Bank

• SoftBank kondigde een versnelde inzet op AI aan via een nieuwe venture met OpenAI, gericht op zakelijke toepassingen in de Amerikaanse markt. • Deze stap komt nu rivaliserende venture capital-firma's hun financiering voor AI-startups verhogen, wat de concurrentie om talent en technologie intensiveert. • Deze investering versterkt de positie van SoftBank in de booming Amerikaanse AI-sector en kan de implementatie van modellen versnellen.

• Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC) held its Q1 2026 earnings call on May 8, 2026, presenting results to investors and analysts covering its Asia-Pacific operations. • The Singapore-based banking group discussed performance metrics and strategic initiatives during the investor update with media and analyst participation. • OCBC's results are closely watched for insights into regional banking sector health and economic conditions across Southeast Asia and Greater China.

• JPMorgan analysis shows markets repricing oil-driven inflation risks, with global equities adjusting to potential rate hike scenarios amid recent oil price surges. • Central banks are providing clearer signals on monetary policy, suggesting rate hikes may not materialize as aggressively as feared despite elevated energy costs. • The divergence highlights inflation fears running ahead of underlying economic reality, potentially creating buying opportunities if data moderates.

• Tokyo's Nikkei 225 fell 1.1% to 62,174 on Friday after briefly crossing 63,000 for the first time during Thursday trading and closing at a record 62,833, marking a pullback from peak valuations. • SoftBank Group, one of Japan's largest stocks, declined over 5%, signaling profit-taking and weakness in the technology sector that had driven the index higher. • The broader Topix slipped 0.29% on Friday to 3,829.48 but remained up 2.7% for the holiday-shortened week, reflecting mixed sentiment as markets digest geopolitical risks.

• GXS Bank and MariBank, Singapore's digital banks, posted increased interest income for FY2025 ended in 2025, driven by sustained lending activities. • Both banks are leaning on South-east Asia markets to fuel profitability, expanding beyond Singapore into regional operations. • The growth highlights lending as a core strategy amid competitive digital banking landscape in ASEAN.

• Banner Bank, a 136-year-old institution, agreed to acquire Bank of the Pacific in a $177 million all-stock deal to expand its regional footprint. • U.S. mergers and acquisitions over $100 million rose 25% in March 2026 compared to the prior year, per EY Parthenon research. • Global M&A volume hit $861.1 billion in Q1 2026, up 9.7% from Q1 2025 according to S&P Global, driven by bank investments in AI and shifting consumer habits.

• Anthropic unveiled 10 new AI agents designed for banks and insurers to automate tasks like building pitchbooks, auditing statements, and drafting credit memos. • Major global firms such as Goldman Sachs, Citi, Visa, and AIG have adopted Anthropic's Claude AI, with banks using the Claude Mythos model for cybersecurity enhancements. • The agents integrate directly with Claude Code and Cowork products, allowing customization to firm-specific policies and styles, accelerating finance sector AI adoption.

• Australia's CommBank Joeys beat India 4-0 in their opening match of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026 on May 6, 2026, at King Abdullah Sports City Training Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. • Goals came from Becvinovski (4'), Court (30' penalty), Demuth (74'), and Oliveira (86'), with kick-off at 7:00pm local time. • The emphatic victory positions Australia strongly to advance from the group stage and qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.

• KeyCorp posted stronger Q1 2026 results with noninterest income up 8.2% year-over-year to $723 million, led by double-digit growth in investment banking, trust and investment services, and service charges. • The Consumer Bank earned $173 million and the Commercial Bank $451 million, both higher than prior year, while noninterest expenses rose 4.4% to $1.18 billion from increased personnel and technology spending. • Credit quality remained controlled with a provision for credit losses of $106 million, down from $118 million, and KeyCorp maintained a strong Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 11.4%.

• OCBC announced the acquisition of HSBC's Indonesia wealth and retail banking operations for $6.6 billion, marking a major expansion in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy. • The deal is expected to increase OCBC's Indonesian subsidiary's assets under management by approximately 25%, significantly strengthening its regional presence. • This acquisition reflects OCBC's strategic focus on wealth management and retail banking growth across Southeast Asia amid competitive market dynamics.

• Standard Chartered Bank has established an artificial intelligence lab in collaboration with Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to commercialize banking AI applications. • The lab will focus on testing AI use cases in wealth management and fraud control as financial institutions transition from pilot programs to full commercial deployment. • This initiative reflects the banking sector's shift toward operationalizing AI technology to enhance customer services and risk management capabilities.

• Singapore's Monetary Authority (MAS) met with chief executives of major financial institutions to discuss AI-related cyber threats, prompted by Anthropic's limited release of its Mythos model. • The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore issued a letter urging critical information infrastructure owners to commission board-level reviews of their cyber-risk posture in response to emerging AI security concerns. • The coordinated regulatory response underscores Singapore's proactive stance on managing AI-driven cybersecurity risks in the financial sector and critical infrastructure.

• Anthropic unveiled 10 specialized AI agents designed for the financial services sector, automating critical tasks for banks and insurance companies. • The agents can autonomously handle operations including pitchbook construction, financial auditing, and other complex processes with limited human intervention. • The launch, timed to Anthropic's New York event, represents the company's deepening commitment to enterprise AI adoption across the financial industry.

Unions group wants rate returned from 3% to 8% after big four UK lenders reveal £14bn total profit in first quarter An increased windfall tax should be imposed on the UK’s largest banks according to trade union leaders, after the big four lenders reported almost £14bn in first-quarter profits, partly fuelled by market turbulence caused by the Iran war.The Trades Union Congress (TUC) renewed its call for an increase in the current bank surcharge, which was reduced from 8% to 3% of profits above £100m by the Conservative government in 2023, as banks benefit from the high interest rate environment. Continue reading...

Lenders increase borrowing rates by 0.25%; pro-Palestine meeting barred from council venue goes ahead outside in Darlington. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNext week’s federal budget will fund a dedicated national centre to detect and disrupt the evolving threat of online violent extremism and terrorism.The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, will announce the $74m in funding over two years for the project on Wednesday. It is part of the government’s response to the Bondi terror attack in December.A bolstered online threat capability will give AFP and Asio the resources they need to target terrorists and violent extremists online.Just because I, and other people, might find it personally offensive does not mean that governments have unlimited power to constitutionally strike down the right of everybody else to freedom of political communication. Continue reading...

Leaked remarks by Maj Gen Avi Bluth describe fatal shootings of stone-throwers and different treatment for Jewish settlersThe Israeli army chief in the West Bank has said his troops were “killing like we haven’t killed since 1967”, including fatally shooting Palestinian stone-throwers, according to an Israeli report of his comments.The remarks by Maj Gen Avi Bluth, head of the army’s central command, were made in a recent closed forum but were leaked to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper. Bluth has so far not denied the authenticity of the Haaretz account. The Israel Defense Forces did not respond to a request for comment. Continue reading...

• Key Indian stocks including Kotak Mahindra Bank (trading at 383.30, up 0.35%), DMart, Vodafone Idea, Nestle India, and Coal India featured prominently in market news on May 4, 2026. • Nifty Financial Services index rose 1.12% to 25,944.50, gaining 287 points, amid sector rotation post-election outcomes. • Other highlights include HUL, Bajaj Finance, and Adani stocks, with trading guides recommending buys like Gujarat Fluorochemicals and Kalyani Steels for up to 8% gains.

Drivers seem undeterred by high fuel prices and gloomy weather forecasts, while engineering works spell delays for railway passengersDrivers have been told to expect the UK’s busiest May bank holiday traffic in years, despite high fuel prices and the looming end of the sunny spell threatening to dampen the long weekend.More than 19m leisure trips by car were expected over the long weekend from Friday to Monday, according to research by the RAC motoring organisation – the most since 2016. Engineering works are also likely to disrupt rail journeys this weekend. Continue reading...

• SoftBank is preparing Roze AI, combining robotics, data centers, and AI infrastructure for a US IPO targeting $100B valuation. • Masayoshi Son backs the venture, with potential public listing as early as late 2026 or 2027. • Executives plan an analyst day in July, though no products or revenue plans announced yet.

Artist has not yet confirmed whether large statue on plinth in Waterloo Place is by himBanksy’s signature has appeared scrawled at the base of a large new statue in central London.The elusive artist, known for his provocative works of graffiti, has not yet confirmed whether the statue is by him. He often posts confirmation on his website shortly after a work is discovered by the public. Continue reading...

Decision not to change rate comes despite signs inflation is rising amid the Iran war’s effects on fuel pricesThe Bank of England has left UK interest rates unchanged at 3.75%, despite signs that inflation is beginning to accelerate due to the impact of the Iran war.The Bank’s rate-setting monetary policy committee (MPC) voted to leave borrowing costs on hold at noon on Thursday, after its latest rate-setting meeting. Continue reading...

Jitu Munda says he was repeatedly refused access to money left in her account in case highlighting ‘lack of humanity’ in Indian bureaucracyThe sight of a man bringing the remains of his dead sister to a bank in India after officials had refused to let him withdraw money without proof of her death has caused shock in India.Jitu Munda, 52, from the Indian state of Odisha, was captured on video carrying the remains of his recently deceased sister through the streets of Keonjhar and placing them outside the local bank. Continue reading...

Pair apologise in court after being accused of defrauding buyers including some of New York’s most prominent fine art auction housesA father and daughter in New Jersey have pleaded guilty to running a years-long counterfeiting scheme to trick art galleries and auction houses into buying forged paintings of works by prominent artists such as Andy Warhol, Banksy and Pablo Picasso.Federal prosecutors said Erwin Bankowski, 50, and Karolina Bankowska, 26, commissioned an artist in Poland to create at least 200 of the fakes and ultimately defrauded buyers of at least $2m. Continue reading...

Bank says it has withdrawn proceedings against former Telegraph owners Aidan and Howard Barclay at high courtThe former owners of the Telegraph have avoided bankruptcy after reaching a settlement with HSBC over more than £140m in overdue debts.At a high court hearing on Tuesday, Europe’s biggest bank said it had withdrawn proceedings against Aidan and Howard Barclay, whose family lost control of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph in 2023 over £1.16bn of unpaid debts owed to Lloyds Bank. Continue reading...

Loyalists of President Mahmoud Abbas won most races ‌in Palestinian municipal elections, election officials said on Sunday, in a vote that for the first time in nearly two decades included a city in the Gaza Strip run by rival Hamas.

Hundreds of senior staff in territory benefit from nearly £30,000-a-year grant per child not available to staff in group’s other hubs HSBC is reportedly reviewing a perk that covers school fees for bankers in Hong Kong as part of a big overhaul of the bank under chief executive Georges Elhedery.Europe’s largest bank is considering whether to scrap the perk for new employees or make changes to total compensation, Bloomberg News reported. No decisions have been made yet. Continue reading...

• A leading AI startup focused on enterprise AI solutions secured $150 million in Series B funding on April 25, 2026. • The round was led by Lightspeed Ventures and SoftBank, signaling strong investor confidence in scalable AI technologies for businesses. • This funding underscores accelerating growth in the US enterprise AI sector amid rising demand for efficient AI deployment tools.

• Florida Gators standout Caleb Banks was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 18th overall pick in the recent NFL Draft. • Banks' selection marks a major moment for the Gators program and represents a top-20 draft selection for the defensive player. • The Vikings bolster their defensive roster with the University of Florida standout in their first-round selection.