Our Scans · (ZY.4.02) Business Studies · Weekly Summary

• [New] The embedded finance sector will grow from USD 85.8 billion in 2026 to USD 370.9 billion by 2036, representing a 15.8% compound annual growth rate as expanding embedded finance use cases accelerate adoption. Digital Transactions
• [New] In 2026, AI will move beyond support and act as a decision layer in B2B marketing, leveraging intent data and engagement patterns to determine true demand. IDBS Global
• [New] Email marketing is regarded as a goldmine of good prospects, with the industry expected to reach 17.9 billion dollars by 2027. IDBS Global
• [New] US investment firm Franklin Templeton, in partnership with Ondo Finance, will launch tokenised versions of its ETFs, accessible directly via crypto wallets. investing.com
• [New] ADB is committed to providing $1 billion in financing to Bhutan from 2024 to 2028, supporting climate-resilient infrastructure, trade, public finance, and human development. Asian Development Bank
• [New] The U.S. penalty reduction underscores a more restrained approach amid regulatory staff cuts and a government shutdown, potentially signaling increased risks for illicit finance. Kroll
• [New] Discussions will span AI and analytics in underwriting and claims automation, InsurTech innovation, ESG finance, and the readiness of virtual banks in Thailand. Insurance Asia
• [New] We see increasing potential across Asia-Pacific, emerging markets and parts of Europe as investors are increasingly calling for transition-labelled finance to support credible decarbonization strategies in hard-to-abate sectors and address the $2.4 trillion annual climate mitigation gap by 2030. Environmental Finance
• [New] Platform processors and commerce ecosystems, including Stripe, Block, and Shopify, increasingly bundle acceptance, risk, and lending into a unified stack, aligning with embedded finance adoption noted across retail and B2B marketplaces by Forrester. BUSINESS 2.0 NEWS
• [New] Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan warned of geopolitical disruptions that could surpass the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while stressing the resilience of the Saudi economy and its ability to manage crises.
• [New] G7 finance ministers held an emergency meeting in response to spiraling oil prices and a growing concern that the war in Iran will drag on, with the coordinated response reflecting allied alarm at U.S.-driven instability. RealTime DemTrends
• As AI agents continue to mature and more of the world's $300 trillion in assets move on-chain, the distinction between crypto and finance will eventually disappear entirely. KuCoin
• Raising €30M (about $34.6M), Candela AB's largest funding round to date, with the World Bank's IFC arm joining existing investors, will finance a second foiling ferry manufacturing facility to scale production of its groundbreaking hydrofoiling P - 12 ferries and meet growing global demand. Marine Log
• Novo Nordisk declared that it is pursuing an Ozempic lawsuit against telemedicine platform Hims & Hers for purportedly deceiving patients and putting their health at risk by marketing and distributing compounded knockoff versions of Ozempic and Wegovy drugs. Slepkow Law
• Quantum computing could unlock $250 billion in value across industries like pharmaceuticals, finance, logistics, and materials science. investing.com
• SMRs are emerging as a major industrial development opportunity for Europe, with the potential to mobilize value chains across engineering, advanced materials, robotics, and finance. Baker McKenzie
• Early applications are already emerging in subscription management, procurement, and financial product selection, and are expected to scale rapidly as agentic AI and embedded finance mature through 2026 and beyond. SunTec Group
• If implemented as envisioned, the CFTC's roadmap could help position the United States as a leading jurisdiction for digital finance. MEXC
• Open finance will continue to evolve and grow through 2026. SunTec Group
• Actions businesses take to mitigate their nature-related risks and take advantage of opportunities will direct private finance on biodiversity globally. British Safety Council

Last updated: 03 April 2026