Middle East
How will Europe’s central banks react to the Middle East crisis?
ECB unlikely to veer from rate path as it had expected to undershoot during 2026
Emerging economies likely to lag advanced in AI-led growth – study
BIS report highlights divergence in technology’s impact on jobs and countries’ ability to adapt
IMF: shareholders must absorb Lebanon’s bank losses first
Effort to repay depositors cannot undermine public debt sustainability, fund says after mission
Egypt cuts rates by 100bp and lowers reserve requirements
Central bank continues to reverse tight monetary policy stance as inflation gradually declines
Dollar will remain core to global finance – Saudi governor
US currency maintains strong liquidity and robust legal framework despite “hiccups”, says Sayari
People: Turkey appoints new deputy governors
Plus high-level restructurings in Thailand and Italy
Iran using Tether’s stablecoin to bypass sanctions, report finds
Central bank thought to be using USDT to buy rial on crypto exchanges as domestic currency plummets
Iran replaces central bank governor amid mass protests
Abdolnasser Hemmati becomes monetary chief for second time as street demonstrations continue
Visa to launch payment operations in Syria
Card service provider partners with central bank to integrate country into global digital economy
People: Saudi governor elected to BIS board
Plus senior appointments in Asia, the Middle East and Europe
Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia to launch $1bn fund
HKMA will team up with Saudi sovereign wealth fund to help Chinese firms invest in Middle East
Lebanon strengthens oversight of financial system after US visit
Central bank tightens AML/CFT rules as Washington tells it to contain Hezbollah funding
Tunisian government to seek monetary financing again
Treasury plans to tap $3.7 billion from central bank to plug fiscal deficit and repay foreign debt
Egypt continues easing cycle with 100bp cuts
Slowing inflation and strong currency provide room for lowering rates as country expects IMF review
Ex-BdL governor released on bail after year in detention
Riad Salameh, former head of Lebanon’s central bank, was arrested over corruption allegations
Sama enables Google Pay, to launch Alipay+ by 2026
Saudi central bank expands payment system to global players in digitalisation drive
Political turmoil rattles Turkish lira carry trade
Echoes of March crackdown that sparked market rout leave traders on alert
Ireland no longer approving Israel bond prospectuses in EU
Luxembourg takes over following campaign by Irish civil society groups
Egypt’s president renews term of central bank chief
Acting governor Hassan Abdalla begins fourth year in post amid economy recovery
Obituary: Süreyya Serdengeçti, 1952–2025
Governor of Turkey’s central bank whose policies brought inflation down from 75% to single-digit figures
Trends in reserve management 2025: survey results
Insights on strategies in anticipation of tariffs, interest rate divergence and geopolitical risk, FX diversification and de-dollarisation, as well as bitcoin in reserves, FX interventions and gold