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The dollar drifted higher against its major peers on Thursday as traders waited for the delayed release of US consumer inflation data on Friday, while digesting trade threats between Washington and Beijing. The yen weakened to a one-week low against the dollar as the market awaited details of a big stimulus package from new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, widely viewed as a fiscal and monetary dove. Sterling remained under pressure after British data on Wednesday showed consumer inflation held steady at 3.8% last month, defying economists' estimates for it to accelerate. The US dollar index, which measures the currency against the yen, sterling, euro and three other peers, edged up 0.5% to 98.979. The dollar added 0.17% to 152.21 yen, and earlier touched 152.26 yen for the first time since Oct. 14. Sterling sagged 0.09% to $1.3345. The euro eased 0.06% to $1.1604.

Germany and Iceland have agreed to strengthen their military cooperation amid growing Russian threats. A memorandum of understanding signed in Reykjavik focuses on maritime logistics, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said during a meeting with Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir. "Germany is, from my point of view, the leading force now in strengthening the security and defence of Europe," Gunnarsdottir said. She highlighted plans for closer cooperation with the German air force and navy, as well as joint efforts to defend against hybrid attacks and disruptions to internet communications. The German armed forces plan to establish a point of call on the volcanic island in the far north for warships, submarines and supply vessels.

NATO's annual Steadfast Noon nuclear deterrence exercise kicked off today in the Netherlands, with the participation of 71 aircrafts from 14 NATO member states. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the exercises send a clear message to any potential adversary that NATO will protect and defend all allies against all threats. Rutte added that NATO needs to do these exercises to help ensure that its nuclear deterrence remains as reliable, secure, and effective as possible. NATO announced that bases at Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Lakenheath in the UK, and Skrydstrup in Denmark will also participate. NATO explained that the exercises do not use nuclear weapons but simulate scenarios in which they could be used. Steadfast Noon is NATO's annual nuclear deterrence exercise, in which aircraft and personnel are trained without the use of actual nuclear weapons.

AlRayan Bank announced that it has been awarded the National Information Assurance (NIA) Certification by the State of Qatar’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). Achieved to a high standard within a short timeframe, this milestone reflects the bank’s sustained focus on strengthening information protection and cyber resilience in the face of rising global threats. The certification ceremony took place at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha.Unlike traditional security standards that sit mainly within IT, NIA is a strategic, Qatar-tailored assurance framework that integrates cybersecurity across the entire enterprise, governance, processes, and frontline business functions. For AlRayan Bank, the certification represents a major step forward in safeguarding information assets, elevating security practices across every department, and contributing to the State’s national information security strategy in line with international best practice. It also signals independent assurance of the Bank’s cybersecurity maturity, deeper protection for customers, staff, assets, and shareholders, greater confidence among partners, strengthened resilience against evolving cyber risks, support for compliance with national and global standards, and the continued cultivation of a pervasive, organisation-wide security culture.Commenting on the achievement, Omar al-Emadi, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer at AlRayan Bank, said: “We are proud to receive the NIA Certification, a clear reflection of AlRayan Bank’s relentless focus on information protection and cyber resilience. This is a pivotal step in our journey to safeguard information assets and embed robust security practices across the bank. It also affirms our active contribution to Qatar’s national information security strategy, in line with global best practice. Above all, it embodies our steadfast commitment to protecting our customers’ and partners’ data, strengthening our ability to anticipate and counter cyber risks, and ensuring greater resilience and secure business continuity.”Al-Emadi added that the Bank extends its appreciation to the National Cyber Security Agency for its leadership and guidance in enabling AlRayan Bank to meet the certification requirements. Building on this foundation, the bank will continue to deepen trust with customers and shareholders through credible, stable, and secure digital banking services, making AlRayan Bank their first choice.