The UK government sanctioned crypto exchange HTX on 26 May under its Russia sanctions framework, alleging it provided financial services connected to entities linked to the Russian economy. The measures include an asset freeze, director disqualification, trust services and correspondent banking restrictions, plus internet services sanctions aimed at limiting UK users' access to HTX-related services and apps. HTX had not issued a public response at the time of writing.

Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau said Tuesday in Singapore that the European Central Bank will "do what is necessary" to bring inflation back to its 2% target in the medium term. He pointed to euro zone inflation rising to 3% in April from 2.6% in March after having slipped to 1.9% before the Feb. 28 strikes on Iran, amid concerns over energy-driven price pressures.

Belarus has expanded its approved list of underlying assets for non-deliverable OTC instruments to include digital tokens such as cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. The change was set out in a joint resolution dated May 23 and published Tuesday, taking effect on Wednesday, May 27, and is expected to support broader integration of crypto into the country's financial system.

U.K. government bond yields fell to five-week lows on Tuesday, with the 10-year gilt at 4.85% and the 30-year easing to 5.552%. Markets steadied as political uncertainty around Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared to soften and expectations for future rate hikes were pared back.

On May 26, Brent crude rose 2.5% to $99 per barrel in European trading as the U.S. military confirmed strikes in southern Iran that it said targeted vessels allegedly trying to deploy mines and missile launch positions. The Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20% of global oil supply, or about 20 million barrels per day, transits—returned to focus, while WTI July futures were down 4.1% at $92.79 versus Friday’s close after Monday’s Memorial Day holiday. The report also cited a $3 to $5 per barrel Hormuz risk premium and outlined potential impacts on U.S. energy producers’ free cash flow and capital returns.

The South Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) has made financial history. On May 26, 2026, the benchmark index closed above the elusive 8,000-point mark for the first time ever, finishing the session at 8,047.51 (up 2.55%) after touching an intraday all-time high of 8,131.15.

Morgan Stanley chief investment officer Mike Wilson says the US is in a "rolling recovery" and argues that equity pullbacks can create entry points for long-term investors. He forecasts the S&P 500 could climb to 8,300 over the next 12 months, citing higher earnings expectations after the firm lifted its S&P 500 EPS estimate by about 5%. Wilson also notes the index is unlikely to rise in a straight line, so corrections may offer opportunities to add exposure.

Harvard Management Company reported it had fully sold its $86.8 million position in BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust ETF, a stake it first disclosed only one quarter earlier. The Q1 2026 13F shows the holding was zero as of March 31, 2026, while Harvard also reduced iShares Bitcoin Trust by about 2.3 million shares to 3,044,612 shares worth roughly $117 million.