage and controls for conduct, market abuse and financial crime are required.
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of the Republic of Kazakhstan has opened selection for vacant positions from Aug. 31 through Sept. 30, 2026. Preference will be given to candidates with relevant experience, recognized financial or language certifications, and specified educational backgrounds.
The Central Bank of Russia reported that non-governmental pension fund reserves reached RUB 3.3 trillion in the second quarter, supported by investment income and strong programme inflows. Pension savings edged up to RUB 3.6 trillion, while average pre-fee returns remained above inflation.
The Central Bank of Russia reported that housing construction project finance grew 6% in the second quarter of 2026 to nearly RUB 11 trillion. Escrow inflows fell 12% to RUB 1.2 trillion, while installment-related outstanding payments remained around RUB 1.5 trillion and the average developer loan rate eased to 9.9%.
The maximum ruble deposit rate among Russia’s 10 largest household deposit-taking institutions was 12.90% in the final two 10-day periods of August 2026. It stood at 12.89% in the first period.
The Central Bank of Taiwan reported that banks’ derivatives turnover fell 7.29% month over month to NTD 24,165.7 billion in July 2026, mainly due to declines in interest rate swaps and foreign exchange swaps. Foreign exchange contracts accounted for 87.08% of turnover, while domestic banks generated 73.33% of the total.
The Central Bank of Liberia has launched an enhanced digital registry for movable and immovable collateral to support secured lending and widen access to finance. The platform connects with national land and identification databases, and financial institutions have been urged to adopt it.
The Central Bank of Liberia has launched an enhanced digital registry for movable and immovable collateral to support secured lending and wider access to finance. The platform connects with national land and identification databases, and financial institutions have been urged to adopt it.
The South Korea Financial Services Commission approved a six-part plan to replace lecture-led financial education for military personnel with practical training, personalized counseling and risk prevention. Measures include one-to-one debt support, investment education, participation incentives and possible recognition of completed military savings accounts as positive credit history. Implementation begins immediately, with additional programs rolling out through 2027.
The Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission is consulting on rules for intermediaries facilitating investment in overseas digital asset derivatives. Retail, high net worth and ultra high net worth investors would be limited to products aligned with Thai-traded contracts and meeting specified exchange, clearing and oversight conditions, while institutional investors could access other products.
The National Bank of Serbia has published its quarterly bank lending survey results, questionnaire and methodology. The voluntary survey covers all credit market segments, has a nearly 100% response rate and follows a methodology aligned with euro-area central bank surveys.
The Czech National Bank will pay interest on the 2022–2030 government bond and stripped coupon No. 4 on September 30, 2026. Eligible holders recorded at the end of August 31 must provide payment instructions and required documents by September 17.
The Central Bank of Kenya has approved Nedbank Group’s acquisition of up to 66% of NCBA Group. The acquisition will take effect upon completion of the transaction under the parties’ agreement.
The National Bank of Ukraine and six partner authorities reported that 13% of the financial literacy strategy’s 82 actions were complete at the end of 2025 and 61% were underway as planned. Progress included compulsory financial literacy education for eighth-grade students, while funding shortfalls could threaten nine planned measures.
The Kazakhstan Ministry of Finance has proposed extending mandatory Virtual Warehouse waybills and electronic invoices to agricultural products and goods subject to minimum price levels. The draft would also standardize the covered goods list and align system terminology with the Digital Code.
Bank Indonesia has delivered 32.5 tons of humanitarian aid to earthquake-affected communities in East Nusa Tenggara. It is also supporting banking liquidity and rupiah availability, coordinating measures to contain food-price pressures, and planning post-disaster recovery programs.
Bank Indonesia and the Monetary Authority of Singapore have operationalized a framework for settling bilateral transactions in rupiah and Singapore dollars. Nine Indonesian banks and three Singaporean banks will facilitate current account transactions, direct investment transactions and cross-border payments as appointed dealers.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore has committed SGD 220 million over three years to FSTI 4.0, supporting technology development and adoption, shared infrastructure and financial technology talent. The six-track scheme prioritizes AI and other frontier technologies, targets at least 1,000 internships and adds a scale-up grant for eligible competition finalists.
The Bank of Spain reported that Spain’s 12-month net lending stood at 3.3% of GDP, or EUR 57.6 billion, through June 2026, down from 4.1% a year earlier. A 4.1% tourism surplus and elevated capital-account transfers partly offset weaker non-tourism trade amid higher energy prices.
The South African Reserve Bank reported USD 73.45 billion in official reserve assets at end-July 2026, including USD 49.92 billion in foreign currency reserves. Predetermined central government outflows within one year included USD 302 million of principal and USD 1.91 billion of interest, while contingent drains totaled USD 1.82 billion.
HM Treasury announced the first nationwide industry alert on the Kremlin-backed A7 network’s sanctions-evasion methods. The chancellor also plans to raise the maximum fine for sanctions breaches from 50% to 100% of the breach value.
Brunei Darussalam Central Bank has advised consumers to select takaful or insurance coverage that reflects their financial needs, dependents and budget. Consumers should understand product terms and claims conditions, maintain affordable protection and deal only with licensed providers.
The Reserve Bank of Australia reported that total credit grew 0.6% in July 2026 and 8.4% over the year, led by 10.6% annual growth in business credit. It also flagged possible delays to financial aggregates and some statistical tables as the Direct to APRA reporting system is decommissioned.
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2026/27 corporate plan prioritizes modernizing monetary policy implementation, strengthening payment infrastructure and advancing work on digital money. The RBA plans to complete its payments regulation review, test new crisis management powers and assess the case for a retail central bank digital currency. It will also progress cyber upgrades and maintain demanding availability targets for critical settlement services.
Bank of Korea analysis found that semiconductor bonuses lifted monthly consumption by up to 4% in highly exposed regions and could raise cumulative spending by about KRW 1.7 trillion through 2026. With bonuses set to increase sharply, the resulting consumption is projected to add 0.06–0.09 percentage points to 2027 growth. The estimates cover bonuses from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix only.
The South Korea Financial Services Commission has introduced a single online complaint portal for victims of illegal private lending and expanded support throughout police investigations and recovery lawsuits. The Credit Counseling and Recovery Service can represent victims during investigations and refer eligible cases for civil action. Fully remote one-stop support is planned for October.
Brunei Darussalam Central Bank has added Goldpecker Community/HF Markets/HFM to its alert list in connection with investment activities. The entity is not currently licensed, authorized or regulated by the central bank, and customers would not receive protection under its regulatory framework.
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance reported that July all-industry production was flat month on month and 3.1% higher than a year earlier. Equipment investment rose 7.5%, while retail sales and construction output fell 2.4% and 1.1%, respectively. The ministry assessed that the recovery continued despite external uncertainty and cost-of-living pressures.
The South Korea Financial Supervisory Service reported that domestic banks met capital requirements at the end of June 2026. Their preliminary CET1 ratio rose 0.12 percentage points to 13.62%, while the leverage ratio declined to 6.59%.
The Thailand Office of Insurance Commission has set boundaries for unlicensed creators publishing insurance content online. General and factual information is permitted, but solicitation, personalized advice and contract facilitation may require a license. Sponsored content must be preapproved, transparently disclosed and paid on a basis unrelated to policies or premiums generated.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority is consulting on rule changes that would allow it to consider complaints under the Scams Prevention Framework. It is due to become the framework’s single external dispute resolution scheme for scam complaints from March 31, 2027.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority reported that total superannuation assets rose 9.5% year over year to AUD 4.77 trillion in June 2026. Contributions increased 12.8% to AUD 236.3 billion, while the annual rate of return declined to 8.6%.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority reported that superannuation assets rose 9.5% over the year and 6.6% over the June 2026 quarter to AUD 4.77 trillion. Annual contributions increased 12.8% to AUD 236.3 billion, while benefit payments grew 12.1% to AUD 148.2 billion.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority released July 2026 statistics covering the domestic banking activities of individual banks. The accompanying back series extends to March 2019.
The Bank of the Lao and Asian Development Bank group office director Shigeo Shimizu discussed Laos’ macroeconomic conditions, monetary policy and banking sector. The meeting continued their cooperation dialogue and considered technical exchanges and more targeted implementation of joint assistance plans.
The Bank of the Lao and the Asian Development Bank convened a two-day seminar to strengthen IFRS 9 implementation capabilities. The program focuses on expected credit loss modelling, including data requirements, implementation roadmaps and lessons from regional jurisdictions, as Laos prepares for full IFRS adoption in 2028.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration established a framework for sharing information and coordinating regulatory and enforcement work. The three-year arrangement covers matters including FDA-related disclosures by public companies.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has finalized three revised life insurance reporting standards for migration to APRA Connect. The standards apply to reporting periods ending on or after Dec. 31, 2026, with alternative submission arrangements remaining in place until then.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission found that cash settlements featured in at least 63% of reviewed home insurance claims, but offers and disclosures may not support fair consumer outcomes. Key shortcomings included reliance on preferred-supplier quotes, weak support for vulnerable consumers and inadequate data on settlement reasons and outcomes.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission found that at least 63% of reviewed home insurance claims involved full or partial cash settlements, which may expose consumers to repair-cost shortfalls. ASIC called for realistic and transparent offers, clearer information and stronger support for vulnerable consumers.
The Central Bank of Libya invited commercial banks to subscribe to its latest unrestricted Mudaraba deposit certificates under established procedures and specified tenors and maturity dates.
The Thailand Office of Insurance Commission is coordinating the insurance response to the Aug. 28 fire at Bangkok’s Khlong Thom Center. Deves Insurance is assessing damage under the building’s property all-risks policy, while the commission checks for additional coverage affecting shops, property and vehicles.
The Central Bank of Syria completed the country’s first Mastercard payment in more than 15 years after reconnecting its payment system to the global network. The live transaction, conducted with QNB Syria and Mastercard, paves the way for a gradual expansion of international card acceptance.
Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority is reviewing a draft phased roadmap for adopting IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. Entities would move from simplified climate reporting to initial and full IFRS application, followed by Global Reporting Initiative-aligned disclosures. The proposal remains under review and includes support to address governance, data, skills and assurance gaps.
Egypt's Financial Regulatory Authority completed its first listing-readiness course for 118 representatives from 34 state-owned companies and the state-owned enterprises and public offerings unit. The training covered the transition from provisional listing to an offering, with a focus on governance, disclosure and continuing market obligations.
The Central Bank of the UAE is participating in G20 finance and central bank meetings in the United States through Sept. 1, 2026. Discussions are expected to cover the global economy, monetary policy, growth, financial literacy, and measures against fraud and scams.
The Central Bank of the UAE and the Central Bank of Egypt said Banque Misr’s UAE branches continue to operate as usual while the authorities coordinate their response to a proposed U.S. special measure. The statement follows the CBUAE’s decision to conduct an urgent forensic review of the branches and a U.S. Treasury proposal to cut Banque Misr UAE off from U.S. correspondent banking access.
The Central Reserve Bank of Peru reported that mortgage lending grew 7.6% year over year and 0.4% month over month in July 2026. Sol-denominated lending drove the annual increase, while dollar loans represented 5.6% of mortgages.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury emphasized the need for sound Japanese monetary policy formulation and communication to anchor inflation expectations and limit excessive exchange rate volatility. Secretary Scott Bessent also backed Japan’s measures to address the yen’s substantial undervaluation and associated domestic inflation pressures.
The Saudi Central Bank licensed Jil Aldaf Alajil Company for buy now pay later activity, increasing the number of licensed finance companies to 78.
South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol will attend the Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Asheville. He will discuss global growth, monetary policy, debt and imbalances, present South Korea’s economic policy efforts and pursue bilateral meetings.
Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol departed South Korea as scheduled on Aug. 30 to attend the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Asheville from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1.
The Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority illustrated how early saving and voluntary contributions can increase projected MPF retirement balances. Under its scenarios, a median-income employee could accumulate HKD 2.21 million by age 65 through mandatory contributions, rising by about 50% to HKD 3.31 million with voluntary contributions equal to 5% of monthly income.
The Philippines Insurance Commission reported that pre-need industry assets rose 8.87% year over year to PHP 183.30 billion in the second quarter of 2026, while premium income increased 11.43%. Net income nevertheless fell 52.89% because of lower investment income, as liabilities grew 7.96% and net worth increased 12.84%.
The Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority donated jerseys for the 2026 Community Policing Cup in Rufiji and will participate in the event. The initiative supports road safety awareness, particularly among motorcycle taxi riders.
Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta and Senior Deputy Governor Paolo Angelini will participate in the upcoming G20 ministerial and deputies meetings, respectively.
Egypt's Financial Regulatory Authority has granted preliminary sandbox approval to two projects covering tokenized money market fund units and NFC-based passport verification for non-Egyptians. The approvals bring the first-year total to nine projects, while two of more than 50 submissions have entered live testing.
The Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority has removed the requirement for insurance and reinsurance brokerage companies to open at least two branches within three years. It has also barred consulting insurance experts from executive roles at brokerage companies to separate the activities and prevent conflicts of interest.
The Central Bank of the UAE has ordered an urgent special inspection of Banque Misr’s UAE branches after FinCEN proposed restricting their access to US correspondent banking. The review will cover the period cited by US authorities and focus on transactions involving named companies, after US authorities estimated that the branches processed about USD 1.8 billion for 103 companies potentially linked to Iranian shadow banking networks between January 2024 and June 2026. The Central Bank is also assessing its options if the proposed US measure is finalized, taking into account the bank’s obligations to UAE customers.
The Central Bank of Estonia paid tribute to former Governor Siim Kallas and reviewed his leadership of the 1992 monetary reform. It said the kroon’s fixed exchange rate and currency board framework established monetary stability, fiscal discipline and credibility that supported Estonia’s later European integration.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India’s health insurance subcommittee reviewed measures to simplify policies, strengthen point-of-sale underwriting and improve claim settlements. It also considered incentives for National Health Claims Exchange participation, better claims and grievance metrics, preventive health measures and clearer information for policyholders.
Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority has expanded its youth savings and financial education campaign, prioritizing Sekolah Rakyat students from low-income families. The One Account One Student program opened 679,000 new student accounts between September 2025 and June 2026, while student literacy and inclusion rates remain below national levels.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission has unveiled The Shield as its new emblem and visual identity. The transition begins Sept. 1, 2026, with full implementation across public-facing materials scheduled from Oct. 1, 2026.
Argentina Securities Commission Vice President Sonia Salvatierra outlined efforts to modernize and simplify capital market regulation while preserving transparency, integrity and investor protection. The current administration has approved more than 160 general resolutions and aligned internal audit practices with international standards.
The Central Bank of Aruba reported that broad money rose to Afl 7.72 billion in the second quarter of 2026, supported by a Afl 546.3 million inflow of foreign funds. Private-sector credit reached Afl 4.94 billion, while commercial banks remained above capital and liquidity requirements.
The Financial System Supervisory Authority of Bolivia convened a dialogue, supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, on preventive market conduct supervision and stronger financial consumer protection. Participants highlighted lifecycle-based consumer safeguards, safe product design, corporate governance and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
The Financial Superintendence of Colombia issued guidance for people affected by the August 10 earthquake on filing insurance claims and raising related complaints with supervised entities.