September is here, and that means back to school and back to work, with the City now bustling following a hot summer in the UK. Whatever became of your summer reading list, term is very much in session, and our autumn calendar is filling up accordingly.

First on the register: final places remain for the 2026 Taiwan Financial Briefing Forum — London Edition, sponsored by TABF and TWSE, on Wednesday, 09 September 2026. It promises a rich afternoon for anyone with an interest in asset management, emerging markets, and the shifting shape of global finance. If you have been meaning to register, this is the moment to do so.

If you're looking for something a little different, Mark Mason is teaching the power of Magical Thinking on Wednesday 14 October, an opportunity to flex your powers of perception, problem solving, and pooling ideas.

Sasha Davis (Manager, FS Club) & The Team at Z/Yen

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Events & Webinars

• Featured Past Webinars

Vladislav Dobrokhotov:
The Future Of Loyalty

Hugh Morris, & Sun Young Jin:
Shaping The Future Of Finance In Asia: AI-driven FinTech, Digital Currencies And The Evolution Of Financial Infrastructure

• Forthcoming Webinars

An Update On EU AML, DORA And Strategic Autonomy In Financial Services Regulation Thursday, 10 September 2026

FCA Fireside Chat: Regulating For Growth Wednesday, 30 September 2026

• Event

Launch Of Global Financial Centres Index 40 Wednesday, 16 September 2026

The City Quantum & AI Summit 2026 Wednesday, 07 October 2026

Magical Thinking: Learning Magic Tricks To Expand Your Brain's Potential Wednesday, 14 October 2026

FS Club News

Istanbul Financial Center: Timeless Meeting Point for Tomorrow: As global financial institutions continue to seek stability, connectivity, and long term growth, Istanbul Financial Center (IFC) offers a strategic platform where these priorities converge. Developed under the strategic leadership and coordination of the Türkiye Wealth Fund, IFC is designed to strengthen Türkiye's role in the global financial system by providing an integrated ecosystem for international finance. Built on a dedicated legal framework, an integrated institutional ecosystem, and world-class infrastructure, IFC enables institutions to operate efficiently while expanding their regional and global reach. Positioned at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa, Istanbul offers direct access to markets representing nearly 40% of global trade and more than 1.5 billion people within a few hours' flight. This unique location allows businesses to engage with multiple regions from a single strategic base. Read more here.

Invest Seoul:

Invest Seoul is an investment promotion agency established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to make Seoul a top destination for global companies and foreign investment. Utilizing Seoul's advanced technology, innovative business environment, and world-class talent, Invest Seoul supports international companies expanding into the city and helps local businesses grow globally. We’re excited to introduce our latest video highlighting why Seoul is the ultimate gateway for global business and investment. Subscribe and watch the full video on our YouTube channel.

Astana International Financial Centre: AIFC Insights, the analytical centre of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), in collaboration with the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) of Uzbekistan, has prepared a joint study on the investment potential of Central Asia. The study provides a structured overview of priority sectors, investment projects, and sustainable development initiatives across Central Asia, while also examining opportunities for transitioning from national investment strategies towards a more coordinated regional approach. Today, the region, with a population exceeding 80 million people and a combined GDP of more than $500 billion, is strengthening its institutional foundations, expanding international economic cooperation, and actively implementing digital and green technologies. The full report is available via the link.

Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation:

The Financial Supervisory Commission and the National Development Council will jointly host the “TiBOOST Innovation Growth Program” during Taiwan Weeks 2026, leveraging Taiwan’s strengths in the AI industry and the resources of the Taiwan Innovation Board. Read more here. The Taiwan Stock Exchange and the Taipei Exchange successfully held online and in-person briefing sessions on Taiwan’s Green Stock Designations System in July 2026, drawing more than 500 sustainability officers from listed and OTC-listed companies. Read more here. A total of 960 domestic listed companies reported NT$27.43 trillion in operating revenue for the first half of 2026, up 32.83% year over year, while net profit before tax reached NT$3.68 trillion, up 92.88%. Read more here.

The news from the TWSE: https://twmonthly.twse.com.tw/
Follow TWSE on LinkedIn to stay informed.

Busan Finance Center:

Korea’s Public-Sector Relocation Plan Drives New Momentum for Busan’s Maritime Finance Hub: Busan is stepping up efforts to attract major public institutions as Korea prepares for its next phase of public-sector relocation. In August 2026, the Busan Metropolitan Government identified four priority sectors including finance, maritime industry, advanced industries and R&D, and film and visual media and set a target of attracting 40 institutions. The primary focus is on policy finance institutions and state agencies that directly complement the region’s core strengths. Finance is a central pillar of this strategy. While the Busan International Finance Center (BIFC) already hosts a solid cluster of financial institutions, the city continues to advocate for the relocation of the Korea Development Bank (KDB). The city is also targeting the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), and the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE). Their presence in Busan could create stronger links with the shipping, shipbuilding, logistics and export industries concentrated in Busan and the wider southeastern region. Read the full publication here.

Dubai International Financial Centre: Titled The Changing Face of Banking: Building Resilience Through Change, the report highlights the structural pressures facing global banking, with profit pools at risk of declining by US$170 billion by 2030 without decisive transformation. It examines how digital‑native challenger banks and new operating models are redefining competitiveness, marking the most significant structural shift since the 2008 global financial crisis. AI is emerging as core infrastructure, reshaping productivity and value creation across the sector. Set against rising demand from emerging markets and new client groups, the report underscores how early movers can strengthen resilience and capture future growth opportunities. Download the report here.

Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance: Taiwan's Asian Asset Management Center Reaches New Milestone: Taiwan's Asian Asset Management Center (AAMC) marked the first anniversary of its Kaohsiung Asset Management Zone, highlighting significant progress in the country's ambition to become a leading regional wealth management hub. Over the past year, 58 financial institutions have established operations in the Zone, while banks now serve more than 6,200 high-net-worth clients with assets under management (AUM) exceeding NT$728 billion. Building on the success of the pilot programme, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) announced the next phase of the initiative, including the expansion of selected pilot measures beyond the Kaohsiung Zone, enhanced cross-border financial services, and continued development of dedicated legislation to strengthen Taiwan's asset management ecosystem and international competitiveness. Follow TABF for insights into Taiwan’s financial market on LinkedIn.

Northeastern University London: AI Leadership for Financial Services: Boards and senior leaders across financial services are under growing pressure to demonstrate they can govern AI, not just adopt it. Northeastern University London's new Level 5 AI Leadership apprenticeship gives leaders exactly that: the confidence to direct, oversee and challenge AI initiatives - without needing to become technologists themselves. Delivered online in just 1 day a week for 5 weeks, Unit 1 (AI Strategy & Opportunity) is fully funded via the Growth and Skills Levy, or 100% government-funded for SMEs. The first cohort starts 7 September 2026, with places limited. Express interest by 17 August to secure your spot - book a consultation call here.

Bridgeworks: Global Cybercrime to cost more than $12 Trillion: Global cybercrime damage is project to cost more than $12 USD trillion annually by 2031, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. In the face of such of threat, how do organisations evolve at the highest levels to become capable of understanding content, detecting intent and predicting threats? And who within those organisations should be driving the changes needed to get there – and how is that to be achieved to the best effect? In response, Peter Smails, SVP, general manager, cloud native, SUSE, says organisations can’t afford incremental improvements; they need a fundamental shift in how they secure cloud environments. “Modern infrastructure is dynamic, distributed and API driven. Identities outnumber humans and attackers increasingly exploit misconfigurations, over permission roles and exposed control planes, rather than traditional network perimeters.” Read the full publication here.

Sponsorship Opportunities

We currently have opportunities available to partner with Z/Yen as a sponsor for our ongoing research into the development of financial centres. If you may be interested in sponsorship of the Global Green Finance Index or Smart Centres Index, please get in touch with Mike Wardle.

Pamphleteers Blog

The Pamphleteers Blog features considered thoughts – somewhere between a knee-jerk editorial and a full-blown piece of research.

"Write for today and not for tomorrow."

Made Me Think

Christopher Gleadle

The Efficiency Illusion: Why Modern Infrastructure Is Failing And How Autonomous Resilience Will Replace It

Of Great Interest

Rob Julian

The Property Trap: A Case For Two Government Interventions

Best Of The FinanserStirred My Thoughts:

• The True Cost Of AI (Part One)

Grabbed My Attention:

The Official Launch Of Pulp Finction

Membership & Sponsorship FS Club is the premier global executive knowledge network for technology and finance professionals. Great events, research, and social functions build a buzz for Members and a valuable partnership for Sponsors. Membership of the FS Club is a great way to enhance your professional development, grow your network and profile, and get backing for your ideas, contact: sasha_davis@zyen.com