Artificial intelligence is intensifying a growing security challenge inside organisations as employees and malicious insiders exploit powerful digital tools in ways that expose companies to significant operational and financial risk. A new industry analysis warns that the rapid adoption of AI systems across workplaces has transformed insider threats from an IT concern into a wider business risk that senior leadership must address urgently. Security researchers say misuse […]
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2026 –VinFast has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with transportation solution providers PT. Satu Kosong Tujuh and PT Sembilan Benua Abadi for the planned supply of a total of 20,000 VinFast electric vehicles by 2028. The agreements mark a significant milestone in VinFast’s strategy to expand its green mobility ecosystem in Indonesia, while reinforcing the Company’s credibility, market influence, and role in accelerating the electrification of transportation across Southeast Asia.
Representatives of VinFast and its partners PT. Satu Kosong Tujuh and PT. Sembilan Benua Abadi at the signing ceremony of the MoU to supply 20,000 VinFast electric vehicles for transportation services in Indonesia.
Under the MoUs, PT Sembilan Benua Abadi is expected to purchase 10,000 VinFast EVs by the end of 2027, while PT. Satu Kosong Tujuh plans to acquire 10,000 units by the end of 2028. The vehicles will include the Nerio Green (C-SUV) and the Limo Green (7-seat MPV). All vehicles will be deployed for commercial transportation services, maximizing the operational efficiency, cost advantages, and environmental benefits of VinFast’s electric models.
Nerio Green and Limo Green belong to the Green brand, which VinFast has developed and optimized specifically for commercial service operations. Nerio Green is adapted from the VF e34, the first model introduced by VinFast in the Indonesian market, and stands out with its modern urban design, spacious interior, and advanced technology features.
Meanwhile, Limo Green is the newest addition to the Green lineup launched in Indonesia. Measuring 4,740 x 1,872 x 1,728 mm with a wheelbase of 2,840 mm, Limo Green offers a spacious three-row configuration tailored to high-intensity passenger transport needs. Equipped with a durable LFP battery, the vehicle delivers a driving range of up to 450 km on a full charge, optimizing operating cycles and minimizing downtime.
By deploying VinFast’s electric fleet, PT. Satu Kosong Tujuh and PT Sembilan Benua Abadi will not only enhance fleet quality, maximize utilization efficiency, and reduce emissions, but also contribute to fostering green mobility habits within the community. The model is expected to generate a strong ripple effect, as Indonesian consumers gain direct, everyday exposure to the smooth, modern, and smart driving experience of electric vehicles.
PT. Satu Kosong Tujuh and PT Sembilan Benua Abadi are reputable transportation solution providers in Indonesia. With extensive operational experience and deep local market expertise, both companies are well-positioned to deploy large-scale electric fleets, optimize operational networks, and effectively reach target customer segments.
Mr. Nirzam Pahmi, SE, MM, President Director of PT. Satu Kosong Tujuh, said: “We have strong confidence in VinFast and its potential to build a comprehensive, inclusive, and accessible electric mobility ecosystem. This agreement aligns with our long-term vision of transitioning to fully electric vehicles and proactively embracing the green transformation trend across the region and globally.”
Mr. Wempy Suciadi, CEO of PT Sembilan Benua Abadi, stated: “We are impressed with Nerio Green and Limo Green not only for their product quality but also for the sustainable development vision they represent. These models are highly promising solutions that align with the practical needs of consumers amid the transition toward green transportation.”
Mr. Kariyanto Hardjosoemarto, CEO of VinFast Indonesia, shared: “We are honored to collaborate with reputable partners in Indonesia to accelerate EV adoption and advance the green transition. Partnering with experienced enterprises that possess deep local market understanding will enable VinFast to rapidly expand market coverage and bring modern mobility solutions closer to Indonesian consumers.”
After over two years of presence in Indonesia, VinFast has quickly established a structured and comprehensive development foundation. The Company is currently offering a full product lineup spanning entry-level to mid- and high-end segments, including VF 3, VF 5, VF e34, VF 6, VF 7, and VF MPV 7, as well as Green models such as Limo Green. This diversified portfolio allows partners to flexibly select vehicles suited to different service models, while enabling Indonesian consumers to access electric vehicles across various price points.
VinFast has also commenced operations at its Subang plant, underscoring its long-term investment commitment and direct contribution to the local value chain. In parallel, the Company continues to expand its ecosystem through the development of a nationwide dealership and after-sales service network; the rollout of an extensive charging infrastructure in partnership with V-Green; and strategic collaborations with leading banks and financial institutions to provide optimized financing solutions for customers.
Through flexible and pioneering policies, from financial support to warranty and after-sales programs, VinFast is progressively creating favorable conditions for Indonesian consumers to participate in the green mobility revolution./.
Hashtag: #VinFast
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2026 – Money20/20, the world’s leading fintech show and the place where money does business, unveiled its annual Future of Fintech in APAC report ahead of Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok on April 21-23 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. The whitepaper reveals APAC’s fintech ecosystem has reached a pivotal inflection point, shifting from experimentation to production-grade innovation across AI, digital payments, and assets.
Source: Money20/20
Based on insights from over 130 senior fintech leaders, the report highlights an industry moving beyond pilot programs toward enterprise-scale solutions that prioritize collaboration, digital trust, and financial inclusion as core business imperatives for 2026.
Key Findings
22.9% of respondents identify the region as their primary growth target, underscoring its continued dominance as the region’s growth engine.
90.6% of executives say social good initiatives are now embedded in corporate strategy — confirming impact has become a commercial imperative.
61.2% of organizations have already adopted AI or machine learning.
New frameworks in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan are driving institutional adoption of stablecoins and tokenized assets.
63.5% of leaders cite fraud prevention as their highest operational priority.
“APAC is no longer experimenting — it’s executing,” said Ian Fong, VP of Content at Money20/20 Asia. “The region is building financial infrastructure that is faster, safer, and more inclusive than ever before. What happens here will influence the future of money globally.”
Digital Trust Becomes the New Currency
With digital adoption accelerating, 63.5% of leaders identify fraud prevention as their top priority. Regulators and industry players are now pivoting toward real-time risk intelligence and AI-driven security.
“The speed of digital adoption in APAC has outpaced traditional fraud models,” said Justin Lie, Founder & CEO of SHIELD. “What we’re seeing now is a shift toward real-time, device-level intelligence that operates silently in the background. Trust is the new currency of digital finance, and the companies that embed it in every interaction while delivering a frictionless experience will define the future of the industry.”
Stablecoins Move into Mainstream Financial Infrastructure
Institutional engagement with stablecoins and tokenized financial instruments has grown significantly, supported by clearer regulatory frameworks emerging across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan.
“Across Asia, stablecoins are already embedded in real economic activity from payments and cross-border settlements to treasury optimization,” said Yam Ki Chan, Vice President, Asia Pacific at Circle. “The region is demonstrating how digital assets can scale within financial systems, and the next phase is about interoperability and the development of an economic operating system for the internet”.
Digital Lending Expands Financial Access
The report highlights 72.9% of respondents believe SME-tailored fintech solutions are key to APAC’s economic growth, signaling a widening opportunity for inclusive financial innovation.
“Financial inclusion isn’t achieved by simply putting products online — it requires building for the realities of everyday consumers,” said Moritz Gastl, General Manager of Tala Philippines. “In markets like the Philippines, trust, transparency, and flexibility matter just as much as credit scoring. Digital lending works when it empowers people, not when it replicates old systems with new interfaces.”
Looking Ahead: Collaboration Will Define the Next Decade
As AI scales, payment rails interconnect, and digital assets enter regulated markets, APAC is emerging as a global blueprint for future financial systems. “The next wave of fintech innovation will be defined by how well we balance technological advancement with social impact,” added Fong. “APAC markets are proving that financial innovation and inclusion can advance together.”
The Future of Fintech in APAC report can be downloaded HERE. Hashtag: #Money20/20
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Matein Khalid The geopolitical convulsion in Iran has led to panic buying in Brent crude as Saudi Arabia’s largest refinery Ras Tanura and Qatar’s LNG mega complex at Ras Laffan shut production even as tanker traffic in the Straits of Hormuz comes to a halt amid soaring war risk, insurance premia, IRGC attacks on oil tankers and a 3X spike in VLCC/LNG freight costs. This is a […]
Google has issued an urgent security update for its Chrome browser to address multiple vulnerabilities that could expose users to cyberattacks, including flaws capable of enabling remote code execution or system compromise. The patch, deployed through the Chrome stable channel on March 3, targets ten security weaknesses identified by Google engineers and external researchers. Three of the issues are classified as critical, while seven carry high-severity ratings. […]
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a coordinated malware campaign that uses fabricated venture capital identities on LinkedIn to target professionals in cryptocurrency and Web3 sectors, employing deceptive CAPTCHA prompts to trick victims into executing malicious commands on their own computers. Security analysts say the operation combines social engineering, phishing and cross-platform malware delivery, focusing on individuals likely to be involved in blockchain startups, token projects and digital asset […]
Around 50% of companies see supply chain paralysis and a global internet outage as the two most plausible Black Swan scenarios in the next five years.
Geopolitical noise around the globe masks risks from high-impact climate, health, and future technology risks.
Different risk perceptions between multinational enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – Despite seeming predictable in hindsight, Black Swans are unexpected or unforeseen events that are highly disruptive and economically damaging. Examples include the 9/11 attacks of 2001 in the US, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Allianz Research estimates cumulative global GDP losses from the pandemic between 2020 and 2023 to be in the region of US$12trn.In addition to the huge financial and business costs, such events typically have long-lasting implications, resulting in geopolitical and societal shifts that continue many years after the initial event. According to new Allianz Risk Barometer analysis, more than half of the 3,000+ respondents (51%) identify a global supply chain paralysis due to a geopolitical conflict as the most plausible Black Swan scenario globally which could impact their company in the next five years. Fear of a global internet outage ranks second (47%) which reflects the increasing awareness of cyber and artificial intelligence (AI) risks among business leaders.
Respondents in Asia Pacific also identified a global supply chain paralysis and global internet outage as the two most plausible Black Swan scenarios; the former is ranked first in China and Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea, while the latter is ranked first in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Allianz Commercial CEO Thomas Lillelund comments: “Although Black Swan events are not seen to be immediately likely, these rare, high-impact scenarios are perceived as increasingly plausible and should be considered by executive boards given their potential consequences. Growing interconnectivity across both physical and digital supply chains means disruptions now cascade much faster and can turn into major losses. In today’s fragmented geopolitical environment, companies must double down on resilience and integrated risk management to ride out the next perfect storm.”
Geopolitics is a key driver for Black Swans Given the current geopolitical environment, it is no surprise that supply chain paralysis resulting from a geopolitical conflict is regarded as the most plausible Black Swan scenario. The threats of tariffs, trade wars and protectionism, as well as disruption to supply chains and shipping caused by regional conflicts in the Middle East and Russia / Ukraine are at the top of every board agenda. Allianz Research estimates that cumulative GDP losses over a two-year horizon triggered by a global supply chain disruption on the scale of the war in Ukraine could total US$1.5trn. In fact, political-related risks stand out as a leading potential trigger for Black Swan events, according to respondents. Mass social unrest and political instability is regarded as the fourth most plausible scenario globally (29%) and is a top three risk in the Americas (31%) and Africa and the Middle East (41%) regions, as well as in France (42%), for example. A sudden collapse of a major financial institution or a sovereign debt crisis, leading to a global liquidity crisis and severe market volatility ranks third (30%).
Interconnectivity and interdependency of both physical and digital supply chains are potentially increasing vulnerability at a time of geopolitical uncertainty, rapid advances in technology, and climate change. Businesses and global supply chains are also more vulnerable to Black Swan events due to growing concentrations of economic activity reliant on a limited number of critical suppliers and products in areas like AI and digital services, semiconductors, rare earth processors and transition technologies.
Company size influences risk perception Global supply chain paralysis due to a geopolitical conflict halting the movement of goods and raw materials ranks top for both large (>US$500mn annual revenue, 55% of responses) and mid-sized companies (US$100mn+ to US$500mn, 52%). In contrast, smaller companies (<USS$100mn) are most concerned about the impact of a global internet outage (45%), which is the #2 scenario for larger and mid-sized businesses. The third most plausible Black Swan for mid-sized and smaller companies is the sudden collapse of a major financial institution, while larger companies are more concerned about the risk of simultaneous climate disaster and energy grid failure, such as a heatwave triggering wildfires and widespread blackouts. Multinational enterprises have the advantages of bigger budgets and more diversified portfolios and therefore feel they are better prepared to mitigate the risks of an event such as a major internet outage than their smaller and medium-sized counterparts.
“Awareness of Black Swans and the need to build resilience has increased in recent years, but businesses can never fully prepare for rare high impact events such as a global outage or an unforeseen climate-related catastrophe. Building organizational agility, fostering a risk-aware culture and developing scalable response plans for a range of scenarios remain the most practical steps to best prepare for Black Swan events. Insurers can play a critical role in helping businesses strengthen their resilience in areas such as cyber risk and support more informed decisions when assessing and selecting critical suppliers,” says Michael Bruch, Global Head of Risk Consulting Advisory Services, Allianz Commercial.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Allianz Commercial
Allianz Commercial is the center of expertise and global line of Allianz Group for insuring mid-sized businesses, large enterprises and specialist risks. Among our customers are the world’s largest consumer brands, financial institutions and industry players, the global aviation and shipping industry as well as family-owned and medium enterprises which are the backbone of the economy. We also cover unique risks such as offshore wind parks, infrastructure projects or film productions. Powered by the employees, financial strength, and network of the world’s #1 insurance brand, we work together to help our customers prepare for what’s ahead: They trust us in providing a wide range of traditional and alternative risk transfer solutions, outstanding risk consulting and Multinational services as well as seamless claims handling. Allianz Commercial brings together the large corporate insurance business of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) and the commercial insurance business of national Allianz Property & Casualty entities serving mid-sized companies. We are present in over 200 countries and territories either through our own teams or the Allianz Group network and partners. In 2024, the integrated business of Allianz Commercial generated around €18 billion in gross premium globally. https://commercial.allianz.com/
South Korea’s stock market surged sharply, with benchmark indices climbing more than 12 per cent in a dramatic rally that placed the market on course for one of its strongest single-day performances on record. The sudden jump drew global attention as investors poured funds into major technology and export-driven companies, fuelling a broad-based rise across sectors. Trading data showed the benchmark KOSPI index soaring during the […]
Western Union has joined forces with Sasai Fintech, a business unit of Cassava Technologies, to launch a mobile application aimed at expanding international money transfer services for consumers in South Africa. The initiative seeks to widen access to digital remittances for users who increasingly rely on smartphones and mobile connectivity to manage cross-border payments. The co-branded application enables customers in South Africa to send money internationally through […]
President Donald Trump has pledged that the United States will ensure safe passage for oil shipments from the Middle East, seeking to prevent a global energy shock as war between Iran and Israel expands across the region and threatens vital maritime routes. Speaking as tensions intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, Trump signalled that Washington would take steps to safeguard tanker traffic and stabilise energy markets. The […]
Sony Group Corp. has scaled back plans to bring flagship PlayStation titles to personal computers, signalling a renewed emphasis on console exclusivity after several years of experimenting with broader distribution. The shift marks a notable recalibration for the company’s gaming division, which had expanded its strategy to include PC launches for some of its most popular titles. Executives overseeing the PlayStation business have indicated that future first-party […]
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have issued a nationwide alert after fraudulent emails began circulating that falsely claim to request emergency registration details from residents, prompting officials to warn the public against sharing personal information through unofficial channels. The Ministry of Interior said the messages impersonate government communication and urge recipients to provide sensitive details under the pretext of registering for emergency alerts or civil protection […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates Auction has joined the Edge of Life campaign as a strategic partner in an effort aimed at helping rescue five million children from severe hunger, strengthening a humanitarian initiative designed to mobilise resources and support global programmes targeting malnutrition and food insecurity. The campaign brings together humanitarian organisations and philanthropic partners working to address the escalating crisis of childhood hunger, particularly across […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2026 – Know Your Customer Limited (“Know Your Customer”), a recognised expert in automated business verification solutions today announced its collaboration with DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (“DBS Hong Kong”) to support its pioneering digital banking transformation, by address the rising need for automated, efficient onboarding and the often manual, cumbersome SME processes. This collaboration marks a big leap in SME onboarding automation by transforming DBS Hong Kong’s digital onboarding through simplifying and automating critical business KYC procedures.
DBS Hong Kong collaborates with Know Your Customer Limited to further improve digital account opening for SMEs
Leveraging Know Your Customer’s cutting-edge digital compliance platform, DBS Hong Kong will gain real-time access to comprehensive business verification data — including instant retrieval of official company documents and automatic identification of complex ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) networks across more than 140 jurisdictions.
This AI-powered automation addresses the traditionally manual and cumbersome SME onboarding processes by streamlining the end-to-end business KYC process, efficiently verifying corporate structures and ownership, reducing manual effort and accelerating onboarding timelines. The result is significantly enhanced operational efficiency and a faster, more seamless onboarding experience for DBS Hong Kong’s business customers.
[Lareina Wang, Head of SME Banking, DBS Bank Hong Kong] said,
” At DBS Hong Kong, we are dedicated to reimagining the customer onboarding experience through continuous digital innovation. By engaging Know Your Customer, we leverage advanced technology to streamline CDD workflows, delivering faster service to our customers. This collaboration also represents a major advancement in automating SME onboarding processes that have historically been complicated and manual, solidifying SME banking position of DBS in the market of Hong Kong. “
Claus Christensen, CEO and Co-Founder of Know Your Customer, added,
“Our service provided to DBS Hong Kong exemplifies how financial technology can simplify complex onboarding challenges. With our global data coverage and AI-powered automation, we empower DBS Hong Kong to accelerate KYC processes and provide business customers with an unrivalled onboarding journey. Together, we are shaping the future of digital banking.”
In recognition of its visionary digital strategy, DBS Hong Kong was named Asia’s Best Digital Bank in 2025 by Euromoney. The bank also continues to lead digital innovation, evidenced by over 70% of Hong Kong SMEs already integrating or exploring AI and digital technologies as part of their operations, according to its recent SME survey.
This transformative collaboration underscores DBS Hong Kong’s unwavering commitment to innovation and delivering safe and trusted digital onboarding solutions in Asia’s rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Hashtag: #KnowYourCustomer
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank’s “AA-” and “Aa1” credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years from 2009 to 2025. In 2026, DBS won the “Triple A award – Best Digital Customer Onboarding Experience – Hong Kong”
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.
DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.
About Know Your Customer Limited
Know Your Customer Limited is an award-winning RegTech company specialised in next-generation business verification solutions for financial institutions and regulated organisations worldwide. For teams struggling with inefficient client due diligence and onboarding processes, Know Your Customer offers an intuitive digital compliance workspace that combines unmatched real-time registry data, covering over 140 countries, seamless integrations, and AI-powered smart automation. This streamlined approach transforms the compliance function at its core, allowing customers to customise their solutions by selecting only the functionalities they need, all accessible via a robust REST API.
Founded in Hong Kong in 2015, with a local presence in Singapore, Dublin, London, and Shanghai, Know Your Customer has built a global customer base across 11 verticals and 18 jurisdictions. The company also maintains a wide network of technology and data partners, ensuring high-quality entity data and enhanced compliance processes for its customers.
Matein Khalid Five days of continuous Israeli and US bombing of Iran, the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei and at least five dozen other senior military and political leaders of the Islamic Republic, the de facto closure of tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery and the world’s biggest LNG complex in Qatar, as well as retaliatory drone and missile attacks by Iran on airports, seaports, […]
The Iran war is reinforcing a market conviction already building around US monetary policy: interest rates are likely to stay higher for longer. The escalation in the Middle East is compounding expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady for several more months, pushing the first meaningful rate cut further into the year. Markets are pricing a very high probability – about 97% – that policymakers […]
Iran’s sweeping digital shutdown has crossed the 100-hour mark, cutting tens of millions of people off from the global internet and intensifying fears of deeper isolation as military tensions and internal unrest grip the country. Connectivity across Iran has plunged to only a fraction of normal levels, leaving citizens unable to communicate freely with the outside world and severely restricting the flow of information. Network monitoring […]
Kraken has gained access to the Federal Reserve’s core payments infrastructure, marking a milestone for the digital asset sector as a cryptocurrency exchange moves closer to the centre of the United States financial system. The development places the San Francisco-based platform among institutions able to connect directly with the Federal Reserve’s payment rails, a step long sought by digital asset firms seeking to bridge traditional banking […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Authorities in the United Arab Emirates declared that essential services, financial systems and aviation operations remain functioning across the country, even as regional tensions intensified, during a national media briefing on March 3 addressing developments over the previous four days. Officials emphasised that the country’s institutions remain fully operational and that measures are in place to safeguard citizens, residents and visitors while […]
TikTok users across the United States faced widespread service disruption after a technical failure linked to cloud provider Oracle interrupted access to the video-sharing platform, marking the second such outage involving the technology partner within weeks and raising renewed scrutiny over the resilience of the infrastructure supporting one of the world’s largest social media networks. Reports of problems began circulating as users struggled to load videos, refresh […]
Escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran sent shockwaves through global energy markets and maritime trade as Tehran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes, while Donald Trump vowed Washington would do “whatever it takes” to prevail in the widening confrontation. Energy prices surged and financial markets swung sharply after military strikes and retaliatory threats raised […]
Greenlogue/AP TotalEnergies has agreed to sell a 50 per cent stake in a large portfolio of battery energy storage projects in Germany to Allianz Global Investors, marking a significant investment in infrastructure designed to support the country’s transition toward a low-carbon electricity system. The agreement covers 11 utility-scale battery storage projects under construction across Germany with a combined capacity of about 789 megawatts and an energy storage […]
China’s currency regained ground against the US dollar after the central bank delivered a stronger-than-expected official guidance rate, halting a short period of losses and signalling policymakers’ intent to stabilise foreign-exchange markets amid global volatility.
The yuan rebounded in both onshore and offshore trading after the People’s Bank of China lifted its daily midpoint setting by the largest margin in more than six months. The central bank fixed the yuan at 6.9088 per dollar, roughly 148 pips firmer than the previous guidance level, a move interpreted by traders as a deliberate effort to anchor expectations following two sessions of depreciation.
China operates a managed floating exchange rate system in which the yuan is permitted to trade within a band of two per cent above or below the daily midpoint set by the central bank. The fixing therefore serves as a powerful signal to markets about the authorities’ preferred direction for the currency.
Following the adjustment, the onshore yuan strengthened to around 6.88 per dollar during Asian trading hours, while its offshore counterpart posted similar gains. Currency dealers said the stronger guidance helped calm investors after geopolitical tensions and shifts in global risk sentiment had unsettled foreign-exchange markets earlier in the week.
Prior to the short-lived decline, the yuan had been on a sustained upward trajectory for several months, supported by a weaker US dollar, resilient export performance and continued capital inflows into China’s financial markets. The currency reached its strongest level since April 2023 during that rally, prompting concerns among policymakers that rapid appreciation could erode exporters’ competitiveness.
Authorities have responded with a series of calibrated measures aimed at smoothing the pace of currency gains rather than reversing them entirely. Among the most notable steps was the decision to remove a 20 per cent risk-reserve requirement on certain foreign-exchange forward contracts, effectively lowering the cost of betting against the yuan and encouraging market participants to buy dollars.
Analysts say such adjustments illustrate the central bank’s balancing act between maintaining exchange-rate stability and allowing market forces to play a greater role. Officials have repeatedly emphasised the importance of preventing excessive volatility while ensuring the currency reflects underlying economic fundamentals.
Currency strategists note that Beijing has a wide toolkit for influencing the yuan’s trajectory. These tools include modifying the daily reference rate, adjusting foreign-exchange reserve requirements for banks, and guiding state-owned financial institutions to participate in the market when volatility intensifies.
Despite the latest intervention through the midpoint setting, the fixing remained weaker than many market forecasts, highlighting the cautious stance adopted by policymakers. The approach suggests authorities are comfortable with moderate appreciation but wary of rapid movements that could unsettle financial markets or complicate domestic economic management.
China’s export-oriented companies have been particularly sensitive to exchange-rate fluctuations. A stronger yuan reduces the value of overseas earnings when converted into the local currency, potentially squeezing margins for manufacturers and technology firms whose revenues are denominated largely in dollars.
Market participants say the central bank’s latest move aims to reinforce stability while avoiding a signal that authorities intend to drive the currency significantly higher. Such signalling is important in an environment where global investors remain alert to geopolitical developments and shifts in US monetary policy.
The broader international context has also played a role in shaping currency movements. Escalating tensions in the Middle East have fuelled demand for traditional safe-haven assets, including the US dollar, prompting fluctuations across major currency pairs. For China, which relies heavily on imported energy, volatility in global markets can quickly translate into financial-market turbulence.
Attention among investors is now turning to the annual meetings of China’s national legislature and political advisory body, where policymakers are expected to outline economic priorities for the year ahead. The gatherings typically provide guidance on growth targets, fiscal policy and structural reforms that influence expectations for the yuan and other financial assets.
Economists are closely watching signals on monetary policy as well. Some analysts anticipate modest policy easing in the months ahead, including a potential reduction in benchmark lending rates and a cut to banks’ reserve requirement ratios aimed at supporting domestic demand.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Nasdaq Dubai reopened for trading at 10.00am Gulf Standard Time on Wednesday after a temporary suspension ordered by regulators, restoring activity on one of the region’s key international financial exchanges and signalling efforts by authorities to stabilise markets during a period of heightened geopolitical tension. The reopening was confirmed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the independent regulator overseeing financial services in the […]
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