MSME Financing Push (Malaysia): Malaysia’s SJPP approved RM4.9bn in financing for over 6,000 MSMEs in 1H 2026, as Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government has backed MSMEs with more than RM15bn in loans and guarantees, including RM5bn for Bumiputera firms. Corporate Credit & AI (Global): EY’s banking discussion flags corporate financing “adjustment” as private credit pressures rise and AI moves into credit decisioning and client coverage. Stock-Market Volatility (South Korea): Korea’s finance minister said the government is weighing measures to curb volatility tied to newly introduced single-stock leveraged ETFs that track Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. UK Deal Boom (UK): EY data points to a surge in UK financial-services M&A in H1, driven by low valuations and AI-led capital needs, even as concerns grow about shrinking listed markets. Central Bank Policy (China/Hong Kong): PBOC plans to boost Hong Kong’s role by raising the share of reserve assets invested there and expanding Bond Connect quotas and product scope. Project Finance (Iraq): KEPPT hired J.P. Morgan to arrange $1.6bn development financing for a Basra urea plant aimed at cutting import reliance and supporting agriculture. Startup Funding (Korea): Woori Financial Group unveiled a 7 trillion won roadmap to fund startups across their lifecycle, from incubation to IPOs. Crypto Expansion (UAE): Bitcoin Suisse’s Abu Dhabi unit received ADGM Financial Services Permission to offer regulated digital-asset services to institutional clients. Travel FX Tightening (Iraq): Iraq’s central bank cut the traveler foreign-currency allowance from $3,000 to $2,000, with extra needs routed to electronic cards at the official rate.