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ReNew Energy Global Plc is negotiating with several international banks to secure a loan of about $815 million aimed at refinancing its debt, according to sources familiar with the matter. The funds would help the renewable energy firm restructure existing liabilities and improve its financial flexibility.

The discussions involve major global lenders, though the identities of those banks have not been confirmed. The loan is expected to offer terms that reflect both ReNew’s large asset base in wind, solar and hydroelectric power, and the current pressure in credit markets driven by rising interest rates.

ReNew, founded by Sumant Sinha with operations largely in India, has been expanding aggressively across clean energy segments. The company has more than 150 projects across ten states and is developing a supply-chain business through its solar cells and modules units. The refinancing exercise appears linked to balancing growth investments while managing existing financial obligations.

Financial analysts see this move as part of ReNew’s broader strategy to optimise its debt servicing costs. Earlier fundraising rounds for ReNew include a sizeable investment by British International Investment into its solar manufacturing arm, which underscores the company’s aim to develop internal manufacturing capabilities. Cost of debt and maturity profiles of its outstanding instruments have been flagged by market watchers as challenges in the current high-rate environment.

Australia’s Reserve Bank, through Assistant Governor Brad Jones, has warned that the era of stability and integration following the Cold War has given way to a more contested strategic environment that carries elevated risk for governments, financial institutions, and markets. At a FINSIA event in Sydney on 12 September, Jones declared that “the era of the peace dividend is over,” citing geopolitical, technological and operational disruptions reshaping the global financial order.

Jones described the international security and economic system as undergoing “seismic adjustment — on a scale and speed unseen in eight decades.” He flagged multiple forces contributing to instability: rising strategic rivalry, weakening tenets of the rules-based order, frictions in globalisation, and increasing emphasis on self-insurance by nations and firms against a broader set of possible harms.

Technological advances form one front of the risk profile. Jones spoke of an expanding surface for cyber-attacks driven by digitalisation, concerns over concentration risk in cloud services, and quantum computing’s looming threat to encryption systems. Artificial intelligence, while promising productivity gains, poses risks of misinformation, fraud, and systemic instability due to herding behaviour.

Critical infrastructure exposures were cited as especially vulnerable: telecommunications networks, the electrical grid, payment systems, and market infrastructure. Jones referenced a recent example in Europe, where cascading power outages in the Iberian Peninsula disrupted both households and economic activity, pointing out that such disruptions would be far more dangerous if key financial infrastructure were affected.

To respond, the RBA is pressing for what it calls an “anti-fragile” financial system—one not simply capable of withstanding shocks but able to adapt and improve because of them. Innovation, competition, and efficiency are being positioned not as opposing goals to resilience but as complementary. Initiatives under way include work with industry to bolster payments resilience, frameworks to ensure that future payments systems embed reliability and recoverability, migration to quantum-safe encryption standards, and reforms aimed at enabling new entrants in financial market infrastructure to reduce concentration risk.

These concerns build on earlier warnings in the RBA’s Financial Stability Review, which noted that heightened geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and technological vulnerabilities could interact with existing financial system risks. The review flagged operational risks from interconnectedness and dependency on third parties for infrastructure and services.

The shift has implications for monetary policy, regulatory oversight, and business strategy. Regulators are likely to place greater emphasis on risk scenarios involving geopolitics, cyber-threats and supply-chain disruptions; financial institutions will need to review and stress-test against non-traditional threats while ensuring agility; and policy frameworks may need to evolve to address threats outside standard macroeconomic shocks.

European regulators are finalising a set of remedies with Abu Dhabi-based oil major ADNOC for its €14.7 billion bid to acquire chemical manufacturer Covestro, adjustments that aim to satisfy concerns under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

ADNOC is expected to convert a planned €1.2 billion capital increase into a shareholder loan bearing market terms. The move seeks to counter claims by the European Commission that the proposed capital equity injection could constitute unfair foreign aid under EU rules. In addition, ADNOC will likely address issues around an alleged unlimited state guarantee and commit to keeping Covestro’s intellectual property and technology within Europe.

The EU launched its formal investigation in July to assess whether UAE-based government support might distort competition in the internal market. Scrutiny has focused on whether ADNOC’s offer price, bolstered by state subsidies such as guarantees and capital injections, created an unlevel playing field. A regulatory deadline of 2 December looms for the European Commission’s final decision.

ADNOC has expressed frustration with the breadth of information requests from the Commission, describing them as “disproportionate and invasive.” The company warned that such demands could threaten the viability of its acquisition bid if not managed carefully.

Negotiations involve high level officials: ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber spoke with EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera about the remedy proposals. ADNOC will likely mirror similar steps taken by UAE telecoms group e&, which recently prevailed in an EU review by eliminating an unrestricted state guarantee and following domestic bankruptcy statutes more closely.

Covestro, which produces materials used in insulation, automotive parts and consumer goods, would be one of the biggest acquisitions of an EU firm by a Gulf state if the deal proceeds. The transaction, announced in October, has drawn close attention for being ADNOC’s largest ever and for raising questions about foreign capital’s role in European markets.

Bitcoin traded in a tight range near $111,500 to $112,300 as market participants paused, waiting for fresh cues from upcoming Consumer Price Index, Producer Price Index and central bank announcements. This positioning reflects prudence amid heavier macroeconomic noise.

Solana climbed to around $218 to $220, marking a multi-month high as renewed interest drew capital from more established tokens. Meanwhile, Dogecoin extended a weekly gain to approximately $0.24, buoyed by optimism surrounding the imminent debut of the first U. S. memecoin exchange-traded fund.

SignalPlus head of insights Augustine Fan noted that crypto markets have been relatively flat recently, with Bitcoin underperforming both its major peers and traditional assets such as equities and spot gold. That underperformance accompanied weaker inflows into digital asset trusts and reduced activity on centralised exchanges.

Economists have also dialled back inflation and recession worries following revisions to U. S. labour data, prompting some rebound in market sentiment. Bitcoin, alongside European equities, saw support as experts downplayed fears of stagflation.

Prediction markets suggest that a rate cut from the Federal Reserve is increasingly likely, with sentiment split between a further cut or a hold in October. Gold reached record levels in anticipation of looser monetary policy, even as U. S. equity indices pushed higher.

Positioning remains defensive, but the rotation into altcoins signals willingness among traders to explore higher-beta opportunities. Reflecting this, the phrase Traders Push Bitcoin Above $112K captures the shifting dynamic in crypto allocations—but notably, attention remains fixed on upcoming U. S. data releases shaping the next phase of the market.

Liquidity has stayed modest. Reference points in the $110K–$112K zone appear increasingly important as support amid a backdrop of uncertainty.

Net profits for banks listed across the Gulf Cooperation Council surged to an unprecedented $16.6 billion in the second quarter, marking the second straight quarter of gains and a sequential increase of roughly 3.7 %, with year-on-year growth at a robust 9.2 %, according to Kamco Invest. This performance was driven by broadly higher revenues and a lower cost-to-income ratio that more than compensated for a rise in impairments. Lending activity remained resilient, underpinned by strong economic fundamentals and a pipeline of projects in the region.

Banks across the GCC achieved strong growth, with net profits rising 10.3 % year-on-year to $16.6 billion in Q2 2025, according to the latest Kamco Invest analysis. The sequential increase of about 3.7 % was fuelled by a broad-based rise in revenues, while a leaner cost-to-income ratio offset the impact of elevated impairments. Lending growth persisted, reflecting healthy demand and continued economic momentum.

Abu Dhabi led regional outperformers as its banks posted aggregate Q2 earnings of $3.2 billion—a 23.1 % rise compared to the year before. First Abu Dhabi Bank stood out with a 29.4 % surge in quarterly net profits to $1.5 billion, supported by stronger non-interest income and lower impairment charges. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank also delivered solid gains, buoyed by elevated interest and fee income.

Dubai’s banks, by contrast, experienced a contraction: aggregate city-listed earnings fell by 6.4 % to $3.2 billion, weighed down by increased impairments at major lenders such as Emirates NBD. Some resilience came from Commercial Bank of Dubai, which posted a 15.4 % rise, alongside a surge in real-estate and utilities profits—Emaar Properties and DEWA among the top performers.

Among other GCC markets, Q2 net profits for Oman-listed banks were around $1 billion, while those in Qatar also posted gains, contributing to the overall strength in the banking sector.

The headline figure—$16.6 billion in quarterly profit for GCC banks—captures the scale of the region’s banking sector resilience. This strong performance highlights how GCC banks post record-high quarterly profits, powered by sustained credit growth and operational efficiencies even amid higher impairments.
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Thailand’s incoming prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, will nominate veteran economic official Ekniti Nitithanprapas to lead the finance ministry, aiming to stabilise an economy weighed down by US tariffs and mounting household debt.

Anutin, fresh from his parliamentary victory and poised to assume the premiership, unveiled his cabinet selections on Saturday, naming experienced hands to key posts: Ekniti for finance, diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow for foreign affairs, and energy executive Auttapol Rerkpiboon to helm the energy ministry. Seasoned Bureaucrat Bound for Finance Ministry signals a clear intention to anchor the economic team with trusted professionals.

Anutin said he chose Ekniti due to his broad leadership across the finance ministry’s departments and his readiness to meet the challenges of the role swiftly. He underscored the appointee’s capacity to help guide Thailand through the turbulence created by US-imposed tariffs and persistent high levels of household debt.

Ekniti, 54, brings an extensive résumé. He has served as director-general across revenue, excise, and treasury departments, and held roles at the Fiscal Policy Office and State Enterprise Policy Office. His résumé also includes positions as financial attaché in London, adviser at the World Bank, and board chairmanships across major financial institutions and state enterprises—including Siam Commercial Bank, EXIM Bank, and Thai Airways.

Anutin’s selections come at a critical juncture. Thailand’s economy has been under strain from weaker growth compared to regional peers, ongoing political unrest, border tensions with Cambodia, declining tourism, and disruptions linked to global trade pressures—particularly from US tariffs. These factors have combined to sap investor confidence.

The finance nomination must receive royal assent before becoming official. Assuming approval, Ekniti will carry the mandate to reassure markets and manage policy responses that address fiscal and external vulnerabilities. His depth of institutional experience positions him as a credible figure to help guide economic policy swiftly during the transition.

The integration embeds Ripple Payments into Thunes’s Direct Global Network, spanning 130 + countries and over 80 currencies. This union leverages Ripple’s global payout infrastructure—serving 90 + markets and covering more than 90 % of daily FX flows, with over US $70 billion processed—bringing real-time, cost-efficient, and transparent transactions to Thunes’s vast network.

Chloe Mayenobe, President and COO of Thunes, emphasised that the partnership bridges traditional finance and digital assets, enabling seamless, compliant cross-border payments at scale. She stressed the importance of real-time settlement and robust local integrations in scaling financial access globally. Fiona Murray, Managing Director for Asia-Pacific at Ripple, underscored how combining Thunes’s payment reach with Ripple’s digital asset infrastructure enhances speed, accessibility, and compliance.

This move extends Thunes’s capability to deliver payouts in local currencies in regions with limited banking access, particularly through its SmartX Treasury System. Ripple Payments is now integrated into SmartX, bolstering liquidity management and last-mile delivery in underbanked markets.

Analysis from BeInCrypto notes that this alignment enables faster settlement and improved compliance, especially where mobile wallets like GCash, M-Pesa, and WeChat Pay dominate. For enterprises, the collaboration promises efficient global transfers with lower friction. Crowdfund Insider adds that the partnership broadens payout reach while streamlining money movement across key markets.

Electronic Payments International confirms the integration into SmartX, reinforcing Thunes’s treasury capabilities and enhancing its services. CryptoBriefing highlights the joint effort to improve speed, transparency and compliance across Thunes’s global network by incorporating Ripple Payments.

This development reflects an industry shift: traditional payment networks increasingly adopt blockchain infrastructure to reduce costs and boost efficiency. Thunes, with its “Smart Superhighway” platform covering billions of mobile wallets, bank accounts, and cards, stands well-positioned to harness Ripple’s tools for expanding financial inclusion.

Thunes, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Singapore, already partners with PayPal, Uber, Grab, Paytm, and others, serving a global footprint that includes more than 3 billion accounts across 130 countries. The integration with Ripple strengthens its proposition to these and other clients seeking faster, more transparent cross-border transfers.