SFC vs Evergrande Auditors: Hong Kong’s securities regulator defended a HK$1 billion settlement with PwC Hong Kong in High Court, as Evergrande liquidators seek to overturn it over whether the deal could worsen creditors’ position. HKEX Momentum: Hong Kong Exchanges posted record half-year profit, driven by a fundraising and trading surge tied to mainland tech and AI IPOs, and said it aims to keep the market’s “vibrancy” going. Cross-border Fintech Test: Standard Chartered and HSBC completed the first live transaction using Swift’s blockchain-based ledger for tokenised deposits, showing interoperability for 24/7 cross-border payments. Unitree IPO Frenzy: Chinese humanoid robot maker Unitree’s Shanghai debut sent shares up as much as 629%, underscoring investor appetite for AI/robotics themes. Payment Asia Expansion: Hong Kong-headquartered Payment Asia Group said its AlphaPay completed Motion Pay integration and obtained a Canadian MSB licence to strengthen North American cross-border payments. Macao Planning: Macao unveiled its 2026-2030 third five-year plan, stressing economic diversification, social progress and deeper integration with national development under “one country, two systems.” US-Iran Shipping Shock: The UAE halted trade and financial dealings with Iran after missile claims, as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz reportedly slowed. Local Enforcement: Hong Kong Customs continued anti-drug actions, including seizures and arrests tied to cannabis trafficking.