search
Regions Bank
Trends
- 1Smotrich urges Israel to wage war in West Bank▼Smotrich: Israel must ‘go to war’ in West Bank, ‘do there what we did in Gaza’
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel to 'go to war' in the West Bank, saying the army should 'do there what we did in Gaza'. The remark drew widespread attention as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza and near- daily operations in the occupied West Bank. Critics condemned the statement as a call for the destruction seen in Gaza to be replicated in another Palestinian territory.
- 2
The People's Bank of China set its daily USD/CNY central parity rate at a firmer level, a move analysts read as the central bank tightening its management of the yuan and signalling it is uncomfortable with recent currency weakness. Markets watch the daily fix closely for clues on Beijing's stance, and a stronger setting can lift the renminbi, affect regional currencies, and shift sentiment across Asian equities and commodity trades.
- 3Smotrich Calls for Gaza-Style War in West Bank▼‘Do What We Did in Gaza’: Smotrich Calls for War on Occupied West Bank
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for military action in the occupied West Bank on the scale of the Gaza war, urging Israel to 'do what we did in Gaza' there. The remarks are drawing condemnation from Palestinian officials and rights advocates, who warn such an escalation would deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis in the territory.
- 4Last residents of occupied Oleshky 'eat weeds to survive'▼‘Hell on earth’: last residents eat weeds to survive in Russian-occupied Oleshky
A Guardian report describes Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's Kherson region, as 'hell on earth', saying the few remaining residents are reduced to eating weeds to survive. The account highlights severe food shortages, destroyed infrastructure and the dangers of life under occupation, drawing renewed attention to the humanitarian crisis in the occupied east bank of the Dnipro river.
- 5Smotrich calls for West Bank war and annexations▼Smotrich calls for West Bank war, annexation of Lebanon, Gaza
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has publicly called for a war in the West Bank and for Israel to annex the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, according to reports from The New Arab. The remarks, made by a senior member of Israel's government, have drawn attention for their extremity, as they call for military escalation in the occupied West Bank and territorial expansion beyond Israel's borders. They come amid heightened tensions in the region and ongoing debate over Israel's conduct in Gaza and its policies in the occupied territories.
- 6Israeli minister Smotrich calls for war in West Bank▼Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for war in occupied West Bank
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has publicly called for war in the occupied West Bank, according to Al Jazeera. The remarks by a senior member of Israel's government are likely to draw international criticism and sharpen concerns over escalating violence and military operations in the Palestinian territory, where tensions have already been running high.
- 7Ukraine warns of starvation in occupied Oleshky●⚠️⛔️Ukraine sounds alarm over situation in temporarily occupied Oleshky, where trapped civilians are being forced by Rus
Ukraine has raised the alarm over conditions in Oleshky, a town in Kherson region occupied by Russian forces, saying trapped civilians are being deliberately starved and forced to eat grass to survive. Kyiv describes the situation as a war crime and is drawing international attention to the plight of residents unable to leave the occupied left bank of the Dnipro.
- 8Fed Rate Hikes Pressure Asian Markets, But Banks May Gain▼Fed Rate Hikes Put Asian Markets Under Pressure, but Banks and Insurers May Benefit
US Federal Reserve rate hikes are weighing on Asian equity markets, with investors concerned about capital outflows and higher borrowing costs. However, analysts note that banks and insurers across the region could benefit, as rising interest rates tend to improve lending margins and returns on invested assets. Commentary is focusing on this split impact across Asian financial sectors.
- 9Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Prices and Bond Yields Rise▼Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Prices and Bond Yields Continue to Rise
Asian equity markets fell as oil prices and bond yields continued climbing, raising concerns about inflation pressures and higher borrowing costs across the region. Investors weighed the impact of costlier energy on companies and consumers, while rising yields drew money away from stocks. Traders are watching whether central banks will respond with further policy tightening.
- 10
Asian stock markets closed mixed as oil prices moved higher. Gains and losses were split across the region, with rising crude prices weighing on some markets while lifting energy stocks. Investors are watching how higher oil costs affect inflation, central bank policy and corporate earnings in the days ahead.
- 11Egypt rejects Israeli calls to expand West Bank operations▼Egypt rejects Israeli calls to expand West Bank operations; Smotrich urges Gaza-style war
Egypt has rejected calls from Israeli officials to expand military operations in the occupied West Bank, after far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a Gaza-style war there. Cairo warned such a escalation would destabilise the region further, deepening tensions between Israel and a key mediator in the conflict.
- 12
Israel has revoked diplomatic privileges for Dutch officials based in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. The move affects the status of Netherlands' representative office staff there, though the exact reasons and scope have not been detailed. The decision adds a new point of friction between Israel and a European government at a sensitive time for international diplomacy over the region.
- 13Singapore banks pledge AI training for 80,000 workers●Singapore’s major financial institutions pledged to train more than 80,000 local employees in AI skills as the country m
Singapore's major financial institutions have committed to training more than 80,000 local employees in artificial intelligence skills. The move comes as the country works to protect white-collar workers from potential job disruption caused by AI adoption. The pledge, backed by leading banks and financial firms, is being seen as one of the larger coordinated reskilling efforts in the region's financial sector.
- 14EBRD weighs funding for GW-scale solar-storage project in Egypt●EBRD mulls funding GW-scale solar-storage project in Egypt
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is considering financing a large-scale solar and battery storage project in Egypt with a capacity in the gigawatt range. The potential backing would support Egypt's push to expand renewable energy capacity and grid stability, drawing interest given the country's growing role as a regional clean energy hub.
- 15Rupee under pressure as Iran talks stall●Rupee pressured by Iran talks impasse; RBI intervention a 'reliable' buffer
The Indian rupee is facing downward pressure amid an impasse in talks involving Iran, which has kept regional risks elevated. Traders say the Reserve Bank of India's interventions in currency markets remain a reliable buffer, limiting sharp swings in the currency. Attention is on whether diplomacy progresses and how aggressively the central bank defends the rupee.
- 16Malaysia think tank urges central bank to cut reserves for green lending●Bank Negara Malaysia urged to cut reserves to spur green lending: think tank
A Malaysian think tank is urging Bank Negara Malaysia to lower reserve requirements for banks, arguing the move would free up funds for green lending and support sustainable financing. The proposal ties monetary policy to environmental goals, and is being discussed in regional banking circles as a way to accelerate Malaysia's transition finance agenda.
- 17Huntington names former USAA executive to unify marketing and digital●Huntington unites marketing, digital in a push for growth Former USAA executive Ameesh Vakharia has been tasked with ali
Huntington National Bank has hired Ameesh Vakharia, a former USAA executive, to lead an effort combining its marketing and digital functions. He will be responsible for aligning the regional bank's brand experience with its digital product delivery as part of a broader push for growth. The move reflects a wider trend among banks of merging customer-facing brand work with digital channel strategy to stay competitive.
- 18Vietnam's Military Bank raises 750 billion dong in bond sale▼Vietnam's Military Bank raises 750 billion dong selling 6-year bonds - bourse filing
Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank, one of Vietnam's largest lenders, has raised 750 billion dong (roughly $30 million) through the sale of six-year bonds, according to a filing on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange. The debt issuance gives the bank fresh medium-term funding, and the filing was picked up by regional market watchers tracking Vietnamese banking sector financing.
- 19
Da Afghanistan Bank and the Afghanistan Credit Guarantee Facility have signed a cooperation agreement, according to regional news reports. The deal is aimed at strengthening coordination between the central bank and the guarantee facility, which works to expand access to credit for Afghan businesses. Details of the agreement's specific provisions have not been disclosed.
- 20Regions Bank and Tenet Partners back HVL venture studio startups▼Regions Bank, Tenet Partners invest in first HVL venture studio companies
Regions Bank and Tenet Partners have made investments in the first companies launched by HVL, a venture studio. The move links a major regional US bank and an innovation firm to a portfolio of early-stage ventures, offering them capital and corporate backing as they build out their businesses.
- 21
The National Bank of Egypt is set to acquire Banque Misr's branches in the United Arab Emirates, in a deal between two of Egypt's largest state-owned banks. The move would shift Banque Misr's UAE operations to its state counterpart and reflects ongoing consolidation among Egyptian state lenders' foreign operations. Details on the transaction's value and timeline have not been disclosed.