The forint’s trading on Thursday initially stabilized, but the exchange rate weakened throughout the day due to the international mood and expectations regarding US labor market data. Important factors include the US-Iran negotiations, the price of oil, and expected interest rate changes by the Japanese and US central banks. The KSH’s unfavorable industrial and retail data also affected the forint, while demand for Hungarian government bonds remained stable.
South Korea is tightening regulations on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) traded on its stock exchange after the KOSPI index lost a third of its value in July 2026 due to a sharp decline in the technology sector. The aim of the authorities is to stabilize the market and prevent excessive risk-taking by retail investors, according to the Financial Times.
Intesa Sanpaolo of Italy has raised its profit forecast for 2026, while the bank’s management has stated that it is not willing to improve its previous offer to acquire Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS). The financial institution has also reported strong quarterly results that exceeded expectations.
The Shell’s quarterly results, which were the highest in four years, significantly exceeded analyst expectations due to soaring oil and gas prices, largely driven by the Middle Eastern conflict, and strong trading performance. Following the results, Shell announced a further $3 billion share repurchase.
The Hungarian economy grew more slowly than expected in the second quarter, while the trade surplus increased significantly in June. The forint was stable against the euro on Thursday morning, but weakened against the dollar. Significant exchange rate fluctuations were caused by Donald Trump’s statements regarding Iran and the Fed’s interest rate decision.
Adidas closed its strongest second quarter to date. The German sportswear manufacturer achieved record sales, and its profits also increased, despite significantly increasing its marketing spending during the World Cup. According to the company, demand remained strong worldwide, so after the first half results, it also increased its sales forecast for the year.
The German financial supervisory authority, BaFin, announced that it will begin monitoring the use of artificial intelligence by banks and insurance companies in the country, following the expansion of the authority’s powers by lawmakers.