General News

August 3, 2026 @ 2:40 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) has revealed its intention to purchase MDSec Consulting Limited, a specialized information security firm based in the United Kingdom. The move aims to reinforce the bank’s defenses against increasingly sophisticated digital threats. Announced on July 30, 2026, the transaction is… Read More

August 2, 2026 @ 6:01 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Total deposits held with Hong Kong’s authorized institutions rose 0.1% in June from the previous month, as growth in Hong Kong dollar deposits offset a decline in foreign currency deposits, while bank lending continued to strengthen, official data showed. Figures released by the Hong Kong… Read More

August 1, 2026 @ 6:55 pm By Michael Wong  |  

TBC Bank Group said its acquisition of OLX Uzbekistan is a long-term strategic investment that will help expand its digital ecosystem beyond banking while opening the door to future embedded finance offerings on one of the country’s largest online marketplaces. The comments came in an… Read More

July 28, 2026 @ 10:44 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Customers of several major UK high street banks faced disruptions to digital banking services on Monday, with widespread reports of difficulties completing online transfers and payments. Account holders at institutions including Lloyds Banking Group brands and Barclays encountered problems that began emerging around midday, according… Read More

July 28, 2026 @ 9:37 am By JD Alois  |  

SparkKitty is a Trojan horse-type malware hack that targets crypto accounts. While the malware has been around for a couple of years, recent reports about its prevalence on both Google Play and the Apple Store are reminders that consumers must always be diligent – even… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 8:44 am By Michael Wong  |  

Early-stage companies developing solutions in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, inclusive finance, and other priority sectors may receive up to $400,000 in seed funding under a new program launched by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). ADB Ventures, the venture… Read More

July 26, 2026 @ 5:16 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Qatar is seeking to build the skilled workforce needed to support its ambitions of becoming a regional financial and fintech hub. “Developing national talent is essential to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030, serving as a fundamental pillar for supporting sustainable economic growth,” Qatar Financial… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 12:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

CB Insights has pointed out that global venture capital activity in the second quarter of 2026 showed continued strength in total dollars deployed. According to CB Insights’ latest State of Venture report, funding surpassed $200 billion for the second consecutive quarter, building on the record… Read More

July 13, 2026 @ 11:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

According to the latest joint report from KPMG and the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), the UK jobs market in June 2026 reflected ongoing economic caution amid geopolitical tensions. Compiled by S&P Global from surveys of approximately 400 recruitment agencies, the data highlights a notable… Read More

July 13, 2026 @ 2:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A new analysis from Visa Business and Economic Insights (VBEI) indicates that the anticipated intergenerational shift of assets—often called the great wealth transfer—is actively influencing spending habits among Americans today, particularly in significant purchases such as homes, vehicles, and vacations. Researchers estimate that roughly $36… Read More

July 13, 2026 @ 12:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently shared that in the wake of the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) 2020 enforcement action, he and co-founder Chris Larsen carefully evaluated shutting down the organization and allocating its extensive XRP reserves directly to equity holders. This alternative would… Read More

July 12, 2026 @ 6:57 am By Michael Wong  |  

“Innovation needs capital, and Hong Kong is where capital and ideas meet,” the city’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said as Hong Kong sought to reinforce its position as a regional technology and fundraising hub during the inaugural LEAP East conference. The three-day LEAP East… Read More

July 12, 2026 @ 6:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A new analysis from Equifax (NYSE: EFX) underscores mounting financial strain on US households, particularly those in the middle-income bracket. The company’s latest Market Pulse Index, which draws on anonymized credit, debt, income, and asset information combined with credit scoring insights, fell to 60.9 in… Read More

July 12, 2026 @ 1:04 am By Michael Wong  |  

A consortium led by private investment firm B Capital has agreed to acquire global investment solutions provider Russell Investments from private equity firms TA Associates and Reverence Capital Partners, as the asset manager looks to expand its technology capabilities and accelerate growth. The investor group… Read More

July 6, 2026 @ 2:39 am By Michael Wong  |  

Private markets investment firm Hamilton Lane has held the final close of its sixth direct equity fund, raising $3.8 billion in total commitments for its Direct Equity strategy in and alongside Hamilton Lane Equity Opportunities Fund VI, or EO VI. The fundraising marks the firm’s… Read More

July 5, 2026 @ 12:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Golomt Bank have signed a $64 million loan agreement to expand sustainable finance and increase lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), including women-owned businesses, in Mongolia. The financing package comprises $60 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources… Read More

July 4, 2026 @ 8:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A research report indicates that the US private credit and middle-market sector wrapped up the second quarter of 2026 with notably subdued buyout and direct-lending activity. This, according to PitchBook’s update which also noted that while the overall deal flow remained light, a handful of… Read More

July 4, 2026 @ 5:55 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Select fintech product releases this week from Ondo Finance, Lantern, Bluprynt and Klaviyo. Ondo Finance, Broadridge Financial Solutions launch third-party tokenized securities solution It’s a live solution of third-party tokenized U.S. securities operating entirely within the existing regulatory perimeter in the U.S. to provide full… Read More

July 3, 2026 @ 8:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) released its latest Economic Report, extensively outlining several interconnected challenges facing the world economy. These include uncertainties around the longevity of the artificial intelligence expansion, persistent financial fragilities, stretched government budgets, and renewed inflationary risks. The research report from… Read More

June 30, 2026 @ 9:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Bank of England’s Money and Credit statistics point to a noticeable slowdown in mortgage activity, with net borrowing by individuals falling to £2.9 billion from £4.4 billion in April. KPMG UK also mentioned that mortgage approvals for house purchases declined to 56,200, down from… Read More