The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), one of the fastest growing exchanges in the world, has become the first exchange in the MENA region to offer all investors, institutions, developers and market participants access to official “live” ADX market data through conversational AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs). The landmark integration marks the first time investors in the region can query a stock exchange’s market data in plain language via the AI platforms they already use — removing the need for specialist terminals, complex APIs or technical intermediaries. Through a governed Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, ADX is opening a new channel for market transparency, financial awareness and inclusion, supporting wealth creation and a more knowledge-based economy in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. This initiative opens up a new approach to the distribution and consumption of exchange information. Greater Access to Market Intelligence Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of ADX, said: “AI is rapidly enabling how investors discover, analyze and act on information. As the first exchange in the MENA region to connect directly with major AI models, we are redefining how the financial community can take advantage of our market data to make informed decisions directly, intuitively, and efficiently. By removing technical barriers that once required a specific setup, everyone now has live access to ADX data through simple prompts. We believe this will contribute to greater market transparency, wider financial participation, and a more accessible investment ecosystem. This also reinforces ADX as a key pillar supporting the development of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s capital markets and aligns with the emirate’s vision of an AIinspired, knowledge-based economy.” Direct, Secure, On-Demand Access to Official ADX Data The ADX MCP framework provides secure, on-demand access to critical market datasets for AI assistants and agentic workflows. Users can configure their AI applications to read official ADX data sources through a simple, standardized protocol, with four usage plans ranging from a free tier to AED 49.99 per month, each structured with clear limits on usage, refresh frequency, historical depth, and concurrent connections. Via this integration, users can retrieve: Per-symbol market depth, bid-ask spreads, and price-discovery signals; Multiple trading statistics, including retail versus institutional and foreign versus local flows; Structured, machine-readable XBRL financial disclosures; and •     Comprehensive index constituents and related reference data. The service is designed to support a broad spectrum of market participants: Fintech developers and research firms can leverage data to build customized analytics, research tools, and AI-driven insights. Brokers can develop proprietary, white-label AI trading assistants to increase activetrader engagement.  Institutional investors gain low-latency, source-grade order book visibility, and precise segmented data flows. Retail investors can ask natural-language questions to retrieve complex, real-time, official market intelligence through the AI platforms they already utilize. The launch reinforces ADX’s broader strategy to expand access to capital markets, strengthen market infrastructure and support the development of an increasingly technology-enabled investment ecosystem. By making official exchange data more accessible through AI, ADX is positioning market information to become more readily available to a wider community of investors, institutions, researchers and innovators. More information on how to subscribe and set up the service is available at: https://www.adx.ae/market-data-services/model-context-protocol/adx-mcp-plans

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged three Toms River, New Jersey residents for their roles in an affinity investment fraud that misappropriated approximately $47 million from more than 87 investors, who were primarily members of Orthodox Jewish communities in New Jersey and New York.  The SEC’s complaint, filed in federal court in the District of New Jersey, alleges that between approximately November 2019 and June 2023, Leor Moshe, the scheme’s orchestrator, convinced investors, most of whom, like Moshe, were active members of the Orthodox Jewish community, to invest in his company, Capital Funding ASAP LLC. Moshe told the would-be investors that their money would be used to fund short-term loans for small businesses and their investments would lead to significant fixed returns. However, rather than funding business loans, Moshe allegedly misappropriated more than $11 million from investors for his personal use and used more than $850,000 for Ponzi-like payments to earlier-in-time investors.  The complaint further alleges that Moshe paid fellow Toms River residents, Jacob Goldman and Isaac Odes, who were not registered as broker-dealers or associated with any registered broker-dealer, to recruit investors. Goldman and Odes solicited more than $23 million from at least 25 investors, negotiated investment terms, and facilitated the collection of funds.  As a result of the scheme, investors from Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Ohio lost more than $25 million. “As our complaint alleges, the defendants promised some investors that they could see returns in excess of thirty percent which definitely falls into the ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’ category,” said Thomas P. Smith, Jr., Associate Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office. “In reality, the Jersey Shore triumvirate took advantage of their relationships within Orthodox Jewish communities to raise money for Moshe’s scheme and enrich themselves.” The SEC’s complaint charges Moshe with violations of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and charges Goldman and Odes with violations of the broker registration provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, and civil penalties against the defendants, and a conduct-based injunction against Moshe.  In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey today announced criminal charges against Moshe for similar conduct. The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance provides guidance on how to avoid frauds that target specific communities on its Investment Scams Targeting Groups webpage. The SEC also encourages investors to use Investor.gov to check the background of anyone offering or selling them an investment. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the FBI.  Resources SEC Complaint

Quarterly cash dividend increased 19 percent to $0.86 per share 16th consecutive year Cboe has increased its dividend Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), a leading global markets operator and pioneer in equity and index derivatives, today announced its Board of Directors has declared an increased quarterly cash dividend of $0.86 per share of common stock for the third quarter of 2026, representing a 19 percent increase from the prior quarter's dividend of $0.72 per share. The third-quarter 2026 dividend is payable on September 15, 2026, to stockholders of record as of August 31, 2026.

Lisa Danino-Lewis | Chief Growth Officer, CLS: “In July 2026, we saw average daily traded volumes of USD2.66 trillion, an increase of 14.7% compared to July 2025. Over the same period, we saw an increase in volumes across all instruments. The increase was 18% for FX forwards, 14.9% for FX swaps and 12.7% for FX spot." Average daily traded volume submitted to CLS by product (USD trillion)* July 2025 June 2026 July 2026 Forward 0.200 0.263 0.236 Swap 1.581 1.919 1.817 Spot 0.536 0.643 0.605 Total average daily traded volume submitted to CLS (USD trillion) 2.317 2.825 2.658    Due to rounding, the numbers presented may not add up precisely to the totals provided and the percentages may not precisely reflect the exact figures.

Please refer to the Regulatory Circulars listed below for the newly listed symbols and the corresponding market for the underlying security used for openings on the MIAX Exchanges: MIAX Options Regulatory Circular 2026-125 MIAX Pearl Options Regulatory Circular 2026-121 MIAX Emerald Options Regulatory Circular 2026-93 MIAX Sapphire Options Regulatory Circular 2026-125 The newly listed symbols will be available for trading beginning Friday, August 14, 2026.Please direct questions to the Regulatory Department at Regulatory@miaxglobal.com or (609) 897-7309.

Chairman Michael S. Selig, sponsor of the Innovation Advisory Committee, today released the agenda for the IAC’s inaugural meeting on Thursday, August 20.  Attendees will discuss topics related to the regulation of crypto assets, artificial intelligence, and prediction markets. View the full agenda here. “America has long been the global hub of financial innovation,” said Chairman Michael S. Selig. “I look forward to meeting with the entrepreneurs, thinkers, and builders of the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee to discuss ways emerging technologies and financial products are shaping our markets as we embark upon the new frontier of finance.” This meeting will be streamed live on CFTC.gov. See dial-in information below. For highest quality, select a number nearest your current location. San Jose: 669-254-5252 or 669-216-1590 New York: 646-828-7666 New Jersey: 551-285-1373 U.S. Spanish Line: 646-964-1167 or 415-449-4000 U.S. Toll Free: 833-435-1820 or 833-568-8864  International Numbers Webinar ID: 165 371 7748 Passcode: 172798 Members of the public may submit comments in connection with the meeting by August 27. Comments may be submitted electronically through Regulations.gov or by the other methods detailed in the meeting notice beginning on the day the notice appears in the Federal Register. All comments received will be posted on Regulations.gov. The meeting agenda may change to accommodate other IAC priorities. For agenda updates and more information about this advisory committee, including its members, visit the IAC webpage. Individuals with additional questions should contact IAC Designated Federal Officer Michael Passalacqua.  The views, opinions, and information expressed by the Advisory Committees are solely those of the respective Advisory Committee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, its staff, or the U.S. government. RELATED LINKS Agenda 91 FR 51697

MSCI announced on August 12th, 2026, the results of the MSCI Equity Indexes August 2026 Index Review. For the MSCI Qatar Indices the outcome of the review is as follows: Reclassification  Deletion of Qatar Fuel from MSCI Qatar Mid Cap Index and its addition to MSCI Qatar Small Cap Index Deletion from the MSCI Qatar Small Cap Index  Meeza QSTP The changes will become effective on  The close August 31, 2026   o view MSCI press release Click link below https://www.msci.com/index-review

More than $4.9 million in scholarships granted since 2019 CME Group Foundation announced today it has awarded $360,000 in scholarships to 15 low-income, first-generation Illinois college students who are majoring in finance, technology and related fields. To honor this year's recipients, CME Group executives will host a Day of Recognition and Market Education. At the event, students will learn more about internship and career opportunities available at CME Group and in the financial services industry. Since its launch in 2019, the program has awarded more than $4.9 million in scholarships to 138 students at 13 partner colleges and universities in the United States. "Year after year, students show us how they can drive the future of finance and technology, and the CME Group Foundation scholarship is our commitment to help them get there," said Terry Duffy, CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are honored to invest in these students and the careers they are building throughout our industry." "The CME Group Foundation scholarship helped me redefine my path," said Melise Sever, a junior computer science major at Stevens Institute of Technology who is entering her second year in the CME Group Foundation Scholars Program. "This scholarship didn't just ease a financial burden; it eased the burden on my family and I'm endlessly grateful that it made it possible for me to attend college and finally live in a dorm, rather than commute three hours a day to save money. More than financial relief, this scholarship gave me the opportunity to dream beyond survival—to imagine a future where my potential, not my debt, defines me." This year's recipients of the CME Group Foundation Scholarship include: Brandon Alvarez, Stevens Institute of Technology Aracely Candelaria, Stevens Institute of Technology Brenda Castro-Macias, Loyola University Chicago Tiara Davis, Illinois Institute of Technology Christian Engida, DePaul University Eman Hussain, University of Illinois Chicago Khizer Khan, DePaul University Shynecka Manderson, University of Illinois Chicago Jason Mascarenhas, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Joaquin Morales, Loyola University Chicago Martyna Piorek, Loyola University Chicago Jozef Progri, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Disha Rana, Stevens Institute of Technology Piotr Wawrzyniak, DePaul University Makayla Young, University of Illinois Chicago Scholarship partner colleges and universities are: Chicago State University City Colleges of Chicago DePaul University Illinois Institute of Technology Loyola University Chicago National Louis University Northern Illinois University Roosevelt University Southern Illinois University-Carbondale St. Xavier University Stevens Institute of Technology University of Illinois Chicago University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign For more information on CME Group Foundation scholarships, visit www.cmegroupfoundation.org.  About CME Group Foundation CME Group Foundation helps today's students keep pace with dramatically evolving technology, creating a workforce for the future that is equipped with the skills to meet tomorrow's global challenges. By bringing together the brightest minds in education to prepare students for kindergarten, provide robust opportunities in computer science, and support them with college and career success, we are sparking system-wide change that benefits all students, from cradle to career, with a focus on those who are typically underrepresented in the STEM fields. They will shape the future of the world's most important industries, including our own, so we give them the tools they need to achieve their full potential.

A summary of Deutsche Börse Group's business indicators for July 2026 is now available on outhe Deutsche Börse website: Trading Statistics There you can also find the Excel file 'Major business figures' containing historic business indicators for the respective reporting segments.

The Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3) held its 17th meeting on 6 August 2026. The meeting reaffirmed the need to move faster from commitment to mobilising practical solutions.  Priorities include supporting energy transition, strengthening climate resilience especially against floods, and strengthening mechanisms to measure and report outcomes. Supporting implementation of the National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF), the JC3 issued the NSRF Guidance Documents for Banks and Insurers and Takaful Operators1. The guidance aims to make sustainability-related disclosures more robust, consistent, comparable and purposeful. Through practical solutions, the guidance addresses common implementation challenges in sustainability reporting, including risk and opportunity assessments, strategy disclosures, and the use of metrics and targets. Hands-on capacitybuilding programmes will begin in October 2026 to support implementation.  Neetasha Rauf, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Securities Commission Malaysia and Co-Chair of JC3, said, “The NSRF Guidance Documents will help financial institutions and insurers and takaful operators navigate reporting challenges and support their transition towards high-quality, decision-useful sustainability disclosures. It also complements the efforts of the Advisory Committee on Sustainability Reporting (ACSR) in providing implementation and capacity-building support for scoped-in entities.”   The meeting noted further progress under the Climate Finance Innovation Lab (CFIL), which continues to connect climate- and nature-related projects with funding opportunities. Under the second cohort, 22 projects seeking RM1.73 billion in funding will undergo a structured accelerator programme in collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia, Brunei and Cambodia (UNGCMBC). This segment will support business model refinement, impact assessment and funding facilitation. Interested funders are encouraged to engage with CFIL to help scale impactful climate- and nature-related solutions2. Members also agreed to fully adopt the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance as the basis for the Malaysia Taxonomy. This marks a significant step towards greater regional interoperability, consistency and comparability in sustainable finance. Additionally, this reduces the operational burden of businesses especially those with cross border trade. JC3 will develop practical guidance and tools tailored for local implementation. A pilot with selected members will ensue prior to full adoption for reporting in 2028. The pilot aims to identify implementation challenges and inform further refinements, where necessary. Madelena Mohamed, Assistant Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia and Co-Chair of JC3, said, “A taxonomy is only effective if it can be applied consistently and confidently. As Malaysia adopts the ASEAN Taxonomy as the foundation of the Malaysia Taxonomy, JC3 will focus on developing practical implementation guidance and tools to support its use. The pilot will help identify operational challenges early and ensure the framework remains fit for purpose and relevant for Malaysia’s needs.”   To support Malaysia Taxonomy implementation and sustainable finance growth, JC3 will explore a centralised climate- and nature-related data platform. Better access to reliable data will help financial institutions, businesses and investors assess risks and opportunities, meet reporting requirements and channel capital to sustainable and transition activities. The JC3 Journey to Zero Conference (JC3 J20), a flagship event of JC3, will be held on 28 and 29 September 2026 at Sasana Kijang. The conference will bring together policymakers, financial institutions, investors, and other stakeholders to advance practical solutions for scaling transition and adaptation finance, share implementation experiences and challenges and explore solutions to deliver measurable outcomes.     The Guidance documents are available at: Guidelines & Toolkits | JC3 Malaysia and www.sc.com.my/nsrf     Funders may express interest in CFIL via: Apply as funder | JC3 Malaysia

? View the Speakers, the Agenda and Register for the 7th Annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit – Asia Pacific LONDON — August 13, 2026 — Discover the latest ETF industry trends, hear from leading experts, and connect with peers at the 7th Annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit – Asia Pacific.Join us on 9 September in Hong Kong and 10 September virtually for two days of insights, networking, and discussions exploring the opportunities and developments shaping the ETF industry across Asia Pacific.View the speakers, the agenda and register now!The summit is designed as an educational event for financial advisors and institutional investors across the Asia Pacific ETF industry, which now includes over 5,200 ETFs with over 5,480 listings, managing US$2.71 trillion in assets, offered by 305 providers across 24 exchanges in 17 countries.Industry leaders from issuers, regulators, investors, exchanges, and trading firms will share insights on the selection, use and trading of ETFs, including active, virtual assets, market structure, regulations, novel ETFs, tokenisation, prediction markets and technological advancements shaping ETF innovation and usage. Discussions will also highlight the opportunities and challenges facing retail investors, financial advisors and institutional investors as ETF usage continues to expand across diverse markets and jurisdictions.?Free Registration: For CFA members, buy-side institutional investors, and financial advisors.?CPD Credits: Earn educational credits? CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW  Preliminary agenda, additional speakers will be announced shortly. DAY 1 AGENDA – Hong Kong | 9 September 2026 Registration & Networking Coffee Welcome Remarks by Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner & Founder, ETFGI Trends in the Global ETF Industry - ETFGI Research   Speaker: Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner & Founder, ETFGI Fireside Chat - Regulatory Update Fion Tsui, Director, Investment Products, Securities and Futures Commission Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner & Founder, ETFGI Next Frontier for ETF Connect: Custom Index Design is Unlocking OpportunitiesDaniel Li, Director of Asset Management, CGS International Holdings Limited  Priscilla Luk, APAC Index Products Lead, MSCI Chloe Tao, Deputy Head, Product and Strategic Planning, Bosera Asset Management (International) Co. Sylvia Zhang, Executive Director, Assistant Head of Global Index, E Fund Management (Hong Kong)    Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner & Founder, ETFGI China's ETF Market Zhou Wang, Vice President, Shanghai Stock ExchangeYaoYao, Senior Manager, Department of Fund Supervision, Shenzhen Stock Exchange  Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Networking Lunch Break India Opportunity – Local Growth, Global Interest Aniruddha Chatterjee, CEO - NSE Indices, Data and Cogencis, NSE Indices Limited Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI The Rise of Active ETFs in Asia Pacific: Opportunities, Innovation and GrowthPhilippe El-Asmar, Managing Director, Head of ETF, Direct & Digital, Asia Pacific, J.P. Morgan Asset Management Ahmed Ibrahim, Head of ETF Product, APAC, State Street Lisa Ren, Head of APAC ETF Product Strategy, Fidelity Investments Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI The Rise of Thematic ETFs in Asia PacificAnita Mo, CEO and Head of Client Management, Hang Seng Indexes CompanyModerator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Networking Coffee Break How Investors Are Using ETFs in Asia Pacific Jazreel Cheng, Head of APAC Retail & Wealth Distribution Strategy, Nasdaq Matthew J. Watts, Partner, K&L GatesModerator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Understanding ETF Liquidity and Best Trading Practices Joyce Rosely, Senior Relationship Manager, MarketAxessModerator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Accessing Emerging Markets in Asia Pacific  Ashutosh Singh, MD & CEO, BSE Indices  Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Outlook for the Asset Management and ETF Industry Outlook Anna Liu, CEO, HashKey RWAModerator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI  Closing Remarks by Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner & Founder, ETFGI DAY 2 AGENDA – Virtual Sessions | 10 September 2026 Day 2 will feature a series of virtual sessions exploring ETF markets and key industry developments in countries throughout the Asia Pacific region. Additional sessions and speakers will be announced shortly. Welcome Remarks by Margareta Hricova, Managing Director, ETFGI   Australia’s ETF Market: Evolution & Outlook Rakitha Amaranath, Head of ETP Services, MUFG Pension & Market Services  Patrick Andriske, Senior Specialist ETF Capital Markets, Vanguard Australia Jessica Leung, Portfolio Manager, Global X ETFs Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI   China’s ETF Market: Evolution & OutlookTony Yang, CFA, Vice President, Global Capital Division, China Asset Management Co., Ltd  Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI India’s ETF Market: Evolution & Outlook Anil Ghelani, CFA, Head of Passive Investments & Products, DSP Asset Managers – India  Divaspati Singh, Partner, Khaitan and CoModerator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Indonesia’s ETF Market: Evolution & OutlookJeffrey Hendrik, President Director, Indonesia Stock Exchange   Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Japan’s ETF Market: Evolution & OutlookKoei Imai, Senior Executive, ETF Promotion Center, Product Division, Asset Management One Co., Ltd. Kei Okazaki, Head of ETF Secondary Trading, Tokyo Stock Exchange Shunsuke Sean Park, Investment Specialist, Japanese Equities, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI New Zealand’s ETF Market: Evolution & OutlookThom Bentley, Head of Business Development, Smart  Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Pakistan’s ETF Market: Evolution & OutlookFarrukh H. Sabzwari, CEO, Pakistan Stock Exchange  Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Singapore’s ETF Market: Evolution & Outlook Kang Wei Chin, Director, Securities Trading, Equities – Securities, SGX Group    Ivan Wong, Head of Institutional iShares Distribution, Southeast Asia, BlackRockModerator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI South Korea’s ETF Market: Evolution & Outlook John Donghoon Shin, Head of Index Business, Korea ExchangeModerator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Fireside Chat with Taipei ExchangeJulie Chiu, Deputy General Manager, Bond Department, Taipei Exchange (TPEx)  Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Fireside Chat with Taiwan Stock Exchange & Taiwan Index PlusAlissa Hsu, Director, Client Relations Department, Taiwan Index Plus Corporation Claire Lin, Manager, Product and Solution Department, Taiwan Stock Exchange Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Taiwan’s ETF Market: Evolution & OutlookJulian Tsung-Sheng Liu, Chairman, Yuanta Securities Investment Trust Co. Ltd.Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Thailand’s ETF Market: Evolution & Outlook Win Tochirakul, Managing Director, StashAway (Thailand) Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Vietnam's ETF Market: Evolution & Outlook Will Ross, Chief Client Officer, International Client Group, Dragon Capital Moderator: Deborah Fuhr, Founder & Managing Partner, ETFGI Closing Remarks by Margareta Hricova, Managing Director, ETFGI EVENT DETAILS: ? September 9th in Hong Kong and September 10th Virtual?Centricity – Concentric, 2/F, Landmark Chater House, 8 Connaught Rd Central, Central, Hong Kong⏰ Full day event? Website and registration https://bit.ly/4sgq3Uq?View the agenda, speakers, and topics from last year's successful annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit - Asia Pacific here Register to join one or more of our upcoming ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summits in 2026: 7th Annual - Asia Pacific, September 9th in Hong Kong and September 10th virtual. Register now.  7th Annual - United States, September 29th in New York City. Early bird expires on August 21st Register now. 7th Annual - Middle East & GCC, October 20th in Dubai. Early bird expires on September 11th - Register now. 7th Annual - Europe & Africa, November 19th in London and November 20th virtual. Early bird expires on October 9th - Register now. 8th Annual - Canada, December 8th in Toronto at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)'s office. Early bird expires on October 27th - Register now. Upcoming ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summits in 2027: 8th Annual - Latin America, day 1 in Mexico City and day 2 virtual. Register your interest.

KEY POINTS The project integrates financial literacy with Executive Functions (EF) brain skills development for early childhood to primary school children, cultivating sound financial discipline and habits from a young age. The initiative is expanding to school nationwide and faculties of education at over 10 universities to develop a new generation of teachers equipped to teach financial literacy, preparing Thai youth to grow with quality life skills The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Foundation, in collaboration with the Rakluke Learning Group (RLG), has launched the "EF Children, Think Smart, Money Smart" project, integrating Executive Functions (EF) brain skill development with financial literacy to cultivate financial discipline in early childhood and primary school children, empowering Thai youth to grow with quality life skills. SET Foundation Director and Secretary – Asadej Kongsiri said that as Thailand enters a complete aged society alongside a continuous decline in birth rates, preparing Thai youth to grow into quality citizens has become more urgent than ever. The project has developed innovative learning media and knowledge resources for practical use in both family and school settings, comprising five picture storybooks for early childhood, five storybooks for primary school students, and a financial literacy board game. These tools are designed to help children understand the value of money, cultivate saving habits, make prudent decisions  between needs and wants, and learn the value of sharing, building the foundation skills for both mental resilience and financial security, and developing quality human resources ready to drive the country forward. RLG Institute President – Subhawadee Harnmethee said the project’s storybooks,  board games, and EF skill-building processes are grounded in brain science.  Instilling EF brain skills from early childhood (ages 3–6) and continuing to train them as children grow lays a foundation for self-regulation in daily life. As they develop, self-regulated children increasingly understand and manage their financial lives -- learning to plan, avoid over-indebtedness, build immunity against financial scams, and eventually invest with purpose. Strong EF skills are therefore a crucial prerequisite for financial literacy to deliver real results. Preschool Education Association of Thailand President and Plearnpattana School Director – Thida Pitaksinsuk said that finance is not too difficult a subject for children when  communicated through relatable storybooks and hands-on activities. Collectively instilling these habits from early childhood and carrying them forward across every stage of life will serve as a vital driving force — one that takes deep root and builds lasting financial stability in the future Chiang Rai Provincial Education Office Director of the Supervisory, Monitoring and Evaluation Group – Weerat Sanumitr said Chiang Rai’s strong EF foundation has enabled teachers to apply financial literacy media through active learning, meeting Ministry of Education curriculum indicators. Students, teachers, and parents alike have shown measurable improvement in financial literacy. Naresuan University Director of the Investment Learning Center, Faculty of Business Administration, Economics and Communications – Kittipat Santaveesuk said the core financial problem for most Thais is the absence of early training in deliberate decision-making. Research consistently shows that early childhood is the optimal window for EF development. Three EF skills are particularly relevant to financial behavior: inhibitory control – resisting impulse spending and choosing need over want; working memory – setting and maintaining  financial goals; and  cognitive flexibility – adapting financial plans to changing life circumstances. The "EF Children, Think Smart, Money Smart" project builds on a collaboration that began in 2020 across  two pilot districts of Chiang Rai, expanding to all 18 districts by 2024 and extending to Nan and Lampang provinces. In 2025, the project integrated financial literacy with EF skills across 20 schools and is now preparing to expand to early childhood and primary schools nationwide focused on financial literacy development, as well as to faculties of education at over 10 universities to develop a new generation of teachers equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to teach financial literacy effectively. The project also welcomes partnerships with network organizations to extend its reach nationwide. For more details, visit www.setfoundation.or.th.

Fiducian Investment Management Services Limited (FIMS) has been ordered to pay a $7.3 million penalty for breaching its duty to act with care and diligence as a responsible entity and engaging in conduct liable to mislead the public. The Supreme Court of New South Wales found on 11 August 2026, that FIMS had failed to act in accordance with its duty of care and diligence as the responsible entity of the Diversified Social Aspirations Fund (Fund). The Court also found that FIMS made statements that were liable to mislead the public about the ‘ethical’ or ‘socially responsible’ investment objectives of the Fund (ESG Statements) and that it would monitor the Fund to ensure its investments were consistent with the ESG Statements. The proceeding related to FIMS’ operation of the Fund, which was established to meet client demand for a ‘socially responsible’ or ‘ethical’ investment option. The Fund invested solely through several underlying funds (Underlying Funds) which, between October 2019 and May 2024, held investments in companies that, among other things, derived revenue from fossil fuels. The Fund’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), which was issued six times between October 2019 and May 2024, stated that the Fund would invest in companies “that aim to be positive for society and for the environment and aim to avoid investments in harmful activities”. The PDS also specified a number of industries or activities that the Fund would avoid investing in and stated that FIMS would routinely monitor the portfolio exposure, operations and performance of the Fund. The Court found that FIMS did not have reasonable grounds to make the ESG Statements. The Court also found governance and oversight failures on FIMS’s part, including that it failed to: adequately monitor the Fund’s underlying investments for alignment with the ESG Statements review the investment strategies of the Underlying Funds change its underlying investments, or cause the Fund’s stated investment objectives to be amended to align with its actual investments. Investor concerns about the Fund's holdings had been raised from at least 2019, yet FIMS failed to appropriately amend or qualify its ESG Statements. ASIC Chair Sarah Court said investors should be able to trust sustainability-related claims made by investment managers. 'More Australians are seeking investments that align with their ethical, environmental and social values. Those investors are entitled to accurate information about where their money is invested. 'This case is a reminder that ESG claims must be backed by robust systems, oversight and governance. Fund managers and responsible entities must comply with their duties and they cannot make sustainability claims that are not supported in practice.' The Court accepted that: retail investors were denied the opportunity to make an informed choice between the Fund and other ESG funds available in the market, and FIMS's contravening conduct eroded confidence in the financial system and consumers' trust in statements made by responsible entities. This is ASIC's fourth greenwashing civil penalty outcome and the first against the operator of a managed fund for failures in governance, compliance and oversight of ESG claims. Importantly, this case is the first greenwashing-related civil penalty outcome in relation to a responsible entity’s failure to uphold its duty to act with care and diligence. Download Judgment Background FIMS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of listed entity Fiducian Group Limited and was the Trustee and responsible entity of the Fund. The Fund, which was opened in 2015, was established by FIMS in response to demand for an “ethical” or “socially responsible” option for investors. It was closed in 2024. ASIC commenced proceedings against FIMS in 2025. FIMS admitted that it failed to discharge its duties as a responsible entity and contravened provisions prohibiting a person from making false or misleading representations. In ASIC’s previous greenwashing outcomes, a penalty of $11.3 million was obtained against Mercer Superannuation (24-173MR), $12.9 million against Vanguard Investments Australia (24-213MR), and $10.5 million against Active Super (25-042MR). ASIC’s Information Sheet 271 How to avoid greenwashing when offering or promoting sustainability-related products (INFO 271) provides information for responsible entities of managed funds and super fund trustees about how to avoid greenwashing when offering or promoting sustainability-related or ethical products and investments. ASIC’s Report 791 ASIC’s recent greenwashing interventions outlines ASIC regulatory interventions made between 1 April 2023 and 30 June 2024 in relation to greenwashing concerns. ASIC’s Moneysmart website has a range of tools and resources to help people understand money and how to manage it. Find out more about what ESG investing is and how it works.

ASX Interim CEO Darren Yip said:  “It has been a highly consequential year for ASX in FY26. In the past 12 months we navigated significant external scrutiny, while continuing to operate critical market infrastructure through an exceptionally active and volatile period for markets. Against that backdrop, we continued to modernise our technology, introduce new products and serve our customers. “All of ASX’s business units delivered revenue growth in FY26, contributing to a 13.3% increase resulting in operating revenue of $1.25 billion. Our business benefitted from global volatility which drove an increase in markets activity and demand for posttrade services. In Listings, we saw the strongest year since FY22 with 100 new entities listed. New listings brought more than $32.6 billion in quoted market capitalisation to ASX, representing growth of 85.5% year-on-year. We also saw strong demand for equities and derivatives data which contributed to the 8.0% increase in revenue for our Technology & Data division. “Underlying net profit after tax for the year was $536.4 million, up 5.2% on last year, driven by strong performance in operating revenue and partially offset by higher total expenses and lower net interest income. Statutory net profit after tax was down by 3.5% to $484.9 million following the impact of significant items. We are pleased to announce a fully franked final dividend of 104.7 cents per share, which brings total dividends for FY26 to 206.5 cents per share fully franked. A discounted dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) will operate for this dividend. Shares allocated will be issued at a 2.5% discount to the share price based on a 9-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) commencing on 26 August. Depending on the participation rate in the DRP, we also have the flexibility to partially underwrite the DRP. “A major achievement during the year was the successful delivery of CHESS Release 1. This was an important milestone in strengthening the foundations of Australia’s post-trade infrastructure, upgrading clearing services to a modern, secure and resilient platform designed to scale for higher trading volumes. Just as importantly, it has established the foundational enterprise technology platforms, including cloud, data and integration capabilities, that provide a sustainable base for future upgrades and broader technology delivery across ASX.  “ASX has faced significant reputational challenges during FY26. The ASIC Inquiry into ASX was a landmark process and we have taken those findings seriously. We recognise the important role we play as a steward of critical market infrastructure, and our focus is now firmly on making changes to strengthen ASX.    “Our elevated expense profile reflects the investment needed to deliver a more resilient ASX that will support our customers and shape tomorrow’s markets. Our capex program is mainly informed by our technology modernisation roadmap and capex guidance for FY27 and FY28 is unchanged, with our FY27 opex guidance also unchanged.  “FY26 has been a year of resilience, delivery and reset for ASX. Meaningful progress has been made in our transformation and there is more to do. ASX enters FY27 with clearer priorities, stronger foundations and a disciplined focus on execution.”  Click here for full details. ASX FY26 appendix 4e and annual report ASX FY26 notification of dividend / distribution ASX FY26 results - presentation ASX FY26 results – presentation speaking notes ASX appendix 4g 2026 ASX FY26 corporate governance statement ASX 2026 sustainability report supplement ASX 2026 tax transparency report

Online brokers are targeting retail investors with complex or high-risk products without clearly disclosing their risks or conducting proper onboarding, leaving Australians exposed to risky products that could see them lose their investments within hours. The findings follow a targeted ASIC surveillance examining nine entities offering short-dated exchange traded options (ETOs), futures and fractional shares to retail investors. Some of these providers offer fee-free or discounted trading, or incentives such as cash vouchers or airline reward points to encourage retail investors to start trading on their platforms. In response to the findings, ASIC’s Moneysmart has released new information to help investors understand these products and is encouraging Australians to think carefully before engaging with complex products. ASIC Commissioner Simone Constant said, ‘At ASIC we want to see Australians participating safely in thriving markets. But it is important Australians know that there is no such thing as easy money. While sign-up incentives can make trading more exciting, they can distract from investment risks and could encourage impulsive trading decisions. ‘Products such as short-dated exchange traded options and futures use leverage, meaning losses can be magnified and accumulate quickly, in a matter of hours or days. Big losses can accrue in very little time. ‘Other investments, such as fractional shares, can involve complex ownership arrangements that may affect investors’ rights, protections, and the ability to transfer their investments to another platform. ‘If you do not understand how a product generates returns, or how your money is held, do not invest until you do. Or choose other ways to invest that are simpler to understand and make sense to you and make sense for you.’ ASIC’s review of complex products Conducted between March and June 2026, ASIC’s surveillance found: Deficiencies in the target market determinations (TMDs) of some entities, including insufficient detail on how products met the likely objectives, situations and needs of clients. Onboarding shortcomings, including limited tailoring of questions to client circumstances and repeated or unlimited attempts to pass onboarding questionnaires. Unclear client disclosure that failed to explain the risks and costs associated with fractional trading. Commissioner Constant continued, ‘More Australians than ever are investing online, making it crucially important that greater access does not come at the expense of products being sold to investors for whom they are not suitable or who do not fully understand the risks. ‘Entities offering complex or high-risk products must ensure their products are distributed to the right target market, not only at onboarding but throughout the client relationship. The products are complex but the responsibilities are simple - they require effective product governance, including appropriate onboarding, ongoing client monitoring and clear disclosures that explain the real risks and costs involved. ‘Complex and high-risk products are unlikely to be suitable for many retail investors, and firms must therefore ensure their target markets are appropriately and narrowly defined. The right product for the right customers so that Australians can trust and have confidence when they invest.’ ASIC's intervention has already driven change across the sector: Five entities have improved their compliance practices. This includes two entities who have stopped onboarding options clients while remediation work is underway. One entity has exited the Australian market since ASIC’s review. ASIC is continuing to address concerns with some entities and is considering further regulatory or enforcement action in relation to matters identified in the review. Moneysmart updates educational guidance ASIC’s Moneysmart has created four new webpages to provide educational information to Australian investors about exchange traded options (ETOs), futures contracts, fractional share trading and micro-investing. The existing futures glossary page was also reviewed. Short-dated ETOs are contracts that give investors a limited time to profit from market movements, often within days. They use leverage, meaning their value can change significantly. This can magnify both gains and losses. Their short time to expiry also makes them highly susceptible to time decay, which means investors can lose money quickly if the market does not move as anticipated. While they are sometimes marketed as a way to make quick gains, short-dated ETOs carry a high risk of rapid financial loss. Futures are legally binding contracts to buy or sell a particular asset, currency or other index, for a specified price on a specified future date. They can be high-risk investments and are often unsuitable for retail investors as they involve high leverage - meaning they only require a small deposit for exposure to a large asset - and contracts are settled daily, which means that you can be forced to sell at a loss. Fractional trading allows investors to purchase part of a share or other asset, by splitting the ownership or value of an asset among multiple investors or between an investor and an intermediary. This can make investing more accessible by reducing the amount of money needed to get started but has implications for ownership rights. Before investing, retail investors should ask themselves: Do I understand this product? Complex or high-risk products can magnify gains, but also losses. Is this product right for me? If it is difficult to understand, it may not be suitable. Where is my money held, and do I own the underlying asset? Different products have different ownership structures. Do not assume all investment products offer the same protections. Can I afford the potential loss? Highly leveraged products can have a low barrier to entry, but they are not low risk. You could lose your entire investment within hours. Do not invest more than you can afford to lose. ‘Before investing, we encourage investors to visit the Moneysmart website to better understand new, complex or high-risk products and whether they may be right for you,’ Ms Constant continued. Background About ASIC’s surveillance The nine entities reviewed were: Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd Moomoo Securities Australia Ltd Sharesies Australia Limited Stakeshop AFSL Pty Ltd tastytrade Australia Pty Ltd Tiger Brokers (AU) Pty Limited Totality Wealth Limited Trading 212 AU Pty Ltd, and Webull Securities (Australia) Pty Ltd The surveillance findings are presented thematically and are not attributed to individual entities and did not apply to every entity reviewed. Previous surveillances of complex products offered to retail investors ASIC's surveillance findings are consistent with previous reviews of design and distribution obligations (DDO) compliance and high-risk product distribution practices. ASIC has previously published: Design and distribution obligations: Retail OTC derivatives (REP 770) Compliance with the reasonable steps obligation (REP 795) and Risky business: Driving change in CFD issuers' distribution practices (REP 828), which set out examples of better and poorer distribution practices and ASIC's expectations for firms distributing products to retail investors. ASIC has previously taken action against offerors of complex products, particularly contracts for difference (CFDs): In June 2026, ASIC secured more than $300 million in penalties against collapsed CFD issurer Union Standard International Group Pty Ltd (USG) for unconscionable conduct. Among other failures, USG failed to properly onboard its clients, allowing investors who were unsuited to complex products access to highly volatile CFDs (26-117MR). In March 2026, Binance Australia Derivatives, the trading name of Oztures Trading Pty Ltd, was fined $10 million over serious onboarding failures, including allowing clients seeking to be verified as sophisticated investors to make unlimited attempts at a multiple-choice quiz until they achieved a passing score for Binance to assess them as qualifying for sophisticated investor status (26-055MR).

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Market Oversight today issued an advisory reminding designated contract markets of their regulatory obligations when submitting self-certifications for market-maker, liquidity, trading, or incentive programs under CFTC Regulations 40.5 and 40.6. This advisory addresses concerns regarding an increasing number of incentive‑program rule filings submitted under CFTC Regulation 40.6(a)—particularly those relating to event contract products—that contain procedural or substantive deficiencies. Such deficiencies can impede staff’s ability to evaluate whether DCMs have provided adequate notice of program terms and have sufficiently assessed compliance with core principles and other Commission requirements. This guidance outlines staff expectations regarding both procedural and substantive content for submissions made under CFTC Regulations 40.5 and 40.6, including initial program submissions, amendments, or changes to such programs, and submission procedures. RELATED LINKS CFTC Staff Letter No. 26-23

 Robinhood Markets, Inc. (“Robinhood”) (NASDAQ: HOOD) today reported select monthly operating data for July 2026. Funded Customers at the end of July were 28.5 million (up approximately 80 thousand from the end of June 2026, up approximately 1.77 million year-over-year). Funded Customers do not include Trump Accounts. Total Platform Assets at the end of July were $355 billion (down 4% from the end of June 2026, up 19% year-over-year). Starting in July 2026, Total Platform Assets include Trump Account assets custodied by Robinhood. Net Deposits were $5.6 billion in July, or an 18% annualized growth rate relative to June 2026 Total Platform Assets. Starting in July 2026, Net Deposits include Trump Account contributions. Over the last twelve months, Net Deposits were $74.9 billion, or an annual growth rate of 25% relative to July 2025 Total Platform Assets. Trading Volumes in July: Equity Notional Trading Volumes were $333 billion (down 15% from June 2026, up 59% year-over-year). Average daily volumes (“ADVs”)1 were $15.1 billion (down 19% from June 2026, up 56% year-over-year). Options Contracts Traded were 324 million (up 2% from June 2026, up 66% year-over-year). ADVs were 14.7 million contracts (down 3% from June 2026, up 62% year-over-year). Crypto Notional Trading Volumes were $10.9 billion (down 33% from June 2026, down 62% year-over-year), including Robinhood App Notional Trading Volumes of $4.3 billion (down 38% from June 2026, down 74% year-over-year) and Bitstamp Notional Trading Volumes of $6.6 billion (down 30% from June 2026, down 45% year-over-year). Robinhood App ADVs were $139 million (down 40% from June 2026, down 74% year-over-year), and Bitstamp ADVs were $213 million (down 32% from June 2026, down 45% year-over-year). Event Contracts Traded were 6.1 billion (down 5% from June 2026, up 20x year-over-year). ADVs were 197 million contracts (down 8% from June 2026, up 20x year-over-year). Interest Earning Assets in July: Margin balances at the end of July were $20.7 billion (down 4% from the end of June 2026, up 82% year-over-year). Cash and Deposit balances at the end of July were $19.5 billion (up 4% from the end of June 2026, up 34% year-over-year). Cash Sweep balances at the end of July were $29.2 billion (down 2% from the end of June 2026, down 13% year-over-year). Total Securities Lending Revenue in July was $40 million (down 2% from June 2026, down 34% year-over-year). This includes Securities Lending, Net revenues of $1 million.   July2026 June2026 M/MChange July2025 Y/YChange (M - in millions, B - in billions)           Funded Customer Growth (M)           Funded Customers2 28.5 28.4 - 26.7 +7%             Asset Growth ($B)           Total Platform Assets3 $355.0 $368.7 (4%) $298.0 +19% Net Deposits4 $5.6 $10.1 NM $6.4 NM             Trading           Equities and Options Trading Days 22 21 +5% 21.5 +2% Crypto and Prediction Markets Trading Days 31 30 +3% 31 -             Total Trading Volumes           Equity ($B) $332.8 $392.0 (15%) $209.1 +59% Options Contracts (M) 324.2 318.0 +2% 195.8 +66% Crypto ($B) $10.9 $16.3 (33%) $28.7 (62%) Robinhood App ($B) $4.3 $6.9 (38%) $16.8 (74%) Bitstamp ($B) $6.6 $9.4 (30%) $11.9 (45%) Event Contracts (B) 6.1 6.4 (5%) 0.3 +20x             Average Daily Trading Volumes1           Equity ($B) $15.1 $18.7 (19%) $9.7 +56% Options Contracts (M) 14.7 15.1 (3%) 9.1 +62% Crypto ($M) $352 $543 (35%) $926 (62%) Robinhood App ($M) $139 $230 (40%) $542 (74%) Bitstamp ($M) $213 $313 (32%) $384 (45%) Event Contracts (M) 197 213 (8%) 10 +20x             Daily Average Trades (DATs) (M)         Equity 4.8 5.7 (16%) 3.7 +30% Options 2.1 2.1 - 1.1 +91% Crypto 0.6 0.8 (25%) 1.1 (45%)             Interest Earning Assets ($B)           Margin Book $20.7 $21.6 (4%) $11.4 +82% Cash and Deposits5 $19.5 $18.7 +4% $14.6 +34% Cash Sweep5 $29.2 $29.7 (2%) $33.6 (13%)             Securities Lending ($M)           Total Securities Lending Revenue $40 $41 (2%) $61 (34%) Securities Lending, Net $1 $2 (50%) $37 (97%) 1. Average daily volumes (“ADVs”) defined as Total Trading Volume in a given period divided by the applicable number of trading days in said period.2. Funded Customers do not include Trump Accounts.3. Starting in July 2026, Total Platform Assets include Trump Account assets custodied by Robinhood.4. Starting in June 2025, Net Deposits include results from Bitstamp. Starting in March 2026, Net Deposits include results from TradePMR. Starting in June 2026, Net Deposits include results from WonderFi. Starting in July 2026, Net Deposits include Trump Account contributions.5. In February 2026, we updated our brokerage High-Yield Cash program to fund growth in margin lending. Under the updated program, the first $10 thousand in enrolled balances per eligible customer are held as free credit balances where the customer continues to earn the same interest rate. This resulted in over $6 billion of Cash Sweep balances moving to free credit balances in February 2026. For definitions and additional information regarding these metrics, please refer to Robinhood’s full monthly metrics release, which is available on investors.robinhood.com. The information in this release is unaudited and the information for the months in the most recent fiscal quarter is preliminary, based on Robinhood’s estimates, and subject to completion of financial closing procedures. Final results for the most recent fiscal quarter, as reported in Robinhood’s quarterly and annual filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), might vary from the information in this release.

The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) today announced that it joined state financial agencies in 46 states in securing a $15.5 million settlement with one of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers for imposing “force-placed” insurance costs on borrowers who already had active homeowners insurance policies. NewRez LLC has returned $409,026 to impacted New Yorkers and will pay a $602,226 penalty. “The Department is committed to protecting consumers and holding institutions accountable for their responsibilities to New Yorkers” said Acting Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow. “I thank our partner agencies from across the nation for working with us on this multi-state enforcement action.” The settlement resolves a multi-state examination’s finding that NewRez had imposed force-placed insurance on more than 4,200 borrowers nationwide who had active homeowners insurance policies, causing consumer harm totaling $4.5 million. The Pennsylvania-based company paid $4.5 million in restitution to the impacted borrowers and will pay an additional $11 million to state regulators for costs and penalties. NewRez is also required to implement new controls and conduct enhanced monitoring for loans that have force-placed insurance. Force-placed insurance is often required when a homeowners policy is cancelled, delinquent, or insufficient in coverage and the borrower has failed to secure replacement coverage. If necessary, the lender, bank, or loan servicer may force the replacement coverage, which allows the lender to protect its financial interest in the property. This practice usually is significantly more costly than if a consumer secures their own insurance policy.    New York residents who have questions about the enforcement action can https://www.dfs.ny.gov/complaintcall (800) 342-3736. Residents can also visit NMLS Consumer Access to verify that a company is licensed to do business in New York State, and they may also view past enforcement actions.   Read the NewRez consent order on the Department’s website. 

Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc. (TSE) is pleased to announce the publication of the results of a survey of domestic and overseas institutional investors that gathered comments on companies demonstrating meaningful progress from the perspective of management that is conscious of cost of capital and stock price. Through this survey, we received many comments from investors evaluating the progress made by listed companies in their initiatives. We have compiled the specific comments made on “Companies Demonstrating Meaningful Progress” in a list format, so please also see this for reference. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the investors who cooperated in responding to the survey. Going forward, TSE will widely communicate the survey results and consider support measures for companies that have yet to disclose their initiatives. In addition, TSE received many comments from institutional investors regarding the further development and enhancement of management that is conscious of cost of capital and stock price, which will be used as reference for future initiatives. TSE plans to continue conducting this survey next year and beyond. Results of Survey of Institutional Investors on Companies Demonstrating Meaningful Progress List of Companies Demonstrating Meaningful Progress as Evaluated by Investors Action to Implement Management that is Conscious of Cost of Capital and Stock Price

Reports have emerged that Chinese-linked hackers have deployed autonomous AI agents to breach Taiwanese government systems — and cybersecurity experts are warning that financial institutions could be next. Jonathan Frost, Director of Global Advisory for EMEA at BioCatch, says the attack signals a dangerous new era for digital fraud. "News of another AI-based cyber compromise is fast becoming a daily occurrence," he said. "This latest attack on the Taiwanese government is notable for several reasons. The use of open-source models, whilst unremarkable, highlights low barriers to entry for organised criminals and state actors." What makes this attack particularly concerning is the level of autonomy the AI demonstrated. When blocked, the system deployed new agents to adapt its strategy, researching and developing alternative tactics on the fly — all without human intervention. "The models operated autonomously, mirroring a human hacker's approach," Frost explained. "Unlike humans, the AI likely worked continuously, scaled operations efficiently, and did not require rest."Frost warns that this threat won't stay confined to government targets for long. "Criminals will inevitably adopt similar strategies in digital fraud," he said, adding that traditional fraud controls are ill-equipped to handle attackers that can constantly learn and change tactics. For banks, this raises an urgent question: how do you distinguish between a legitimate customer, a trusted AI agent, and a malicious one — in real time? Frost argues that institutions need to move beyond static fraud controls, focusing instead on detecting non-human interactions in digital channels. "Institutions that can identify and block malicious agents without disrupting legitimate customers will reduce losses and enhance customer experience," he said.