International News 30 September 2026
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Reserve Bank of Australia Raises Cash Rate 25 bps to 15-Year High of 4.60% as Inflation Risks Persist
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted its benchmark cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.60% on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, marking its highest borrowing benchmark in 15 years. The unanimous board decision represents the central bank's fourth rate hike of the year, bringing cumulative monetary tightening across 2026 to 100 basis points. The RBA maintained a hawkish stance, emphasizing that further policy tightening remains on the table if required to bring inflation back to target. Policymakers noted that several upside risks to consumer prices have materialized, driven primarily by elevated energy costs and subdued domestic productivity growth. Core inflation was reported at 3.6%, remaining stubbornly above the central bank’s 2% to 3% target band and cementing the case for continued monetary restraint.
Samsung Group Commits $1 Billion to Fuel Global Expansion of KKR-Backed AI Infrastructure Firm Helix Digital
Samsung Electronics and several of its key affiliates have committed a combined US$1 billion to support the global expansion of Helix Digital, a U.S.-based artificial intelligence infrastructure company backed by global investment firm KKR. According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Samsung Electronics will inject $500 million, while the remaining $500 million will be collectively provided by Samsung C&T, Samsung SDS, Samsung SDI, Samsung Life Insurance, and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. The strategic investment builds on Helix Digital’s previously announced capital allocation of more than $10 billion aimed at aggressively scaling its infrastructure development strategy. The company focuses on funding, deploying, and managing the critical physical assets that underpin the broader AI ecosystem, prioritizing hyperscale data centers, power generation and transmission facilities, and extensive fiber-optic connectivity networks. Moving forward, Helix plans to integrate advanced Nvidia technologies alongside Samsung’s proprietary hardware and advanced energy storage capabilities. This synergistic approach is designed to accelerate the build-out and delivery of high-performance, scalable AI infrastructure across various global regions.
https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/samsung-suntik-us-1-miliar-ke-infrastruktur-ai
Singapore Allocates S$1.45 Billion to Five Asset Managers Under Domestic Equity Market Drive
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has awarded approximately USD1.1 billion) in investment mandates to five global asset managers to invigorate trading activity and liquidity across its domestic equity market. MAS Deputy Chairman Chee Hong Tat announced that the capital deployment marks the third tranche under the central bank's broader S$6.5 billion Equity Market Development Programme. The initiative aims to deepen Singapore’s asset management ecosystem and catalyze investor participation in local listed equities. The five asset managers selected to receive funding allocations under this phase are Amundi, Franklin Templeton, HSBC Asset Management, M&G Investments, and Natixis Investment Managers.