Budget Watch (Malaysia): Malaysia’s government says Budget 2027 will tackle cost-of-living more comprehensively, factoring geopolitical uncertainty and crude oil moves, while also pushing faster-impact projects and investment aligned with the 13th Malaysia Plan. Islamic Banking (Malaysia): An economist urges depositors to judge Tabung Haji’s strength using asset quality and the sustainability of profit sources—not just hibah payouts—highlighting transparency and income stability. Islamic Finance Awards (Qatar): Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) wins two Global Business and Finance Magazine Awards for Sharia-compliant product innovation and corporate Islamic banking services. Corporate Restructuring (South Korea): Kakao’s spin-off into KakaoAI and KakaoX faces lingering investor distrust, with the plan failing to calm concerns about earnings from its AI push. Investment Promotion (Bangladesh): Invest Bangladesh launches as the new apex investment agency, merging BIDA, BEZA and PPPA under the Prime Minister’s Office to offer a single digital entry point for approvals and services. Market & Policy (Cyprus): A compliance expert argues Cyprus can strengthen its financial-centre edge by treating regulation as credibility, not a cost, as investors demand stronger governance and AML resilience. Geopolitics & Trade (UAE-Russia): The UAE-Russia trade in services and investment agreement enters into force, aiming to reduce barriers and expand cooperation in FinTech, healthcare, logistics and professional services. Tech Capital Flows (Hong Kong): Hong Kong’s finance chief says AI-related IPOs raised nearly HK$100bn in six months, boosting market momentum and exports. Investor Behavior (South Korea): Retail “ants” and leveraged products are blamed for a stock-market trauma after the Kospi’s sharp drop, raising stress and policy questions. Wealth Strategy (Gen Z): With homebuying harder, Gen Z is shifting wealth-building toward retirement saving and high-yield accounts rather than property. Vehicle Finance (India): A report notes a 17.1% rise in vehicle-finance originations in FY27 Q1, with mix shifting toward commercial vehicles, two-wheelers and used cars. Food Security Meets Finance (Gulf-India): A Dubai-based view argues the Gulf’s food security is becoming a financing and insurance issue for farms, with digital payment and data rails from India seen as a key enabler. Stock Market (Nigeria): Nigeria’s equities extend a weekly correction as banking, oil & gas, insurance and growth stocks weigh on the NGX All-Share Index. AI Funding (Alibaba): Alibaba plans HK$80bn in new share issuance to fund AI infrastructure and “full-stack” capabilities, citing strong investor demand.