Global Trade
IMF Africa chief warns aid cuts leave region exposed to shocks
IMF African Department Director Zeine Zeidane says bilateral aid to Africa is projected to fall 12% this year, leaving little room to absorb new shocks.
Global Trade
Developments, context and the details that matter.
Global Trade
Bank of England Publishes Quarterly High Loan-to-Income Mortgage Data
The PRA has begun quarterly publication of the share of new regulated mortgages at loan-to-income ratios of 4.5 or above, alongside a 15% limit.
Global Trade
IMF: Asia-Pacific Economies Shaped by Energy Shocks and AI Boom
IMF Asia-Pacific director says energy shocks and an AI-driven tech boom are reshaping regional growth, trade and hiring, with AI-linked job demand down 10%.
Global Trade
WTO import licensing committee reviews notifications and trade concerns
WTO Committee on Import Licensing met on 15 October 2026 to review notifications, trade concerns and transparency efforts, including survey findings.
Global Trade
IMF Flags Limits to Economic Resilience as Buffers Deplete
IMF managing director says economic resilience is nearing its limits, with energy and fiscal buffers depleted and low-income importers hardest hit.
Global Trade
IMF: Global Growth to Slow to 3.1% in 2026, Risks Tilted Downside
IMF projects 3.1% global growth in 2026, down 40 basis points from last year, with 3.4% forecast for 2027, citing war-driven commodity shocks and AI demand.
Global Trade
UK Finance Sector Tests Response to Global Cloud Outage
Bank of England-chaired CMORG ran SIMEX26 on 8 October 2026, a crisis exercise with 38 major banks and market operators on a global cloud services disruption.
Global Trade
BoE's Bailey: Financial System Resilient, but Repeated Shocks Test Stability
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey says the financial system has weathered shocks but warns of weaker growth, supply disruptions, sovereign debt and AI risks.
Global Trade
Bank of England PRA Proposes Automatic Indexation of 128 Regulatory Thresholds
The PRA proposes linking 128 banking, insurance and credit union thresholds to nominal GDP, with the first change due in 2031 and consultation open until February 2027.
Global Trade
ECB Raises Rates as Energy Shock Persists
ECB Governing Council raised key rates by 25 basis points at its September 2026 meeting, citing persistent energy-driven inflation and a resilient euro area economy.
Global Trade
Bank of England appoints two members to enforcement committee
Carlos Conceicao and Alexander Justham join the Bank of England's Enforcement Decision Making Committee, which rules on contested enforcement cases.
Global Trade
ECB Opens Digital Euro Pilot to Merchants, Weighs Pix Link
ECB invites euro-area merchants to join the 2027 digital euro pilot and studies linking TIPS instant payments with Brazil's Pix, among other September decisions.
Global Trade
WTO official says trade growth outpaced expectations despite geopolitical tensions
WTO Deputy Director-General tells Montreux forum that trade grew 4.6% in 2025 despite earlier negative forecasts, as geopolitics reshapes supply chains.
Global Trade
PRA Digest: Captive Insurance Roundtable, IFRS 9 Feedback and Delayed Liquidity Policy
UK PRA September 2026 digest covers captive insurance roundtable feedback, IFRS 9 expected credit loss review letter and a liquidity policy statement delay.