International kiosk: ECB rate hike, BRICS gold holdings and Central European AI summit

The European Central Bank is expected to raise its key interest rate from 2.25% to 2.5% in September as inflation approaches 3%.

ECB officials consider the eurozone economy robust enough to absorb the adjustment, citing positive growth and production. The central bank remains cautious about pursuing a prolonged tightening cycle, although financial markets expect at least one more rate increase by the end of 2026.

BRICS+ countries are estimated to hold more than 6,000 tonnes of gold, equivalent to 17.4% of official global reserves, according to an assessment by EBC Financial Group. China and Russia may account for roughly three-quarters of that stock. UBS separately projects that gold could reach $5,200 an ounce by June 2027, but the figures do not establish a direct link between BRICS+ purchases and the Swiss bank’s forecast.

Prague is hosting the Central and Eastern European AI Summit on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. Public officials, European representatives, companies and innovation groups are discussing industry, infrastructure, data centers, skills and the commercialization of artificial intelligence technologies.

The meeting comes after the European AI Act entered into force on Aug. 2. For Central and Eastern European countries, the stated concern is avoiding exclusion from the investment, talent and infrastructure already shaping the AI market.