Banking sector

Singapore's major financial institutions have pledged to train more than 80,000 local employees in AI skills, as the country moves to cushion white-collar workers from potential job disruption. The commitment makes the financial sector one of the largest participants in Singapore's push to reskill its workforce amid rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in banking and finance roles.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has scheduled releases of its business surveys covering the manufacturing, service and energy sectors, as listed in the Dallas Morning News business datebook. The surveys are closely watched indicators of economic conditions in Texas and the surrounding region, informing businesses and analysts about hiring, prices and outlook across key local industries.

Iraq and the United States have agreed to resume shipments of US dollar cash into Iraq, according to Middle East Monitor. The move matters because Iraq relies heavily on physical dollars for banking and currency exchange, and earlier halts to cash deliveries strained the country's financial system and contributed to pressure on the Iraqi dinar.

The Bulgarian National Bank has warned that a proposed tax on banks could end up raising the cost of credit for businesses and households. According to the central bank, taxing the banking sector may lead lenders to pass the additional burden on to customers through higher interest rates and fees, potentially tightening access to financing. The warning adds to ongoing debate over fiscal measures affecting the country's financial sector.

Syria's state news agency SANA reports the country anticipates more than $1 billion in foreign capital to fund newly established banks. The announcement points to efforts to rebuild Syria's financial sector and attract international investment as the country emerges from years of conflict and sanctions. Details on which foreign investors or institutions are involved have not been disclosed.

South Korean regulators are calling for liquidity safeguards for won-backed stablecoins, while Hana Bank has issued $100 million in blockchain-based digital bonds. The moves highlight Korea's dual track of tightening oversight of stablecoins while advancing tokenized bond markets, drawing attention across Asia's crypto and banking sectors this week.

Da Afghanistan Bank and the Afghanistan Credit Guarantee Foundation have signed a cooperation agreement. The deal is expected to support lending and financial sector development, though details of what the agreement covers have not been spelled out. Afghanistan's banking sector has faced isolation and restrictions since the Taliban takeover in 2021, making any new institutional cooperation notable.