AGP Executive Report

Qatar Capital Markets: AlRayan Investment says it successfully completed Baladna’s QR2.68tn rights issue on the QSE, lifting share capital 25% and achieving full take-up within minutes under Qatar’s new market rules. UN Governance & Finance: UN chief António Guterres renewed calls for global financial reform and permanent African representation at the UN Security Council, arguing current institutions were built for the “rich for the rich.” Qatar Investment Push: Qatar’s PM launched the “Doha Investment” platform to manage QIA’s domestic portfolio, expand private-sector participation, deepen capital markets, and attract international capital. APEC Health Financing: APEC economies launched a dengue financing coordination platform in Dalian, bringing together donors and development banks to close regional funding gaps. US Rates & Markets: Investors tracked the Fed’s first rate hike in three years and the knock-on move in Treasury yields, while debating how far tightening will go. Middle East Investing: Boursa Kuwait hosted an MSCI institutional forum on AI, geopolitics, and portfolio construction. Africa Energy & Risk: Nigeria’s HURIWA praised AGF and EFCC efforts tied to the Mambilla hydropower dispute, warning against crippling arbitration liabilities. Corporate/Deal Signals: LECON Finance (BOI subsidiary) received S&P ‘B/Stable/B’ ratings; Willis Lease Finance plans a new Malaysia engine repair center; KeyBanc raised its AppFolio target to $280 on resident-services upside.

IFC Energy Deal: The International Finance Corporation is considering up to $200m to back a new 700MW gas-fired power plant in Jordan’s Mafraq, a ~$900m project aimed at boosting grid reliability; construction is expected to start by year-end with board review set for Nov. 17, 2026. Market Pulse: Investors are bracing after the Fed’s latest hawkish move, with analysts pointing to a history of corrections after new rate-hike cycles and warning that higher bond yields can squeeze stock returns. Pension Risk: A new concern is growing “sleepwalking” into passive funds in workplace pensions, leaving savers exposed if markets stall or fall. Digital Finance & RWA: Onchain real-world assets hit $34.18bn (Sept. 15), up 85.2% YTD, but only about 12% is actually used in onchain lending and liquidity. Cross-Border Payments: Saudi Arabia has pulled out of China-led mBridge, saying it completed its proof-of-concept, while the platform targets cheaper transfers outside the dollar. Regional Investment Policy: World Bank says it mobilized a record $112bn in private capital in FY ended June, pushing to package loans to attract institutional money.

Semiconductor Investment Push (India): Karnataka’s M B Patil says SEMICON India 2026 talks with 20+ firms could drive Rs 15,000 crore in investment and 2,000+ jobs, citing Lam Research (Rs 9,298 crore) and Applied Materials (Rs 3,600 crore) plus land allocation for a new silicon-component facility. Central Banking & Markets (Global): The Fed raised rates 25 bps to 3.75%–4.00%, pressuring bank stocks while tech and cybersecurity held up; investors are now re-pricing the rate path. Tokenized Equities (Crypto/Markets): Coinbase’s tokenized stocks on Base topped $1B in DEX volume in about a month, with non-US access and 24/7 trading drawing fresh liquidity. Turkey Fraud Crackdown: Turkish authorities detained 200+ people in an alleged international currency scam tied to Israel, seizing assets worth 1.5B lira and blocking crypto and accounts. Project Finance (Japan/US): Nikkei Asia reports Nippon Life plans $12.75B for US data-center project financing via project finance structures. Investor Legal Deadlines (US): Multiple securities class actions flagged, including Wix (Sept 22), PROCEPT (Sept 22), Pentair (Oct 2), and DNOW (Oct 2).

Consumer Finance Reform: Malaysia’s hire-purchase lenders are switching to the reducing balance method after the Hire-Purchase (Amendment) Act 2026 took effect June 1; 14 of 20 banks are already live, with the rest due by Dec 31 and full compliance by Apr 1, 2027. Central Banking Autonomy: Nepal’s Finance Committee backed a bill to amend the NRB Act while keeping government power to issue directives to the central bank, and proposed shortening the governor’s term from five to three years. Cross-Border Investment Talks: South Korea and the U.S. agreed to coordinate for “good” outcomes on Seoul’s planned US$350bn U.S. investment, with an announcement reportedly delayed to next week. Fraud & Enforcement: Turkey’s prosecutors say an international investment fraud network run from Turkey defrauded victims of more than $3bn, ending with 191 arrests; in Malaysia, a contractor lost RM144,781.21 to a fake crypto scheme. Market & Policy Backdrop: Global stocks and bonds dipped as central banks pushed rates; the Fed raised rates and the SEC advanced a path for tokenized stock trading. Corporate Finance: Lument Finance Trust suspended its common dividend starting Q3 2026.

Central Bank Coordination: Nigeria’s finance ministry and the Central Bank signed an MoU to tighten fiscal-monetary policy coordination, covering cash management, debt issuance planning, liquidity forecasting, and exchange-rate stability. SME Digital Credit: Pakistan’s SECP approved Shaamilkar Tajir, a Shariah-compliant app offering up to Rs3m financing to small businesses, aiming to pull underserved firms into formal credit. Investor Protection: Abu Dhabi’s market regulator warned investors about unlicensed Qanat Al Amal Services and call centres. Consumer Relief: Georgia will deliver $694m in cash and debt relief under a settlement with Credit Acceptance over alleged subprime auto lending practices. Class Action Deadlines: Robbins LLP reminded FuelCell Energy investors about a Nov. 10 lead-plaintiff deadline, while other law-firm notices flagged upcoming securities deadlines. Cross-border Deals: Malaysia is considering extending a $100m currency swap for the Maldives, and South Korea and the U.S. pledged joint work on “strategic investment” projects in the U.S. Regional Investment Push: The Carpathian Eight unveiled 95 projects worth about €40bn to attract capital, with energy leading. Market Mood: Canada’s TSX edged lower as investors weighed rates and AI spending worries; U.S. stocks finished the week mixed after the Fed’s first hike in years.

Markets & Rates: Global stocks steadied after Fed/BoE moves while oil slid, but investors stayed cautious as energy and telecoms lagged and chip names rebounded. UK Equities Call: UBS upgraded UK stocks to “attractive,” lifting 2026 earnings growth and setting higher FTSE 100 targets; Barclays flagged FTSE 250 trading ~20% below fair value. Credit & Valuations: S&P’s Oracle investment-grade decision drew scrutiny as AI spending and cash-profit concerns clash with rating logic. Digital Finance in the Gulf: Abu Dhabi and Korean firms expanded digital finance ties, including stablecoin and cross-border infrastructure talks. Africa Finance Focus: Ghana’s finance minister met IFC’s Makhtar Diop on private-sector-led growth; UN Women and EBID pushed gender-responsive sustainable finance capacity. Risk & Enforcement: Azerbaijan detained suspects over alleged terrorism financing; the US sanctioned an Iranian crypto exchange tied to Hormuz payments; India’s NSE warned against tipsters and alleged illegal trading. Retail & Household Finance: PNC found workers feel confident with day-to-day money but lack retirement/investing readiness; a separate piece highlighted planning tools like financial power of attorney. Corporate Deals: Ashok Leyland and Kerala Grameena Bank signed an MoU to offer vehicle financing. Aviation Finance: Jet financiers now fear fuel and borrowing costs more than aircraft shortages.

Markets & Rates: Wall Street snapped back after the Fed’s first rate hike in over three years, with tech leading as oil eased and Treasury yields fell, lifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Corporate Finance: Apollo backed BMG’s Concord integration with $1.25B in financing, taking minority equity in a legacy catalog unit. Investor Risk & Legal Watch: New shareholder class-action filings targeted Ardelyx, Taboola, Hyliion, Innventure and others, with lead-plaintiff deadlines in October/November. Fintech/AI for Finance: Moonshot AI launched a bank-focused Kimi version that connects to major data feeds and adds finance workflows like modeling and earnings commentary. Policy & Public Money: Oxfordshire approved a £245.5M transport plan (2026-27 to 2029-30) including EV infrastructure and active travel; Nigeria’s Senate advanced health financing bills to raise BHCPF and fund prevention via an SSB levy. Cross-Border Investment: Kuwait Investment Authority met Canada’s PM Mark Carney to expand strategic investment cooperation. Local Oversight: North Carolina’s Black Mountain was placed on a state financial oversight list after its general fund balance fell. Energy & Infrastructure: The Navy’s $1.7B Hampton Roads investment includes $450M for Newport News housing, aiming to boost local business demand.

Central Banks & Markets: Fed lifted rates by 25 bps in its first hike in over 3 years, with a tougher tone pushing bond yields and keeping investors focused on the Bank of England’s next move; Energy & Capital Costs: Brent and WTI eased after the Fed, but a Dolat Capital note warns rising yields and funding costs are pressuring the global AI investment cycle; Project Finance: Jupiter Power closed $1.4bn across four deals to fund 1.5GW/3.6GWh of US utility-scale BESS projects in Texas and Michigan; Crypto & Scams: Malaysia police report a senior citizen losing RM218k to a fake crypto “Uphold” scheme, highlighting how scammers freeze accounts and demand “tax” to unlock withdrawals; Policy & Payments: India’s Finance Ministry denied US pressure behind a 0.4% UPI MDR, saying the rule targets RuPay credit and aims for a sustainable revenue model; Investor Access: Malaysia’s Budget 2027 should add incentives for regional institutions to back under-owned mid-caps, with foreign holdings still near a record low; Shipping Finance: South Korea launched a KRW120bn ($87m) Arctic shipping financing programme via subordinated funding to help owners deploy ice-capable vessels on the Northern Sea Route.

Fed Shock to Markets: US stocks slid after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh delivered a hawkish tone alongside the first rate hike in three years, pushing yields higher and weighing on equities. Turkey Liquidity Stress: Turkey’s BIST 100 plunged as tighter fund rules triggered a redemption run, highlighting how regulation can spark fast market stress. Global Finance Hubs: WAIFC launched a report on how financial centers drive jobs and value beyond trading activity, reinforcing the role of institutional ecosystems. Middle East Investment Push: Qatar joined Canada’s Investment Summit to explore partnerships, while Kuwait-based investors were urged to look at Nicaragua’s tax incentives and long-duration tourism breaks. Energy Deals: US energy officials said a major investment in Venezuela is coming, as firms line up around reconstruction and new joint ventures. Africa Banking & Inclusion: Nigeria’s CBN stressed that financial inclusion must translate into real household and business resilience, while telecom groups called for lower financing costs to sustain digital infrastructure. Kenya Trade Finance: EBRD backed a $100m cross-currency swap program to expand longer-term dollar loans for Kenyan trade finance via Co-op Bank. Investor Protection & Scams: Cuyahoga County reported rising investment scams targeting people near retirement, and multiple securities-fraud class actions added fresh deadlines for investors.

Fed-rate jitters: Asian markets wobbled as investors braced for a likely Fed hike, with US 10-year yields back above 5% and oil holding near $100+ amid Middle East risk. UK inflation watch: UK CPI rose to 3.1% y/y in August, driven by petrol/diesel and airfares, setting up a tough Bank of England call. Oil & rates link: Crude slid after a surprise jump in US crude inventories, but supply disruptions kept prices supported. Canada investment push: Mark Carney pitched Canada as an investment haven, targeting CAN$1T over five years and floating private investment for major airports. Hong Kong strategy: John Lee unveiled a first five-year plan to strengthen livelihoods and cement Hong Kong’s role as a global financial hub, including a push for offshore renminbi and tech ties. Fintech & markets plumbing: Investortools expanded fixed-income connectivity via FHN Financial; KuCoin went live on Arc for USDC transfers; and Creative Planning agreed to acquire RVK to boost institutional consulting. Retail investing costs: India’s UPI MDR changes were explained for SIPs and stock buys, with a key 0.02% capital-market charge and caps highlighted. Corporate finance & IPOs: Hero Motors raised INR 299.99 crore from anchor investors ahead of its IPO; Nigeria’s Keystone Bank saw investor rush for the Dangote refinery IPO subscription channels. Regional investment & policy: Albania’s Constitutional Court will review a “Mountain Package” law offering €1 land ownership and tax breaks; Malaysia discussed contingency plans to absorb AirAsia routes if financial stress worsens. Business leadership: Deloitte wrapped its Next Generation CFO Academy in Riyadh, focusing on how CFOs must drive transformation, tech adoption, and strategy.

Markets & Rates: Oil jumped to April highs and long-end Treasury yields spiked above 5%, dragging stocks as investors brace for the Fed’s long-awaited rate decision; gold stayed flat while bitcoin flipped lower. Fed Watch: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh signaled inflation is broader than headline measures, and markets are pricing roughly a 93% chance of a hike—setting up a key test for growth stocks. Canada Infrastructure Finance: Prime Minister Mark Carney pitched private investors to run Canada’s four biggest airports (Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver) via lease-style concessions, keeping federal ownership while shifting operating-cost pressure away from major hubs. Investor Capital & Tech: Microsoft’s fiscal 2026 capital returns show dividends ($27.0B) now outpacing buybacks ($16.7B), while Tesla’s Cybercab launch highlights hardware ready but FSD software still unfinished. Crypto & Corporate Finance: Strategy’s Bitcoin-linked preferred-share structure is back in focus as investors weigh dividend funding risk amid bitcoin strength. Legal/Investor Alerts: Multiple new securities class-action investigations were filed, including cases involving lululemon and HDFC Bank, adding fresh headline risk for shareholders. Nature Finance: A new push argues biodiversity financing should be treated like productive financial infrastructure, not just an environmental cost.

Markets & Rates: Global stocks drifted mostly lower as AI shares slid after top executives urged a slowdown in AI development, while investors also braced for a major Fed decision amid higher oil prices and Treasury yields. Fed Watch: Markets are pricing a likely rate hike, with volatility rising as the AI capex boom collides with tighter financial conditions. China Macro: China’s fixed-asset investment fell 7.2% y/y in the first eight months, with property still the biggest drag (down 19.9%), even as officials push an innovation-led, higher-quality investment narrative. UK Labor & Equities: UK stocks opened and traded lower as investors weighed jobs data, with financials pressured by expectations of tighter monetary conditions. Corporate Finance: Trustpilot shares plunged after it kept guidance unchanged despite strong AI-led revenue growth, disappointing investors. Banking & Deals: Absa increased financing for South Africa’s Newlyn Group to R5.1bn for logistics infrastructure, while Dubai Holding Real Estate and ADCB launched off-plan home financing with pre-approvals and fixed-rate terms. Investment Commitments: Tamil Nadu’s UK trip secured MoUs worth over ₹12,300 crore and 9,400 jobs, including a major Samvardhana Motherson plan for advanced manufacturing and logistics. Digital Finance: Ghana’s push for digital finance is shifting from basic transfers toward savings, credit, insurance and stronger financial health. Energy & Capital Markets: Pakistan’s PSX rebounded after the central bank held rates, while oil supply risks kept pressure on sentiment.

AI & Markets: US chip stocks slid while software names rose as investors weighed calls from AI leaders to slow development; cybersecurity shares jumped on the same fears that rattled semis. Rates & Oil: Oil stayed elevated as Iran-Gulf tensions and Strait of Hormuz risks pushed Treasury yields above 5%, raising odds of a Fed move. Canada Investment Summit: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Toronto summit highlighted faster tax rulings for big investors and major bank announcements, alongside a push for $1T in new capital. Data Centers & Sovereignty: Bell quadrupled its Saskatchewan AI data centre plan to a 1.2GW hub, targeting $50B+ investment and “data sovereignty.” Precious Metals Banking: Kuwait Finance House–Bahrain launched a “Silver Account” for digital silver trading via its app, with Shari’a-compliant features. Africa IPO Watch: Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery IPO opened with SEC warnings against fraudulent platforms. Islamic Finance: AlRayan Investment and AlRayan Bank co-led IFN Qatar Dialogues, focusing on Islamic finance growth and green sukuk. Investor Protection: Oregon’s DFR warned that AI is supercharging investment scams, from deepfakes to fake crypto trading sites. Legal Deadlines: Multiple US securities class actions added fresh lead-plaintiff deadlines for investors in FuelCell, EquipmentShare, Primoris, Lincoln, Unicycive, and others.

AI Market Shock: AI stocks slid across Asia and futures fell after Anthropic and OpenAI leaders urged a slower pace of advanced model development for safety, dragging chipmakers and AI-linked names. Indonesia Fiscal Reset: President Prabowo sacked Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and appointed deputy Suahasil Nazara, signaling a push to keep the fiscal deficit under 3% of GDP amid investor concerns. Ukraine Finance: Canada is negotiating to join the EU’s €90bn Ukraine loan, with talks on its contribution expected before an October EU summit. airBaltic Restructuring: Latvia’s airBaltic filed for US Chapter 11 and secured €350mn in debtor-in-possession financing to keep flights running during debt negotiations. BRICS MSME Push: BRICS backed efforts to expand affordable finance for MSMEs, including work on invoice discounting and credit assessment using broader data sources. Energy Deals: Masdar and Luxcara explored joint €5bn+ investment in Germany’s battery storage and offshore wind; separately, Qatar’s AlRayan Investment and AlRayan Bank co-led IFN Qatar Dialogues 2026 on Islamic finance. Ghana Market Activity: Trading on the Ghana Stock Exchange jumped 130% week-on-week to 34.59m shares, even as key indices fell. Property & Tax Watch: Australia investors rushed to lock in property valuations ahead of upcoming capital gains tax changes. Islamic Finance & Capital Markets: AlRayan highlighted a QR500m debut green sukuk and growing fintech/tokenisation interest in Qatar’s Islamic finance ecosystem.

Regulatory Warning: Saskatchewan’s securities watchdog warned residents to avoid unlicensed Shoreline Direct (shorelinedirect.net), saying it’s not registered to sell forex, indices, commodities or crypto trading in the province. Islamic Banking Shift: Bank of Maldives moved all new personal accounts and personal financing applications to Islamic banking under its “Islamic Finance First” strategy, with options for existing customers to transition. Canada Investment Push (and backlash): Canada’s Toronto summit to attract foreign capital is drawing protests from unions, Indigenous leaders and climate/housing groups, while Ottawa says it expects deals and MOUs from major funds. Defence Procurement Leadership: Defence Investment Agency CEO Doug Guzman told staff he’s staying on, denying reports of frustration over procurement delays. Digital Payments Launch: Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Bio launched Flot, a fintech platform for digital payments, international card services and travel solutions. BRICS Governance Debate: Nigeria’s Tinubu urged BRICS to move from dialogue to delivery and called for reform of global governance and the international financial system. Market/ETF Focus: Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) and Vanguard growth/VOOG vs VONG comparisons kept investor attention on long-term, diversified ETF strategies. Debt/Banking Signals: Moody’s assigned RBL Bank’s $350m fixed-rate notes a Baa2 rating with stable outlook. Investor Risk Watch: Multiple securities class-action lead-plaintiff deadlines were highlighted for investors in Hims & Hers, York Space Systems and Hyliion.

Crypto & Banking Innovation: UniCredit is exploring crypto custody and brokerage, plus tokenized investments and stablecoin services, and is also looking at a MiCA-regulated euro stablecoin via its Qivalis consortium. AI Chip Momentum: Piper Sandler kicked off coverage on AI semiconductor names, flagging potential upside of 19% to 37% for Nvidia, Broadcom, Arm, AMD and Marvell as compute demand stays tight. BRICS & Local Currency Push: At the New Delhi summit, BRICS leaders backed local-currency trade and payments cooperation, while reiterating that a common BRICS currency is not on the table for now. Cross-Border Deals & Investment: South Korea scored a final win in a $197m investor-state dispute against a Chinese investor, reinforcing the “illegal investment isn’t treaty-protected” principle. Market Flows & Rates: Foreign investors turned net sellers of Korean bonds in August as currency-hedged yield advantages faded. Real Assets & Logistics: Dubai warehouse rents rose 6.8% year-on-year as Grade A space stays scarce and global funds keep moving into logistics assets. Energy Security Spending: Türkiye plans higher mining and critical-minerals investment under its 2027-2029 program to reduce import dependence. SME Finance in Liberia: Liberia’s central bank and partners discussed credit access for MSMEs through a line-of-credit style initiative aimed at viable businesses and job creation.