UK Export Finance x British Business Bank: Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled a joint scheme launching next spring to boost lending for thousands of smaller exporters, using UKEF portfolio guarantees to lower lender costs and widen access to working-capital finance. State Financial Strategy: South Korea’s President Lee will chair talks on 2027 budget planning and mid-term financial management, with ministers briefing on chips/AI, energy infrastructure, youth policy and the social safety net. Wealth & Markets: Managers argue emerging markets still fit portfolios in 2026 despite Middle East risks, while Hong Kong-headquartered FGA Trust highlights cross-border wealth planning demand. Gold Hub Push: Singapore is positioning for a bigger role in Asia’s physical gold clearing, storage and pricing, including OTC clearing and central-bank vaulting plans. AI Security in Finance: Gigamon says AI adoption is outpacing security visibility, with many firms reporting AI-related breaches and phishing. Corporate/Private Credit: KKR backed a A$400m financing solution for Ampol, underscoring private credit’s role in refinancing and corporate capital needs. Pakistan Crypto Sharia Review: The crypto regulator met a scholar after a fatwa said crypto use is prohibited, with stablecoins and tokenized assets to be assessed separately. Fraud & Governance: KPMG disclosed it’s under investigation by Australia’s finance department over ethical standards, while a Texas appeals court upheld a former police chief’s insurance fraud conviction. Public Finance Pressure: Egypt’s central bank launched a generative AI training cohort for finance professionals, and China’s 15th Five-Year Plan signals growing concern about a potential financial crash via bailout-fund planning.