Local Government Finance: Havering Council says it will still need £54.2m of “exceptional financial support” from the UK government to stabilise town-hall finances, despite expecting a £22.8m underspend, with repayment over 20 years adding pressure. Wealth & Markets (India): Bank of India Mutual Fund’s Mohit Bhatia argues active management can still find “uneven” alpha across Indian equities, especially where research coverage is thinner. Banking Strategy (India): PNB plans to enter wealth management by early 2027 using relationship managers across 1,700 branches, while also pushing credit cards hard to challenge private lenders. AI in Finance (US/Global): OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Financial Services for investment banking and equity research, bundling premium datasets and modelling support with enterprise controls. Digital Assets & Investing (Asia): Alpha Ladder WealthX expands tokenised global equities access via Payward’s xStocks for institutional and accredited investors in selected markets. Financial Crime Controls (Thailand): Thailand’s central bank tightens anti-money-laundering and fraud safeguards, including closer scrutiny of high-risk cash transactions and industry-wide information sharing. Corporate Finance (Real Estate): JLL arranged $62.5m financing for a 44 Middlesex Tpke advanced manufacturing campus, alongside other US property debt deals. Wealth Tax Debate (UK): A fresh UK political fight over wealth taxes and “wealth exodus” continues as business leaders warn high taxes drive talent away.