Bank

• 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.