State Street: Saudi Arabia Has ‘Unique Opportunity’ to Build Modern Digital Financial Infrastructure

• The European Union is developing new laws to restrict how social media platforms interact with children to protect their physical and mental wellbeing. • The proposed regulations would ban addictive platform features and disable push notifications during the hours children are sleeping.

• European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde suggested she might leave her position before her term officially ends in October 2027. • Lagarde replied "we'll see" when asked by Irish national broadcaster RTE if she would remain in the post until the end of her term.

• Germany, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Austria called for a smaller European Union budget for 2028-2034 on Friday. • These five nations stated the final budget must be several hundred billion euros less than the €2 trillion proposed by the European Commission.

• Oil prices fell 2% on Friday, marking the third consecutive session of losses as fears over Saudi supply disruptions eased. • Brent crude futures dropped by $2.14 to reach $102.68 a barrel by 0806 GMT.

• Gold prices rose for a second straight session on Friday to reach a one-week high. • Spot gold increased 1.1% to $4,387.69 per ounce by 0829 GMT, while US gold futures rose 0.6% to $4,428.

• The global market for laminated polypropylene FIBCs, which are large industrial bags, is projected to grow through 2035. • The market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5%.

• Crude oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel are creating a simultaneous price and supply shock across Asia. • Middle East output is falling, leading analysts to warn of lasting demand destruction as fuel demand drops and inflation rises.

• The global polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) seed coatings market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6% through 2035. • Growth is driven by the adoption of precision agriculture and the use of PVA as a carrier for biological seed treatments.

• The global modified starch sizing compounds market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4-6% through 2035. • Asia-Pacific currently leads the market by accounting for approximately 55-65% of global demand, driven primarily by China, South Korea, and Taiwan.

• The Chitosan Bioflocculant Powder market is projected to grow through 2035 as industries shift toward biodegradable treatment chemicals for wastewater. • Growth is driven by regulatory bans on synthetic polymers in electronics manufacturing and the expansion of semiconductor fabrication capacity in Asia.

• The global recycled rigid plastic scrap market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5-7% through 2035. • Asia-Pacific currently leads the industry, holding an estimated 45-50% share of global recycling capacity.