Venezuela's interim president said he has signed 50 oil and gas agreements to date and attracted new investment in 76 oilfields.

Riksbank minutes said if higher‑than‑expected inflation this summer proves persistent, a policy rate increase later this year remains possible. The bank left the policy rate at 1.75% at its last meeting. Governor Thedéen said the next policy move would need to be a rate increase but timing is uncertain. The minutes described a mixed outlook: headline inflation is low at 0.7% YoY in July; growth has picked up while firms' pricing plans remain muted, oil has retreated and the labour market is weak. Risks cited include election‑year temporary tax cuts boosting headline inflation, underlying price pressures running hotter than expected over the summer, and the Middle East conflict spilling over and pushing domestic prices higher.

The Reserve Bank of Australia said bank-system reserves remain above potential demand as it transitions to an abundant-reserves regime. The RBA said it will supply sufficient liquidity while keeping market rates close to the cash rate. Domestic markets head David Jacobs said the new regime can flexibly provide any quantity of reserves the system requires while maintaining the cash rate near the central bank’s target. The RBA plans to move to the abundant-reserves system in 2024; under it banks’ reserve needs will be met via open-market repo operations priced near the cash rate target using full-allotment auctions.