The company said in a press release on Monday that these products include contracts on the S&P 500, oil, gold, and foreign exchange.  They can be accessed directly through the platform’s mobile app and advanced desktop platform, Robinhood Legend. The new offering will roll out to eligible users in the coming weeks, with a $0.75 contract fee and real-time market data at no additional cost.  Futures trading, viewed as the preserve of institutional investors, allows traders to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date. “In the UK, futures trading has traditionally been seen as the preserve of institutional investors,” said Jordan Sinclair, President of Robinhood UK. “Today, we start changing that.”  Sinclair said the launch offers retail traders “an intuitive mobile experience, smarter tools, education and some of the lowest fees in the industry.” Julie Winkler, Chief Commercial Officer at CME Group, added that the partnership will “educate and empower” retail investors to access some of the world’s most liquid markets. The move marks another step in Robinhood’s strategy to become the leading platform for active traders worldwide, following the addition of options trading and the rollout of Robinhood Legend in the UK.  Customers will need approval to trade futures, with educational tools, including a dedicated “Futures Fundamentals” section, available within the app. The post Robinhood Brings Futures Trading to UK Retail Investors appeared first on LeapRate.

The French AI-powered Order-to-Cash leader said the deal, first announced on 13 October, values ezyCollect at €37.3 million (A$66.5 million), including €34.7 million (A$61.9 million) paid in cash and €2.6 million (A$4.6 million) in Sidetrade shares issued to retain the company’s founders and key staff for at least three years.  An additional earn-out of up to €5.6 million (A$10 million) may be paid depending on revenue growth through 2028. Sidetrade said the acquisition provides a new growth engine in a “highly dynamic, fast-growing market” and aligns with its goal of expanding beyond its strongholds in Europe and North America.  The company’s Aimie AI platform will now be deployed across mid-market and large enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region, furthering its mission to improve financial performance through automation. The purchase was financed through Sidetrade’s cash reserves and a €25 million long-term credit facility at an interest rate of roughly 3.1%, which is fully hedged to preserve liquidity and maintain flexibility for future acquisitions. The transaction, consolidated retroactively as of 1 October 2025, underscores Sidetrade’s broader international ambitions. The firm was advised by King & Spalding LLP, while ezyCollect was represented by AGC Partners and Thomson Geer. The post Sidetrade Expands into Asia-Pacific with Completion of ezyCollect Acquisition appeared first on LeapRate.

She has clearly expressed opposition to interest rate hikes, a stance that fundamentally puts pressure on the Japanese Yen. The market’s initial reaction was direct and intense. The Yen immediately weakened, USD/JPY quickly climbed from below, while the Japanese stock market (Nikkei) rose, and Japanese government bonds (JGBs) faced selling pressure. This price action reflects the market’s immediate expectations for the new policy mix: fiscal expansion will increase government spending, and pressure on the central bank may delay or prevent interest rate hikes, thereby maintaining or even widening the interest rate differential between Japan and major economies like the United States, weakening the appeal of the Yen. However, the rapid depreciation of the Yen has caused official unease. Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato recently stated that the government is “closely monitoring the Yen’s recent rapid weakening” and expressed concern about “unilateral and sudden” exchange rate fluctuations. This is typical “verbal intervention” rhetoric, aiming to warn market speculators that the government has a tolerance limit for excessive exchange rate volatility. A deeper analysis reveals the potential fragility of the “Takaichi trade” itself. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Takaichi has formed a coalition government with Ishin. The reality of this political alliance means that any major policy requires negotiation and compromise. Analysts point out that Ishin’s inclusion may act as a check on Takaichi’s most aggressive reflationary policies, prompting the government to adopt a more balanced economic approach. Therefore, the market’s initial interpretation of the “Takaichi trade” may be overly simplistic. The inherent constraints of a coalition government mean that the final fiscal stimulus package may be smaller than market expectations or come with more considerations for fiscal discipline. This potential gap between expectations and reality sets the stage for a reversal of the “Takaichi trade.” Once subsequent policy falls short of expectations, the current USD/JPY exchange rate, inflated by political premiums, may face the risk of a rapid pullback. Furthermore, this also exposes potential internal divisions within the Japanese government on exchange rate issues. The PM office may prefer a weaker Yen to boost export corporate profits and overall economic growth, which can garner business support politically. However, the Ministry of Finance(MoF) is more concerned with exchange rate stability and import costs.  A weaker Yen pushes up the prices of imported energy and food, exacerbating inflationary pressures, which is highly unpopular with the general public, especially with current inflation already above the central bank’s target. The Ministry of Finance’s verbal intervention is a manifestation of this internal tension, setting a “soft top” for USD/JPY’s upside, backed by the threat of actual foreign exchange intervention.    Internal Divisions within the Bank of Japan Amidst changes in the political landscape, policy debates within the Bank of Japan are also becoming more public. Divisions among members regarding the future path of monetary policy are increasingly apparent. At the core of this debate is how to interpret current inflation data and when is the appropriate time for policy normalization. A key figure in the hawkish camp is council member Hajime Takata. On 20 October, he once again publicly called for an interest rate hike, arguing that “now is an excellent opportunity to raise policy rates,” and emphasized that Japan is nearing its price stability target. This clear hawkish stance directly challenges the new government’s dovish tendencies and reflects the concerns of some policymakers within the central bank about sustained inflation. In contrast, the cautious faction, led by Governor Kazuo Ueda, advocates for a more prudent approach. Governor Ueda has repeatedly emphasized that any interest rate hike in October will depend entirely on future economic data and whether his confidence in achieving inflation and growth forecasts strengthens.  Deputy Governor Seiichi Shimizu expressed similar views, pointing out that given Japan’s long history of low or even zero interest rates, there is great “uncertainty” about the potential reactions to interest rate normalization. Therefore, the central bank must “be very careful” in evaluating the consequences of policy actions. The internal debate within the Bank of Japan is actually taking place in a more incomplete information environment. This makes the position of the cautious faction (such as Governor Kazuo Ueda), who advocate for “continuing to observe data,” more persuasive. They are fully justified in pointing out that any policy adjustment made before the release of key inflation data would be premature. From a technical analysis perspective, USDJPY has broken through the downtrend line and formed a higher high structure. The price is above both moving averages, indicating that momentum has shifted to bullish. If it breaks above 152.50, the price may move up to test the next resistance level at 153.20. Conversely, if it closes below 152.50, the pair may fall back to the support level at 150.90. Based on the above analysis, the market expects Japan to restart an active fiscal stimulus plan, which may delay the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy normalization and widen the policy divergence with the Federal Reserve.  Expectations of fiscal expansion may further increase downward pressure on the Japanese Yen. US Side: Economic Resilience and the Data-Deficient Fed Initial jobless claims have continued to be lower than market expectations in recent weeks. For example, in the third week of September, initial jobless claims were 218,000, significantly lower than the market consensus of 235,000, reaching a two-month low. This series of data indicates that despite economic challenges, corporate layoff rates remain low, which allays market concerns about a sharp deterioration in the labor market. Secondly, recent remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Powell have also reinforced market expectations. He emphasized that a strong economy and labor market give the Federal Reserve the “ability to proceed cautiously” when deciding the future path of interest rates. This means that until clear and sustained signs of economic weakening emerge, the Federal Reserve is not in a hurry to begin an interest rate cut cycle. Ironically, the current US government shutdown has actually become a short-term positive factor for the US dollar. Due to the shutdown, important economic indicators, including the September jobs report and key inflation data, have been postponed. Chairman Powell has publicly acknowledged that if the shutdown continues, the Federal Reserve will “start missing data,” which will make policy decisions “more challenging.” This creates a “shutdown paradox”: the market expects to see weak economic data to prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates sooner, thereby narrowing the US-Japan interest rate differential and weakening the dollar. However, the government shutdown precisely prevents the release of these most critical data. In a state of “flying blind without data,” no prudent central bank would easily adopt an easing policy. Therefore, the Federal Reserve’s most likely option is to remain patient and wait for data to resume. This “forced inertia” in policy maintains the huge interest rate gap between the US and Japan, providing solid macro fundamental support for the USD/JPY exchange rate and acting as a resistance to any rebound in the yen. The Bank of Japan’s monetary policy meeting, scheduled for October 29-30, will undoubtedly be the most critical event determining the short-term direction. The market is currently in a fragile balance, and every signal conveyed by Governor Kazuo Ueda at the post-meeting press conference – whether it’s his assessment of the inflation outlook, his views on the new government’s fiscal policy, or his responses to internal policy disagreements – could become a catalyst to break this balance.   The post Yen caught between politics and central bank policy appeared first on LeapRate.

The investment will inject new capital into BMLL to fund its next phase of growth and expand its global coverage. Founded in 2014, BMLL provides Level 3, 2 and 1 order book data and analytics across equities, ETFs, futures and U.S. options, standardising raw data from over 120 trading venues into a consistent, analytics-ready format.  Delivered through a cloud-native platform, the data enables banks, hedge funds and asset managers to perform advanced research and trading analysis without in-house engineering. “We’ve spent the past decade investing in our award-winning data engineering capabilities and building the industry’s foundational layer of harmonised order book data,” said Paul Humphrey, BMLL’s Chief Executive Officer. “With Nordic Capital by our side, along with Optiver, we are excited about BMLL’s future, and the impact we will have on participants’ ability to navigate complex market dynamics globally.” David Samuelson, Partner at Nordic Capital Advisors, said: “BMLL stands out for the precision, transparency and insight it brings to market participants. Nordic Capital sees a clear opportunity to invest in content, analytics and partnerships that extend BMLL’s reach globally, helping more firms harness the power of harmonised, high-quality data.” Nordic Capital will help BMLL deepen its exchange and technology partnerships while accelerating innovation and scaling distribution. Financial terms were not disclosed. The post Nordic Capital to Acquire Historical Data Specialist BMLL appeared first on LeapRate.

The move extends Gotrade’s goal of making global investing accessible through an intuitive, mobile-first experience. “Options trading is a natural evolution for our users, and we’re changing the landscape by making a tool previously reserved for institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals available to everyone,” said Norman Wanto, Chief Executive Officer of Gotrade. Retail participation in Southeast Asia’s capital markets has surged in recent years, but investors have traditionally faced high fees and barriers to entry.  Gotrade first gained traction by allowing users to invest in U.S. stocks from as little as $1.  The new product now offers retail investors access to leverage and risk management through long call and long put strategies, with covered calls and cash-secured puts to follow. The service is powered by Alpaca’s Broker API, which provides scalable infrastructure for order execution and trade processing. “Partnering with Alpaca gives us the freedom to innovate and scale quickly,” Wanto said.  Yoshi Yokokawa, Alpaca’s Co-Founder and CEO, added: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership by providing the infrastructure Gotrade needs to launch innovative products quickly.” The post Gotrade Launches U.S. Options Trading in Southeast Asia with Alpaca appeared first on LeapRate.

They are the second bank to announce an expansion in Saudi Arabia today, with Barclays revealing it has received a provisional CMA licence, secured premises in the Financial District, and will open its Riyadh office in 2026, growing its presence in Riyadh as part of its broader Middle East growth strategy. Meanwhile, U.S. financial services firm State Street, which manages $127 billion in assets under custody and administration and $60 billion in assets under management for Saudi clients, received approval from the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia (MISA), to establish its regional hub. “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is reshaping the Kingdom’s financial ecosystem, and we are proud to contribute to this transformation,” said Oliver Berger, Head of Strategic Growth Markets at State Street. “Establishing our RHQ in Riyadh reflects our long-term commitment to the Kingdom.” The Riyadh-based office will direct State Street’s strategy and operations across the MENA region, housing senior leadership and corporate functions.  It is also expected to act as a centre for innovation and collaboration, aligning with the Kingdom’s financial sector development goals. Emmanuel Laurina, Head of Middle East, Africa & Official Institutions at State Street Investment Management, said: “We have seen keen interest from clients and prospects in the Kingdom, while global investors are excited about the opportunities the region presents.” State Street has been active in the Middle East for more than 30 years, working with sovereign wealth funds, pension schemes and central banks. The post State Street Launches MENA Headquarters in Riyadh appeared first on LeapRate.

The bank plans to open its Riyadh office in 2026 as part of a broader Middle East growth strategy. “Saudi Arabia is central to our Middle East growth strategy and we are very excited to support the Kingdom’s growth ambitions under its Vision 2030,” said C.S. Venkatakrishnan, Group Chief Executive of Barclays. “Expanding our capabilities in the Kingdom is a significant milestone for us.” Barclays has also appointed Mohammed Al-Sarhan as Independent Non-Executive Chairman for its Saudi Arabia franchise. Al-Sarhan previously held senior roles at Al Safi Danone, Al Faisaliah Group, and Bahri. “I am truly excited to join Barclays at this pivotal moment for the bank’s growth in the Kingdom,” Al-Sarhan said. “Together I am confident that we will make a meaningful impact for our clients and support the Kingdom’s ambitious transformation.” The expansion follows Barclays’ receipt of a Regional Headquarters licence earlier this year. Its Riyadh office will serve corporate, institutional and sovereign wealth fund clients, complementing existing operations in the UAE and Qatar. Barclays said its move reflects its long-term commitment to the Gulf region and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global investment hub. The post Barclays Expands in Saudi Arabia with New Riyadh Office appeared first on LeapRate.

The company said in a press release on Friday that the partnership aims to streamline fund access, automate processes and enhance the investment experience for U.K. financial advisers and their clients. The deal will give Aegon UK access to Euroclear’s global funds network, which connects more than 3,000 distributors and 2,500 asset managers and provides entry to over 250,000 funds across mutual, alternative and exchange-traded categories. Under the agreement, Aegon UK will gain a single, integrated platform covering fund distribution, order routing, settlement, asset servicing and data management, reducing operational complexity and increasing efficiency. “We are delighted to partner with Aegon UK, one of the largest adviser platforms in the United Kingdom,” said Sebastien Danloy, Chief Business Officer at Euroclear. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to operational excellence, innovation and open market access.” Ronnie Taylor, Chief Distribution Officer at Aegon UK, added: “As we continue to transform and automate our business, working with Euroclear is the next – and exciting – step in supporting advisers in making key investment choices for their clients.” The post Euroclear and Aegon UK Partner to Simplify Fund Distribution appeared first on LeapRate.

The transaction includes a minority investment from Silversmith Capital Partners, aimed at accelerating innovation and growth. Following the deal’s completion, MeridianLink, a provider of cloud-based software for financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies, has delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. “MeridianLink has grown from a pioneer in digital lending to a market leader helping credit unions and community banks build lasting relationships with consumers,” said Larry Katz, President and CEO of MeridianLink. “Together we will unlock the potential of our trusted, mission-critical, and scalable platform by accelerating automation, harnessing the power of AI and data, and improving customer experiences.” Centerbridge’s Senior Managing Director Jared Hendricks and Managing Director Ben Jaffe said MeridianLink’s technology was “uniquely positioned” to meet the evolving needs of banks and credit unions. Todd MacLean, Managing Partner of Silversmith Capital Partners, added: “What excites us most about MeridianLink is the opportunity to partner with Centerbridge in backing Larry and his team as they capitalise on their market leadership and drive continued innovation.” The acquisition gives MeridianLink the backing to expand its digital lending capabilities and strengthen its role in modernising the banking technology ecosystem. The post Centerbridge Partners Completes Takeover of MeridianLink appeared first on LeapRate.

Internal risks with the Eurozone, from France’s fiscal challenges to Germany’s deepening slowdown, add another layer of fragility. Externally, rising geopolitical tensions, particularly the renewed US-China trade dispute, further darket the outlook.  Market sentiment, meanwhile, remains cautiously optimistic. Speculative positioning suggests a bullish stance of the Euro, indicating that much of the positive narrative, including policy divergence, may already be priced in. That makes the single currency increasingly vulnerable to negative surprises in economic data.    Snapshot of Key Macroeconomic Indicators (as of October 21, 2025)   Indicator Region Latest Reading Previous Value Impact on EUR Overall HICP (YoY) Eurozone 2.2% (Sep) 2.0% Hawkish: Supports ECB maintaining high interest rates for longer. Core HICP (YoY) Eurozone 2.4% (Sep) 2.3% Very Hawkish: Indicates persistent and non-transitory underlying price pressures, tying the ECB’s hands. German ZEW Economic Sentiment Index Germany 39.3 (Oct) 37.3 Moderately Positive: Forward-looking optimism remains, but misses expectations, hinting at a fragile outlook. German ZEW Current Conditions Index Germany -80.0 (Oct) -76.4 Negative: A stark warning of severe weakness in the Eurozone’s economic engine. Fed Policy Outlook US Dovish Neutral Positive: A weaker USD outlook provides a direct tailwind for the EUR/USD pair. The stickiness of core inflation is almost entirely driven by the services sector, where inflation edged up from 3.1% to 3.2%. Services inflation is a closely watched indicator by the ECB. It is closely linked to domestic demand and wage growth, is less susceptible to global factors, and is harder to control through monetary policy. In contrast, non-energy industrial goods inflation remains subdued, holding steady at 0.8% 2, indicating continued weak demand in the manufacturing sector. This internal structural divergence – hot services and cold industrial goods – makes the ECB’s policy decisions exceptionally complex. Inflation trends in the Eurozone vary considerably across its member states. Germany, as the largest economy in the Eurozone, saw its inflation rate unexpectedly rise to 2.4%, mainly driven by strong services CPI. Meanwhile, France’s inflation was much milder, at only 1.1%. This divergence poses a significant challenge to the ECB “one-size-fits-all” monetary policy. Tightening policies to curb inflation in Germany could cause unnecessary harm to lower-inflation economies like France. The combination of above-target headline inflation and accelerating core inflation has effectively closed the door to another ECB rate cut in 2025. The central bank is now locked into a data-dependent decision-making mode, and current data clearly indicates that “inflation has not yet been defeated.”  This solidifies its hawkish policy stance, which alone is beneficial for the Euro. Recent remarks by ECB President Christine Lagarde have also repeatedly emphasized the determination to bring inflation back to target, further reinforcing this message. The latest German ZEW survey shows that the economic current situation index has fallen to a deep abyss of -80.0, indicating that the economy is under immense pressure. ECB is forced to prioritize fighting stubborn service sector inflation, even if it means bringing more pain to Germany and the entire Eurozone economy. This creates a dangerous divergence between policy and the economy: monetary policy is tightening (or remaining tight), while the economy is crying out for stimulus. This “trap” means that the risk of policy missteps is sharply rising, and the likelihood of a “hard landing” for the Eurozone economy is also increasing. In the long run, regardless of interest rate differentials, an economy in recession will ultimately have a negative impact on the Euro. Widening Policy Gap Between the US and Europe This widening divergence in monetary policy paths is becoming the primary driver of the EUR/USD strength. In a key speech on October 14th, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell explicitly pointed to “rising downside risks to employment” and “a sharp slowdown in hiring activity.” This was a significant shift in tone. He noted that despite the ongoing US government shutdown leading to a lack of official economic data, existing private sector data indicated a weakening labor market. This statement was an almost direct confirmation of market expectations that the Fed would soon cut interest rates. Powell’s remarks significantly reinforced market expectations for further Fed rate cuts, likely at the October and December meetings. He was effectively signaling that the Fed’s focus was shifting from solely combating inflation to a more balanced strategy, with increasing attention on its employment mandate. The immediate market reaction was a corresponding decline in the Dollar Index (DXY). A seemingly contradictory phenomenon is that the US government shutdown has actually intensified the Fed’s dovish stance, indirectly supporting the Euro. Due to the government shutdown, the Fed is unable to obtain official data on employment and inflation, leaving its decision-making like “flying blind.” In uncertain environments, central banks typically choose to act cautiously. For a Fed already concerned about a slowing labor market, this uncertainty increases its motivation for “precautionary” rate cuts to guard against an unexpectedly sharp economic downturn. Powell’s speech confirmed this, as he relied on “existing evidence” and “private sector data” to justify his dovish stance. Therefore, the longer the government shutdown persists, the more entrenched the Fed’s cautious/dovish stance becomes, putting pressure on the Dollar. This creates a direct but counter-intuitive positive external effect for the Euro, as the EUR/USD currency pair is primarily driven by relative policy stances. US political dysfunction is, in the short term, becoming a bullish factor for the Euro. External Pressures and Internal Tensions Beyond monetary policy, the Euro also faces non-monetary risks. Internal political divisions and external geopolitical threats together constitute headwinds that could undermine the Euro’s stability. French Fiscal Concerns: A key indicator measuring internal pressure is the spread between French 10-year government bonds (OATs) and German Bunds. This spread has recently widened to approximately 80 basis points, up from 65 basis points in the summer. The widening spread reflects market concerns about France’s fiscal situation, indicating a rising “political risk premium.” France’s budget deficit is 5.8% of GDP, almost double the EU’s 3% limit. While recent political maneuvering may have temporarily eased market panic, underlying fiscal vulnerability remains a weak point for the Euro. Escalating US-China Trade War: The global environment is becoming more hostile. The Trump administration is escalating its trade conflict with China ahead of an upcoming meeting with Chinese leaders during the APEC summit. US President Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 155% if no deal is reached. Ripple Effects on Europe: A full-blown trade war would bring tremendous uncertainty to the global economy. In such a “risk-off” environment, capital typically flows to assets perceived as safe havens, primarily the US dollar. The Euro, often used as a funding currency in carry trades, tends to underperform in this scenario. Furthermore, the highly export-dependent Eurozone economy (especially Germany) would be directly impacted by a global trade slowdown, which would exacerbate its existing economic weakness. On technical perspective, after reaching the Double Bottom pattern target, EURUSD retreated toward both EMAs. The price still sustains its uptrend without breaking the structure, showing potential bullish extension. If EURUSD returns above both EMAs, the price may retest the resistance at 1.1700. On the contrary, staying below both EMAs may lead to a retest of the support at 1.1600. Building on the analysis above, a multi-layered outlook can be outlined.  The future path of the Euro is not a straight line, but a struggle between a clear and favorable monetary policy divergence and a deeply troubled domestic economic and political landscape. Reasons for a bullish Euro: Continued dovish Fed: Persistently weak US labor and inflation data forces the Fed to deliver on its rate cut expectations, thereby weighing on the dollar. Resilient core inflation: Stubbornly high Eurozone services inflation forces the ECB to maintain its hawkish rhetoric and high interest rates, thereby widening the favorable interest rate differential. Political risks contained: France’s fiscal issues are well-managed, avoiding an uncontrolled OAT-Bund spread and preventing the outbreak of a fragmentation crisis. Reasons for a bearish Euro: German economic collapse: Dire ZEW current conditions readings translate into a sharp contraction in German GDP, forcing the market to price in an eventual ECB policy reversal. Rising global risk aversion: An escalating US-China trade war triggers a flight to safety towards the dollar and harms the export-dependent Eurozone economy. Overcrowded positioning: There is a large net long speculative position in the current Euro futures market, meaning that if any bullish factors fail to materialize, the Euro will be vulnerable to a sharp sell-off, triggering a chain reaction of long liquidations.   The post Europe’s Policy Trap: When Fighting Inflation Risks Breaking the Economy appeared first on LeapRate.

Operating expenses rose modestly by 3% to €1.02 billion, while cost-control measures helped offset inflationary pressures.  Adjusted net profit remained stable at €878 million, with an improved operating margin of 27.4%, up 3.4 percentage points from the prior year. “Our performance demonstrates the continued strength and resilience of our business,” said Valérie Urbain, Chief Executive Officer of Euroclear. “In the nine first months of 2025, our systems seamlessly processed 267 million transactions worth over €1 quadrillion. This represents a year-on-year increase of 20% and a new record confirming Euroclear’s systemic role at the heart of the global capital markets.” Euroclear’s assets under custody surpassed €42 trillion for the first time, while turnover rose nearly 20% from Q3 2024 to over €1 quadrillion by the end of September 2025.  This was reportedly driven by solid growth in most European fixed income markets and Eurobonds, as well as increased settlement activity amid heightened market volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty. The firm’s Collateral Highway maintained near-peak daily average balances of around €2 trillion. Urbain reaffirmed Euroclear’s commitment to supporting Europe’s “Savings and Investments Union,” emphasising innovation, interoperability, and liquidity across asset classes. The company’s capital position remains robust, with a CET1 ratio of about 61%, comfortably above regulatory requirements. The post Euroclear Sees Strong Momentum in Q3, Highlights Record Deposit Levels appeared first on LeapRate.

According to FINRA’s Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, published earlier this week, Barclays acted as an underwriter for an IPO that raised roughly $700 million but failed to appoint a qualified independent underwriter (QIU) as required under FINRA Rule 5121. The regulator said a Barclays affiliate received about $150 million from the offering proceeds, which were used to repay outstanding debt, representing roughly 20% of the total raised and creating a conflict of interest.  Barclays neither admitted nor denied the findings but accepted the sanctions. Rule 5121 mandates that firms with conflicts must either disclose the issue prominently and meet specific conditions or appoint a QIU to oversee due diligence. FINRA said Barclays met neither requirement. “A violation of FINRA Rule 5121 is also a violation of Rule 2010, which requires member firms to observe high standards of commercial honour,” the order stated. The firm has agreed to pay the fine and waived its right to appeal or contest the decision.  Barclays, which has been a FINRA member since 1987, has approximately 2,950 registered representatives across 17 U.S. branches. The post Barclays Fined by FINRA for Conflict of Interest in IPO Underwriting appeared first on LeapRate.

The collaboration will enable merchants using Worldpay’s embedded payments platform to offer Affirm as a checkout option, providing consumers with the ability to split purchases into biweekly or monthly instalments.  Affirm said eligible customers can access repayment plans of up to 60 months, with rates starting at 0% APR and no late or hidden fees. “Together with Worldpay, we’re making it easier than ever for businesses to offer flexible, transparent payment options at checkout,” said Wayne Pommen, Affirm’s Chief Revenue Officer.  “Through this expanded partnership, we can deliver Affirm to more platforms, more merchants, and ultimately more consumers — while removing friction every step of the way.” Worldpay for Platforms serves over 1,000 software companies and processed more than $400 billion in payment volume over the past year.  Matt Downs, President of Worldpay for Platforms, said: “Our focus is on giving software platforms and their merchants the very best tools to grow. Affirm’s proven ability to deliver results for businesses and great experiences for consumers makes them an ideal BNPL partner.” The post Affirm Expands Partnership with Worldpay appeared first on LeapRate.

He will not stand for re-election at the April 2026 Annual General Meeting. Gähwiler joined UBS in 2010 and has held several senior roles, including President of UBS Switzerland and later Chairman of UBS Switzerland AG.  In 2022, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the UBS Group AG Board. He also served as the final Chairman of Credit Suisse AG, overseeing its integration into UBS following the historic merger. UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher praised Gähwiler as “one of the most respected bankers in Switzerland” and “a key driving force behind the success of UBS,” adding that his “expertise, integrity and work ethics set him apart.” Group CEO Sergio P. Ermotti said Gähwiler had “fundamentally repositioned and strengthened UBS in Switzerland” and played an essential role in the Credit Suisse transition. Gähwiler is expected to be succeeded by Markus Ronner, UBS’s Group Chief Compliance and Governance Officer, who has been with the bank since 1981. Ronner will be nominated as Vice Chairman at the 2026 AGM. Kelleher said Ronner’s “extensive and unique experience” in regulation and risk control would be invaluable to the board as UBS continues integrating Credit Suisse and refining its governance framework. The post UBS Vice Chairman Lukas Gähwiler to Retire From Role appeared first on LeapRate.

Announced on Thursday, the move is said to give aspiring traders access to the same professional-grade tools used by institutional firms. The partnership integrates Raen Trading’s initiative, designed to identify and develop emerging trading talent worldwide, with TT’s advanced futures trading platform.  Participants will use TT to compete in open tryouts for a chance to join the proprietary trading firm. “TT sets the standard for professional trading infrastructure,” said Ryan Wright, CEO of Raen Trading. “If we’re serious about developing world-class traders, they need access to the same institutional platform our team uses.” Alun Green, EVP at TT, said the partnership highlights how the company’s technology can help “identify and develop the next generation of trading talent” while showcasing its platform to new audiences. Handling more than 2.8 billion transactions in 2024, TT offers order management, risk control, and analytics tools to leading trading firms globally. Its infrastructure provides high-speed access to over 100 markets. For Raen, the collaboration marks an expansion of its recruitment and training model. “This partnership ensures our participants are training in a genuinely professional environment from day one,” Wright added. The initiative reflects growing demand for accessible professional pathways in trading, combining education, technology, and recruitment to cultivate the next wave of proprietary traders. The post Raen Trading Partners with Trading Technologies appeared first on LeapRate.

The company said it has been a long-requested feature and is designed to make trade signals more accurate without requiring code. The new functionality enables traders to combine up to five conditions, such as price moves, indicator readings, and chart drawings, into a single alert. It triggers only when all selected parameters align, helping traders act on stronger, confirmed signals. “This feature allows you to combine up to five different conditions, including price, drawings, and indicators, into a single powerful alert,” TradingView said in a press release. “This alert will only trigger when all conditions are met simultaneously.” The multi-condition tool supports different timeframes and applies to the same trading symbol.  TradingView said the feature is available from its Plus plan and counts as one technical alert.  It cannot yet be used in watchlists or Pine scripts that include the alert() function. “We hope this update will make your analysis even more efficient,” the company said, encouraging users to provide feedback for future developments. The post TradingView Adds Multi-Condition Alerts to Platform appeared first on LeapRate.

The certification means i2c’s clients, including banks and fintechs, can deploy Visa’s Click to Pay service across multiple regions through a single integration, improving security and reducing checkout friction. Visa’s Click to Pay system replaces card details with network tokenisation, which the companies say can cut fraud by 31% and lift authorisation rates by 4.3% compared with traditional card entry methods. “As digital commerce continues to evolve, consumers now expect speed, simplicity, and security in every transaction,” said Seth Perlman, Global Head of Product at i2c. “Achieving certification as the first issuer processor to enable Visa Click to Pay globally is a proud moment for us.” Industry analysts at Datos Insights said Click to Pay could significantly reduce cart abandonment, with 89% of consumers rating it as good as or better than other payment methods. Thad Peterson, Strategic Advisor at Datos, said: “Any tool that can reduce the friction around payments will help increase transaction volume.”  “Click to Pay simplifies the transaction process for customers, reducing cart abandonment and increasing sales. Beyond simplifying the purchase process, fraud goes down and authorizations increase with Click to Pay, making it a trifecta for issuers on the i2c platform.” The post i2c Becomes First Global Processor Certified for Visa Click to Pay appeared first on LeapRate.

The transaction, FalconX’s third strategic acquisition in 2025, unites its institutional-grade trading infrastructure with 21Shares’ global ETP platform, which manages $11 billion in assets across 55 listed products.  FalconX CEO Raghu Yarlagadda said: “We’re witnessing a powerful convergence between digital assets and traditional financial markets, as crypto ETPs open new channels for investor participation through regulated, familiar structures.” Founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder, 21Shares will continue operating independently under FalconX, with Russell Barlow remaining as CEO.  The company has been pivotal in bringing regulated crypto investment products to mainstream markets across Europe and the U.S. Yarlagadda said the deal will allow FalconX to extend its prime brokerage and risk management capabilities into listed markets.  Rashwan and Snyder added that FalconX’s resources would help “build on this strong foundation for the next chapter of 21Shares’ development.” The acquisition follows FalconX’s earlier purchases of Arbelos Markets and a majority stake in Monarq Asset Management.  The post FalconX to Acquire 21Shares appeared first on LeapRate.

The new board brings together senior figures from finance, law and investment, including Diwa Cody of Jane Street, Jessica D’Alton of UBS, Howard Kramer, a former SEC attorney, Daniel Lawrence, President & Chief Operating Officer of Investments at Red Apple Group, Ron Levi, Non-Executive Chairman, Firefly Capital and Ruleguard, and Jose Marques, CEO of Intech Investment Management. Founder and CEO Dmitri Galinov said the board’s formation marked “a key milestone” in the exchange’s development.  “This is a group of very accomplished leaders in their respective fields, and I am confident their collective strategic insight and experience will prove invaluable as we work to make 23-hour weekday trading a reality for U.S. equities worldwide,” he said. The exchange began extended-hours trading on 14 October, operating from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on weekdays.  Pending further regulatory and market infrastructure approvals, 23/5 trading, from Sunday 8 p.m. to Friday 8 p.m. ET, is expected to go live in the second half of 2026. 24X National Exchange secured SEC approval in late 2024, becoming the first to receive authorisation for near-continuous trading under full regulatory oversight.  The company says its mission is to expand market access globally by aligning equity trading with the round-the-clock rhythm of modern finance. The post 24X National Exchange Names Inaugural Board appeared first on LeapRate.

Valcourt specialises in high-yield, emerging market and sustainable debt, serving more than 700 clients, including banks, wealth managers and asset management firms.  The acquisition, announced Wednesday, will deepen Marex’s reach in Switzerland’s fixed income sector and diversify its earnings across its capital markets platform. “This acquisition brings us deep local knowledge and strong client relationships, particularly with Swiss institutions,” said Paolo Tonucci, Marex’s Chief Strategist and CEO of Capital Markets. “We see great potential to deepen these relationships by offering access to our broader range of products.” Valcourt CEO Mike Conway said joining Marex represented a “fantastic opportunity” for clients to benefit from the group’s global distribution network and expertise. The deal remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the first half of 2026. By integrating Valcourt, Marex expects to enhance its fixed income offering and strengthen its footprint in Europe’s private and institutional debt markets. The post Marex to Acquire Swiss Bond Market Maker Valcourt appeared first on LeapRate.