๐ Australia has released its latest economic data for August. The Services PMI stands at 53.2, down from the previous 53.6. Meanwhile, the Composite PMI is reported at 52.7, a decrease from the earlier figure of 53.2.
โ ๏ธ๐ท๐บ Sberbank indicates that pauses in the Central Bank's interest rate cuts are possible, asserting there is no basis for an increase. According to Sberbank CEO German Gref, the key rate is expected to be between 11-12% by year-end. Deputy Chairman and CFO Taras Skvortsov assesses the likelihood of another rate cut of 25 basis points in September, suggesting a "50-50" chance of a pause.
๐จ Japan's economic indicators for August show a rise in the Services PMI, now at 52.5, up from the previous 51.2. Additionally, the Composite PMI has improved to 53.5, compared to the earlier figure of 52.7. These numbers reflect a strengthening in the country's services sector.
๐จ๐จ๐ณ China's economic indicators show improvement, with the Composite PMI rising to 52.1 in August, up from 50.8. The Services PMI also increased to 54.1, compared to the previous 50.4.
๐ฐ Sberbank aims to earn more in 2026 than in 2025 while maintaining high capital adequacy. The bank does not anticipate any issues with dividend payments and is hopeful for record payouts for 2026. Sber expects to achieve record profits and distribute unprecedented dividends. Although the bank plans to create reserves for marketplace loans, it believes this will not hinder its profitability in 2026. The Russian banking sector is projected to generate around 4 trillion rubles by the end of 2026, according to CEO German Gref.
๐ ALROSA currently does not require support in the form of diamond purchases from the State Fund, as the company is not facing serious sales issues, according to the head of Yakutia. For more details, visit RIA Novosti.
โ ๏ธ๐ท๐บ Russia's airspace remains secure. The country is taking extensive measures to ensure the safety of its airspace. This statement comes from Anton Kobyakov, an advisor to the President of Russia, in response to Ukraine's claims regarding the dangers of flying over Russia, as reported by TASS.
๐ข๐ท๐บ๐จ๐ณ Gazprom and CNPC have discussed strategic cooperation, focusing on preparations for the start of Russian gas supplies to China via the "Far Eastern" route. The project is on schedule, with the next phase involving commissioning activities, according to Gazprom.
๐ข๐ท๐บ๐ป๐ณ "NOVATEK" is in talks to supply LNG to private Vietnamese companies that are completing the construction of liquefied gas receiving terminals. Initially, the parties are considering the possibility of supplying 1 million tons of LNG, according to Mikhailson from TASS.
๐ Sales of new cars in Russia from January to August 2026 increased by 7%, surpassing 940,000 units. The share of domestic vehicles in the Russian market reached 63.5% during this period. Sales of electric vehicles and hybrids nearly doubled to 83,000. Production of electric and hybrid cars in Russia could rise by 1.5 to 2 times in 2026, reaching 25,000 to 30,000 units, according to Minister Manturov.
โ๏ธ The domestically-produced aircraft SJ-100 is expected to receive certification in spring, with deliveries set to commence in 2027. Firm contracts for the supply of the SJ-100 with potential customers, including Red Wings and Azimuth, may be finalized by the end of 2026, according to Alihanov from TASS.
๐ท๐บ Sberbank has no plans to open new branches in other countries. The bank aims to expand through partnerships, according to Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov.
โ ๏ธ๐ฎ๐ท Iran has launched strikes on American bases in Kuwait, according to Press TV.
๐ฏ๐ต The Japanese yen has strengthened significantly against the dollar following recent interventions. Traders are closely monitoring potential actions ahead of the upcoming Bank of Japan meeting and the extended weekend. This period presents an excellent opportunity for the central bank to intervene in the market, according to Bloomberg. Japan and the United States have previously stated their readiness to conduct further interventions if necessary.
๐ท๐บ The Attorney General Alexander Gutsan has proposed introducing a moratorium on business inspections in 2027 to support enterprises amid drone attacks, reports RBC correspondent.
๐ฐ The introduction of the digital ruble may result in banks losing up to 100 billion rubles in commission income annually, along with a potential outflow of 10% of their liabilities. The path to profitability is expected to be lengthy, especially for smaller credit institutions. Experts predict that in various scenarios, the digital ruble could account for 5% to 30% of cashless transactions within the next 5 to 7 years. For more details, visit โ ะช.
๐ฅโด๏ธ๐บ๐ธ Robinhood has surpassed Binance in the number of tokenized stock holders, reaching 862,800 compared to Binance's 827,200, making it the largest platform by this metric, according to Token Terminal. The Robinhood Chain network was launched by the brokerage on July 1 and is rapidly gaining popularity, setting records across various indicators.