News related to
Bank

Moscow has moved to ease restrictions on investments tied to digital assets by announcing that major fund managers will be permitted to purchase derivatives linked to cryptocurrencies from early next year. Under this policy shift, the Bank of Russia plans to amend regulations in the first quarter of the upcoming year to allow capital-management firms, previously barred, to engage in futures and options referencing digital currencies.

The initiative marks a departure from earlier policy built around tightly defined access for “specially qualified” investors under a three-year pilot programme unveiled in March, which required individuals to hold over 100 million rubles in securities or earn above 50 million rubles annually. Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov confirmed the government is also considering scrapping the “superqual” status entirely, a label proposed for crypto-investors under previous drafts.

The timing aligns with a broader regulatory realignment in which Moscow is both cautioning on crypto risks and expanding permissible use-cases. Earlier this year the central bank issued guidance emphasising that direct cryptocurrency holdings carry significant risk even as it proposed a stepped investment regime for qualified entities. Meanwhile legislators had sanctioned the use of crypto-assets for certain cross-border payments and legalised mining operations in July of last year.

Significant players in the Russian financial sector are already positioning themselves for the shift. Sberbank, the country’s largest lender by assets, reported it had raised 1.3 billion rubles through crypto derivative offerings in recent months and signalled plans to expand the business line further.

Market watchers interpret the regulatory loosening as part of a dual strategy: fostering new sources of capital amid constraints from sanctions, while maintaining supervisory controls on the evolving digital-asset ecosystem. “Allowing derivatives tied to cryptocurrencies is a big step—Russian funds were previously excluded,” said one analyst at a Moscow-based brokerage. At the same time, the analyst warned that “the oversight framework remains immature and the risks of liquidity, valuation and sanctions remain.”

Critics caution that letting traditional investment firms access crypto-linked instruments could raise systemic vulnerabilities. The European Union has recently targeted stablecoin-linked Russian entities under sanctions, and anti-money-laundering regulators flagged the region as high-risk, particularly in flows tied to offshore crypto trading.

Regulators in Moscow underline that the institutional gateway is intended to provide a controlled environment. The Bank of Russia’s earlier proposal for an experimental legal regime limited participation to investors meeting strict asset or income thresholds and required intermediaries to ensure transparency of transactions. It did not allow cryptocurrencies to be used as payment for goods and services.

As the investment window broadens, industry participants expect asset management firms to bring structured products to market, linking outcomes to benchmark crypto indices rather than direct holdings of tokens. “Derivatives give firms a means to hedge and gain exposure without custody of coins,” noted a fund-manager in Moscow. However, he added that regulatory clarity on taxation, disclosure, and cross-border transfers is still lacking.

The government’s removal of the “superqual” status could widen the investor base further, allowing mid-sized firms and high-net-worth individuals access to asset classes previously off-limits. This move may increase competition, as offshore platforms draw new Russian clients frustrated by domestic restrictions.

At the same time, the expanded framework raises questions about how Russia’s risk-management infrastructure will evolve. The central bank has repeatedly warned that cryptocurrencies remain speculative and not backed by the state; ongoing amendments to legislation will need to address issues of market integrity, investor protection and sanctions compliance.

Abu Dhabi: Financial executives from over 20 Arab countries gathered this week at the newly formed Sanadak unit to examine its dispute-resolution model designed for banks and insurance firms, marking a push by the UAE to raise consumer-protection standards across the region. Sanadak cited engagement with the 50 delegates as an opportunity to showcase how its independent mechanism can serve as a regional benchmark, while participants praised the UAE’s pro-consumer frameworks and stressed transparent regulation as vital for financial trust.

Sanadak operates under the oversight of the Central Bank of the UAE and was established to adjudicate complaints between consumers—or small to medium-sized enterprises—and licensed financial institutions or insurance companies. Its core functions include receiving complaints online or via app, verifying that 15 calendar days have passed from the institution’s response or a lack thereof, and moving the matter into resolution or referral to appeal-committees.

At the gathering, Sanadak emphasised that its role extends beyond the UAE, as the first financially-regulated specialised ombudsman unit in the Middle East and North Africa region. The unit highlighted how its jurisdiction, rules and structure could offer a template for cross-border alignment among Arab states seeking stronger consumer redress in banking and insurance. The discussion touched on the unit’s values of impartiality, accessibility, efficiency and integrity.

The session underscored several key trends: First, financial-services regulators globally are moving toward early-intervention powers, unified licensing for banks and insurers, and forward-looking oversight of fintech and digital-asset services. The UAE’s newly enacted Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025 consolidates banking, finance and insurance regulation and confirms Sanadak’s independent mandate for complaints resolution.

Second, consumer-protection mechanisms are gaining regulatory prominence as market participants cope with rising complexity in product offerings, from digital banking to insurance-linked investment products. Sanadak’s model aims to provide a single portal of access and streamline resolution without resorting to litigation. Officials say this helps build consumer confidence, enhance financial inclusion and strengthen institutional integrity.

Third, regional cooperation and benchmarking among Arab states were highlighted as emerging priorities. Delegates at the meeting emphasised that harmonised complaint-handling standards will bolster cross-border financial activity and investor trust. One delegate observed that adopting a model such as Sanadak’s “sends a strong signal that consumer rights are integral to banking-sector stability”.

Sanadak’s leadership also outlined practical outcomes: the resolution of insurance-sector disputes via permanent committees including independent judges and experts was mandated by Administrative Resolution No. 10-A/1/2024, issued by the Central Bank. That rule establishes minimum timelines, virtual-hearing options and defined fee structures—from AED 100 for fixed-value disputes up to AED 30,000 for higher-value claims.

The initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader ambition — underpinned by its “digital-first” strategy — to present its financial sector as accessible, regulated and globally competitive. Sanadak states its mission to support trust in the financial system and foster financial-inclusion goals through education and accessible redress.

Nonetheless, challenges loom. Ensuring that external, regional institutions adopt the same discipline and that complaints-resolution outcomes are enforceable across jurisdictions remains uncertain. Some financial-services observers caution that consumer-protection frameworks must evolve as digital-asset services proliferate and as cross-border financial activity expands. One expert described the regulatory change as “about future-proofing the UAE’s financial system by ensuring it remains resilient, inclusive and responsive to emerging technologies”.

Leaders of India and South Africa affirmed a joint commitment to amplify the resonance of the Global South during a bilateral meeting on the margins of the G20 summit in Johannesburg. India’s Prime Minister met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to review an expanding partnership that now encompasses trade, digital infrastructure and critical-minerals cooperation.

The leaders emphasised the historical foundation of bilateral ties, tracing back to shared anti-colonial struggles and longstanding people-to-people links. They identified emerging sectors of collaboration, including artificial intelligence and digital public platforms, as well as enhanced investment flows across innovation, infrastructure and mining sectors.

India expressed gratitude to South Africa for its role in relocating cheetahs to India and extended an invitation for South Africa to join the International Big Cat Alliance. At the G20 held in Johannesburg, which is the first summit of its kind hosted on African soil, South Africa has sought to spotlight issues of development, sustainability and Global South equity.

The two countries signalled their readiness to facilitate mutual investments, noting the growing footprint of Indian firms in South Africa and a shared interest in deepening bilateral ties in mining, start-ups, technology and infrastructure. They agreed to enhance support frameworks for these sectors.

In the domain of digital transformation, the meeting explored ways in which India’s Digital Public Infrastructure experience could be shared with South Africa, with the leaders discussing a roadmap for cooperation in those digital arenas that support transparency, inclusion and scalability.

On critical minerals—the backbone of technologies from electric vehicles to renewable energy systems—the dialogue underscored the strategic convergence of India’s growth ambitions and South Africa’s resource endowment. Both governments emphasised sustainable extraction, value-chain development and mutual investment as priorities.

The meeting also took place against the backdrop of global institutional reform debates, where developing countries increasingly seek to adjust frameworks such as the IMF and development banks. South Africa, as serving G20 chair, has framed its presidency around the themes of solidarity, equality and sustainability, particularly as representative of countries in the Global South.

While the two leaders concentrated on bilateral priorities, they also discussed multilateral coordination and collective platforms. They welcomed South Africa’s initiative to convene the IBSA leaders meeting and affirmed cooperation ahead of India’s upcoming chairship of BRICS in 2026.

Observers note that India–South Africa ties have evolved from traditional trade and diplomacy to a more strategic convergence around technology, investment, and global governance. According to experts, this shift reflects the changing priorities of middle powers in a multipolar world, where alignment on development and technological sovereignty is rising.

However, there remain practical challenges. For South Africa, translating resource-rich endowments into sustainable, inclusive growth has long been a domestic policy hurdle. For India, ensuring that digital partnerships respect both sovereignty and local capacity presents implementation risks. Critics argue that while high-level pledges are valuable, they must be matched by concrete mechanisms, regulatory clarity and project-level follow-through.

In trade terms, the two countries’ discussions come at a time when global supply-chain realignments and technology competition are raising the stakes for investment in emerging markets. Indian companies entering South Africa will need to navigate regulatory complexity, local participation requirements and the country’s infrastructure bottlenecks. South Africa, for its part, will have to ensure that its mining and start-up ecosystem attract and retain investment while meeting environmental and community benchmarks.

The diplomatic messaging also signals a broader orientation for both nations. India’s engagement with Africa has increasingly focused on capacity-building and infrastructure, while South Africa has positioned itself as a voice for Africa in global forums. Their joint push to amplify the Global South suggests an intention to influence agendas around debt relief, climate finance, digital equity and reform of global institutions.

First Abu Dhabi Bank has mandated a group of global and regional banks to arrange investor calls on Wednesday, 19 November, signalling the preparation of a benchmark USD-denominated Additional Tier 1 capital issuance. The Abu Dhabi-based lender, rated Aa3 by Moody’s and AA- by both S&P and Fitch, is targeting a fixed-rate, resettable perpetual instrument with a non-call six-year structure, expected to be rated Baa3 by Moody’s, subject to market conditions.

FAB has appointed Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Barclays, Emirates NBD Capital, itself, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank as joint lead managers and bookrunners for the issuance, reflecting a strong syndicate backing. According to institutional-market briefings, the period of investor calls is intended to gauge pricing, demand, and issuance size ahead of launch.

This move marks FAB’s first benchmark AT1 issuance in approximately five years and comes as the bank seeks to bolster its capital buffer amid evolving regulatory expectations. Market-specialist commentary notes that such securities serve a dual purpose: providing permanent capital that counts towards Tier 1 regulatory ratios while offering issuers the flexibility of a call option after a set period — in this case six years — to redeem, subject to certain conditions.

FAB’s prior issuance of a senior green bond earlier this month — a €850 million deal priced at mid-swaps plus 70 basis points after opening at plus 100 basis points — underlined its readiness to access capital markets. That deal illustrated investor appetite for the bank’s funding instruments and the bank’s willingness to tap diverse instruments and jurisdictions. The proposed AT1 issuance broadens FAB’s capital-raising toolkit further.

In assigning an expected rating of Baa3 by Moody’s for the proposed issue, the bank is effectively targeting the lowest investment-grade category from that agency for this level of instrument. Such ratings reflect the subordinated nature of AT1 securities; they rank lower than senior debt in the creditor hierarchy and often incorporate features such as coupon discretion and loss-absorption mechanisms — factors that carry higher credit risk for investors compared to senior bonds.

Emerging-markets commentators note that demand for Gulf-region AT1 securities has been relatively scant over the past year as investors have weighed macro-economic headwinds, rising interest-rate environments and regulatory adjustments. The Gulf region’s total primary issuance of bonds and sukuk for the first quarter of the year was reported at USD 51.5 billion, down from USD 55.5 billion in the same period a year prior; within this, financial-institution capital instruments formed a subset of activity. Nevertheless, select banks continue to tap issuance windows that align with investor sentiment.

For FAB, the timing appears strategic: the bank’s common equity Tier 1 ratio stands at 13.7 per cent — a figure comfortably above its internal threshold of 13.5 per cent but lower than the 14.3 per cent recorded a year earlier. This suggests room for issuing capital-absorption securities like AT1 to reinforce buffers without triggering market concern. Regulatory changes also loom: UAE banks are due to face a 50-basis-point increase in the counter-cyclical buffer next year, which will raise total capital requirements and heighten the capital-management imperative.

Investor calls scheduled on 19 November are expected to cover structuring options, timing of launch, target size and investor syndication. Initial market commentary anticipates that FAB may aim for a headline size in the region of USD 750 million — consistent with its last AT1 benchmark in 2020 — although precise sizing will hinge on demand and market dynamics.

The joint bookrunners assemble a strong global footprint: Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered provide global investor access while Emirates NBD Capital and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank offer regional distribution strength. That reflects FAB’s dual aim of tapping both GCC-based and international institutional investors. Market observers believe that if oversubscription builds, pricing could tighten relative to initial guidance and the syndicate may consider increasing sizing accordingly.

By Dr. Gyan Pathak By the Day 9 November 18, the COP30at Belem (Amazonia) under the Brazilian Presidency recorded several achievements, but the two key issues still remain sticking points – financing the climate action, and clear roadmap for phasing out of fossil fuels. We have now three days to go until the last day […]

The article COP30 So Far Have Some Achievements, But Finance Remains A Sticking Point appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

India’s workforce is entering a critical phase as artificial intelligence reshapes job markets and industry demands, with upskilling emerging as a non-negotiable necessity for both individuals and organisations. According to a recent assessment of the Asia-Pacific region, India needs to scale up its skilling efforts rapidly to avoid falling behind in the global AI marathon. A report by Asian Development Bank and Google. org warns that without accessible AI-skilling initiatives, large segments of the workforce risk being left out of the transition.

The country already boasts one of the youngest and fastest-growing workforces in the world, offering a potential advantage in the AI era. Yet the report highlights a mismatch: numerous workers in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, manufacturing and logistics perform roles with high automation risk — for example data-entry, scheduling and support functions — and these roles are disproportionately held by women and informal workers. With AI-driven automation advancing quickly, these groups could be among the hardest hit unless targeted training interventions are introduced.

Data published by NASSCOM indicates that India’s existing AI talent pool, estimated at around 600,000 today, must expand to more than 1.2 million by 2027 to fill expected demand—implying a shortfall of more than a million skilled professionals. This gap emerges despite the country producing hundreds of thousands of engineering graduates each year. Industry trackers indicate that more than half the workforce in technology services is already undergoing training in AI, machine learning and related domains, yet skills still lag employer expectations.

Business research from Microsoft found that across Indian organisations two-thirds of employees and four-fifths of leaders are now familiar with AI agents. Within the next 12-18 months more than half of these companies will place upskilling at the top of their agenda, and more than half expect AI training to become a core team responsibility within five years. These trends confirm that industry demand is ahead of the skill supply curve.

Beyond technical expertise, new job roles are emerging. Organisations are recruiting for “AI Workflow Designers”, “Software Operators” and multi-agent system builders. The most vulnerable workers are those in roles focused on infrastructure management, manual testing, and basic coding — positions that technology is already beginning to automate. This points to an imperative for current employees to acquire cross-functional, human-centric skills such as critical thinking, adaptability and collaboration with AI.

Educational institutions and vocational training providers are responding. For example, an initiative at Andhra University in partnership with NASSCOM integrates advanced skill modules into non-engineering streams and appoints department-wise coordinators to ensure student readiness. The move reflects recognition that skilling must extend beyond traditional tech fields to arts and sciences, and must address digital literacy gaps.

Nonetheless, major structural obstacles remain. A digital divide persists: only about one in five young adults in some South Asian regions has reliable internet access at home, limiting participation in online skilling programmes. Language barriers and low digital literacy further hamper effective engagement. Informal-sector workers, who often lack formal training and social protections, face a double risk of displacement without clear pathways into higher-value work.

The informal economy accounts for a large share of India’s employment, and workers in this segment are often overlooked in skill-development policies. Analysts warn that unless training programmes are redesigned for accessibility — offering tailored formats for women re-entering the workforce, rural populations and digitally disadvantaged groups — AI adoption may deepen existing inequalities.