FundsPlace, Euroclear’s end-to-end fund distribution solution, connects more than 2,500 clients globally.  Under the agreement, Euroclear is expected to oversee platform services and automate trailer fee collection for Novo Banco’s mutual fund depot, aiming to cut complexity and improve efficiency across the bank’s distribution model. “Partnering with Euroclear FundsPlace is a key step in our strategy to simplify and enhance our fund distribution operations,” said Elisabete Pereira, Executive Director at Novo Banco.  “This collaboration allows us to deliver greater efficiency and value to our clients as we are better positioned to provide a broader range of investment opportunities with improved service quality and responsiveness.” Vincent Clause, Global Head of Funds Strategy and Product Expansion at Euroclear, described the partnership as an important milestone in their relationship.  “By centralising fund distribution with Euroclear, Novo Banco reinforces its commitment to operational excellence and investor transparency. By leveraging Euroclear’s trusted infrastructure, Novo Banco benefits from greater scale, reduced complexity and improved market connectivity,” he stated. The deal follows Euroclear’s acquisition of Spanish fund services provider Inversis earlier this year, further cementing its presence in Southern Europe. The post Novo Banco Selects Euroclear FundsPlace to Streamline Fund Distribution appeared first on LeapRate.

The move makes BNY the 19th liquidity provider on FXSpotStream’s no-cost-to-takers service, joining a roster that includes global institutions such as J.P. Morgan, Barclays, Citi, Goldman Sachs, UBS and HSBC.  The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of LiquidityMatch, said the expansion reflects its commitment to offering clients greater market depth and choice. “The addition of BNY broadens the liquidity options available through our service,” said Jeff Ward, CEO of FXSpotStream.  “As a leading participant in global FX markets, BNY’s involvement reaffirms our commitment to enhancing market liquidity and providing our clients with greater depth and choice. As 2025 shapes up to be a record-breaking year for FXSpotStream, with volumes continuing to rise, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering the best possible service.” Harry Moumdjian, Head of Sales for Global Markets Trading at BNY, said the move highlights the bank’s focus on innovation and accessibility.  “By joining our clients on the platform where they operate, we are enhancing accessibility, strengthening our unique market position and driving sustainable growth,” he commented. FXSpotStream operates as a multibank FX aggregation service, offering clients access to spot FX, forwards, swaps and NDFs.  The addition of BNY is expected to further diversify liquidity and reinforce the platform’s position as a leading provider in the global FX market. The post FXSpotStream Adds BNY as 19th Liquidity Provider appeared first on LeapRate.

The derivatives exchange also reported a single-day trading record of 109,000 contracts, worth $40 billion notional, on 11 September. The contracts, designed to replicate the economics of total return swaps while adjusting for interest rate risk, are gaining traction among institutional investors.  Average daily volume for 2025 has reached 25,000 contracts, marking an 80% increase compared with last year. “More institutional investors are turning to our AIR Total Return futures to access U.S. index returns while mitigating interest rate, balance sheet and counterparty risks,” said Paul Woolman, Global Head of Equity Products at CME Group.  He added that the futures serve as a cost-effective alternative to over-the-counter swaps and give clients flexibility to manage equity financing risk through calendar spreads along the financing curve. AIR Total Return futures, based on the Effective Federal Funds Rate, are available on major benchmarks including the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 1000, Russell 2000 and Dow Jones Industrial Average. CME also offers contracts tied to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) for the S&P 500. The strong uptake highlights the growing appeal of exchange-traded instruments as investors seek solutions for managing equity exposures. CME said the continued growth of AIR products reflects the capital efficiencies available across its equity markets. The post CME Group’s AIR Total Return Futures Hit Record 1 Million Contracts appeared first on LeapRate.

The partnership will allow Bourse Direct to streamline ETF settlement and broaden its offering, using Euroclear’s market infrastructure to support safer and more efficient investing. The iETF model, which underpins more than 80% of European ETFs, consolidates distribution and execution into a single pool of liquidity across currencies.  This structure is said to be designed to simplify access and reduce risk for investors, whether trading on exchanges or over the counter. Sebastien Danloy, Chief Business Officer at Euroclear, said: “We are delighted to join forces with Bourse Direct to offer French retail investors easy access to a large range of UCITS ETFs. The choice of Bourse Direct demonstrates that Euroclear is well placed to further support the growing interest in ETFs.  “As a trusted financial market infrastructure, we aim to simplify access for investors to financial instruments and support long-term investment across Europe, in line with Europe’s Savings & Investment Union objectives.” Catherine Nini, Chair of the Management Board of Bourse Direct, added: “Our association with Euroclear enables us to further expand our ETF offering to meet the growing demand from retail investors for innovative and diversified financial instruments. Collaborating with a trusted European leader in market infrastructure ensures a high level of efficiency and reliability for our clients.” The development reinforces Euroclear’s role as a neutral, pan-European provider of financial infrastructure. The post Bourse Direct Partners with Euroclear to Expand ETF Access for French Retail Investors appeared first on LeapRate.

The regulator said Duncan Stewart pleaded guilty last year to purchasing more than $130,000 worth of Kidman shares in April 2019 while holding confidential knowledge of Wesfarmers’ bid.  He sold the shares after the deal was announced publicly in May 2019, realising a profit of nearly $65,000. He was ordered to pay back the profit and will be released upon entering a two-year good behaviour bond, secured with a $10,000 recognisance.  Stewart also admitted knowing of a second, confidential Kidman takeover approach from Chilean miner SQM, and encouraged a relative to buy shares, though he was not sentenced for that conduct. Judge Manova told the court that insider trading “shatters public confidence and undermines the integrity of Australia’s financial markets,” noting she would have imposed a longer custodial sentence had Stewart not pleaded guilty. ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said: “Insider trading is a serious corporate crime. A sentence of imprisonment is the most severe penalty a court can order and, in this case, is coupled with a financial penalty, automatic directorship disqualification for five years, and the general consequences of having a criminal record.” The case was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and forms part of ASIC’s 2025 enforcement priorities, which include strengthening the investigation and prosecution of insider trading. The post ASIC: Melbourne Man Sentenced for Insider Trading in Kidman Resources Takeover Case appeared first on LeapRate.

Built by former Citi options brokers alongside Freetrade co-founder Ian Fuller, Investa debuted on iOS following a soft launch that facilitated more than 1,400 trades.  The company added that an Android version is expected in the coming months. Options trading remains relatively underused in the UK, with fewer than 2% of retail investors engaging in the product compared with nearly 20% in the U.S.  Investa said this disparity stems from high fees, complicated interfaces and limited access, challenges it hopes to overcome with its streamlined platform. The app offers access to more than 200 stocks and ETFs with over 100,000 listed options contracts, supported by clear terminology and simplified design features such as “options cards.”  It operates on a zero-commission model, though other fees apply, and limits users to cash accounts rather than margin trading. During the soft launch, U.S. tech stocks dominated activity, with Nvidia accounting for more than 20% of trades. “Our goal is to make the options market more accessible to savvy UK investors, as we believe it offers huge untapped opportunities,” said Alec Beasley, Investa co-founder and CEO. “High fees, confusing platforms and limited availability have kept UK investors out and we are directly addressing that gap.” The public launch coincides with Investa’s second crowdfunding round on Crowdcube, where it is seeking at least £1 million to expand operations and fund an Android rollout. The post Investa Launches a UK Zero-Commission Options Trading App appeared first on LeapRate.

The move comes as the Berlin-based platform surpasses 10 million customers across 18 European markets, with more than €150 billion in assets under management.  The company said it will introduce three new independent asset classes by the end of the year, beginning with private markets. Two further categories will follow in monthly intervals. The firm explained that through fractional investing, Trade Republic customers can access a market that has traditionally been limited to institutional investors, who typically face minimum commitments of €10,000 and quarterly redemption terms.  In contrast, the platform will allow investments from €1 with the option to sell monthly via its internal marketplace.  For the first 30 days after launch, Trade Republic said customers will receive a 1% bonus on private markets investments, with no cap. “Long-term wealth creation is more than just an ETF savings plan. It’s about the combination of various asset classes. Now, we are growing Trade Republic from brokerage into wealth management,” said Christian Hecker, co-founder of Trade Republic. EQT’s Peter Beske Nielsen said the partnership would give individual investors access to a global private markets portfolio, “an opportunity historically reserved for institutional investors.” Apollo’s Veronique Fournier added that the initiative would advance “the continued democratisation of private markets” across Europe. The post Trade Republic Enters Wealth Management, Announces Partnership with Apollo and EQT appeared first on LeapRate.

The move is said to ensure that Chase customers can continue to connect safely to a wide range of financial services. The companies explained that the renewed deal formalises pricing structures and outlines commitments by both companies to provide consumers with secure, reliable, and consistent access to their banking data.  It also includes provisions for joint investment in technology to further improve data connectivity, reinforcing the role of open banking in driving innovation. Melissa Feldsher, Head of Consumer Payments at JPMorganChase, said the extension underlined the bank’s commitment to customer choice.  “JPMorganChase has a long history of working with Plaid and we’re excited that partnership will continue and the open banking ecosystem will continue to thrive,” stated Feldsher.  “Today’s announcement will ensure that our customers can continue to quickly, safely, and securely access their financial data for years to come and stay connected to the products they rely on every day.” Plaid’s Chief Operating Officer Eric Sager said the deal safeguarded consumer rights. “We have always believed consumers should have the right to access and share their own financial data, and JPMorganChase has been a partner in that effort. This extended agreement ensures ongoing access for the millions of Chase customers who rely on Plaid every day to connect with the products and services they trust.” The partnership continues to support Chase customers’ use of financial management, payments, and investment tools through trusted third-party providers. The post JPMorgan Chase and Plaid Extend Data Access Agreement appeared first on LeapRate.

The service launches on Monday in the U.S., with expansion to the U.K., Italy and other markets set for later this month.  The move follows the company’s rollout of PayPal World, a platform designed to connect major digital payment systems and wallets globally. Diego Scotti, General Manager of PayPal’s Consumer Group, said the update marked a significant evolution for the payments firm.  “For 25 years, PayPal has revolutionised how money moves between people. Now, we’re taking the next major step,” he said. “Whether you’re texting, messaging, or emailing, now your money follows your conversations.” As part of the upgrade, PayPal will soon integrate crypto directly into its new peer-to-peer (P2P) payment flow. U.S. users will be able to send Bitcoin, Ethereum, PYUSD and other digital assets via PayPal, Venmo and an increasing number of global wallets supporting cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. The company highlighted that personal transfers through PayPal and Venmo remain exempt from 1099-K reporting, ensuring gifts, reimbursements and expense-sharing are not subject to tax forms. PayPal said P2P remains central to its consumer strategy, driving user engagement and ecosystem growth. P2P and other consumer payment volume rose 10% year-on-year in the second quarter, with Venmo recording its strongest growth in three years. With PayPal World providing cross-border interoperability, the company said P2P adoption is set for further acceleration. The post PayPal Launches Personalised Payment Links in New Peer-to-Peer Push appeared first on LeapRate.

Available via the MT5 platform, the account supports trading in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, XRP, BNB and Dogecoin.  Darwinex said the product allows traders to go long or short, enabling them to take advantage of both rising and falling markets. According to the firm, the account offers diversification by keeping cryptocurrency CFD strategies separate from traditional CFD portfolios.  Traders can also access digital markets without holding the underlying assets, while benefiting from Darwinex execution standards and capital-raising opportunities. Crypto CFD trading is currently available 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday, with Darwinex monitoring performance before considering a move to 24/7 access. The account is open to retail and professional clients under Darwinex EU and Darwinex Global, and to professional clients under Darwinex UK. Spanish residents must either hold an active Darwinex account or qualify as professional clients to participate. Darwinex also said “Crypto CFDs provide a new way to attract seed and investor capital,” while also giving market participants an opportunity to expand their trading strategies in fast-moving digital assets. The launch marks Darwinex’s latest expansion in product offering, reflecting growing demand for cryptocurrency exposure within regulated trading frameworks. The post Darwinex Launches Dedicated Crypto CFD Account for Traders appeared first on LeapRate.

The firm said in a release on Monday that the new vehicle, EQT Nexus ELTIF Private Equity, is designed to provide exposure to a globally diversified portfolio of EQT’s Private Capital strategies, spanning healthcare, technology, and services.  It is said to represent a significant step in the firm’s European Private Wealth strategy, supporting new distribution partnerships in key growth markets. The company explained that the ELTIF framework, created under European Union legislation, is aimed at funnelling capital into long-term, illiquid asset classes such as private equity, infrastructure and real estate.  Compared with traditional private market structures, it reportedly allows a broader range of investors to participate, with lower minimum investment thresholds. Like EQT’s existing evergreen platform, the fund will be available through private banks and wealth platforms, with third-party subscriptions set to open in November 2025.  It offers individual investors access to a portfolio similar to that of institutional investors, covering early-stage, growth and buyout investments across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. Peter Beske Nielsen, Global Head of Private Wealth & Evergreen Solutions at EQT, said: “The launch of EQT Nexus ELTIF Private Equity is an exciting evolution of EQT’s European Private Wealth offering, paving the way for new strategic distribution partnerships and client segments that are meaningfully under-allocated to private markets.” With the addition of this fund, EQT’s evergreen platform now comprises five strategies across private equity, infrastructure and real estate. The post EQT Launches ELTIF Evergreen Fund to Widen Access to Private Markets appeared first on LeapRate.

The exchange operator said volatility auctions will go live on its DXE and CXE platforms from 29 September 2025, subject to external assessments.  The new mechanism will replace the current static collar system for REGM securities following a manual or automated volatility halt. The firm explained that volatility auctions will operate in the same way as Cboe’s existing opening and closing auctions, but will be triggered by sharp price movements rather than set times.  If a trade in a REGM security is executed more than 10% away from Cboe’s reference price, a five-minute auction will be launched, with extensions possible. The resulting auction price will then establish a new reference level. The auctions will also be used to resume trading in a REGM security after a regulatory halt, ensuring orderly market conditions.  Cboe added that orders not matched during an opening auction will move to its lit book, while unexecuted lit orders will automatically participate in the closing auction.  Furthermore, the exchange said REGM auctions will now accept iceberg orders, with priority given to the displayed portion. Separately, Cboe will launch multi-day order functionality for REGM securities on 3 November 2025.  The company believes this will allow participants to enter Good-Till-Cancel (GTC) and Good-Till-Day (GTD) orders, valid for up to 90 days.  The feature will be supported with new trade and liquidity indicators across BOE and FIX sessions. The post Cboe Europe to Introduce Volatility Auctions and Multi-Day Orders for REGM Securities appeared first on LeapRate.

Built on Microsoft Azure, the DMI platform is designed to streamline the full asset lifecycle, from issuance and tokenisation to distribution, settlement and servicing, while remaining interoperable with both distributed ledger technology and traditional financial systems. Private funds are said to be the first asset class to benefit, with LSEG planning to expand to others.  As part of its initial rollout, MembersCap and Archax have been onboarded as clients, with the first deal executed for MCM Fund 1, MembersCap’s flagship fund.  LSEG noted that Archax acted as nominee for a major Web3 foundation in the transaction. EJF Capital has also joined as an early adopter, with several of its funds set to be listed on the platform. Dr Darko Hajdukovic, LSEG’s Head of Digital Markets Infrastructure, said: “There are many processes in private markets today that can be improved. At LSEG we are committed to significantly improving access to private markets, by streamlining workflows, enhancing distribution, and enabling liquidity.” Bill Borden, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, added: “Together, we’re reshaping the future of global finance to empower our customers to unlock new opportunities and drive meaningful change.” The launch forms part of LSEG’s strategy to expand across the funding continuum, building on its Private Securities Market initiative. The post LSEG Launches Blockchain-Powered Platform for Private Funds appeared first on LeapRate.

According to FINRA’s Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, the firm conducted securities business on nine occasions between November 2020 and April 2023 while below the capital levels required under U.S. securities law. Net capital deficiencies ranged from around $1,000 to $33,000, FINRA said. During the same period, Madison Global Partners took part in firm commitment offerings without first seeking approval for the material change in its business model.  Its membership agreement is said to have required a minimum net capital of $5,000 and prohibited participation in such offerings. However, the activity demanded at least $50,000 in net capital and regulatory approval, which the firm had not obtained. The breaches were identified during a FINRA examination in 2023. After being notified, Madison Global Partners corrected the shortfall and secured approval to engage in firm commitment underwritings. FINRA said the conduct violated Section 15(c)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Exchange Act Rule 15c3-1, and FINRA Rules 4110(b)(1), 1017 and 2010, which require firms to uphold high standards of commercial honour. Madison Global Partners accepted the findings without admitting or denying them and agreed to pay the fine. The post FINRA Fines Madison Global Partners $20,000 Over Capital Rule Breaches appeared first on LeapRate.

McTighe, who has chaired the online trading and investments firm since February 2020, said the time was right to pass on the role. “It has been a great honour and privilege to lead the Board over the past five years. I am grateful for the trust and support I have received from colleagues. With solid foundations laid for stronger growth, I am confident that under Breon Corcoran’s leadership, IG will go from strength to strength,” he said. Jonathan Moulds, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, paid tribute to McTighe’s contribution. “On behalf of the Board and all our colleagues at IG, I want to thank Mike for his guidance and leadership over the past five years,” Moulds said. McTighe will stand for re-election at the company’s Annual General Meeting on 17 September 2025 to ensure continuity during the succession process. IG confirmed that the search for his replacement is already under way. During McTighe’s tenure, IG strengthened its position as a leading global trading platform and oversaw strategic investments aimed at diversifying its product offering. The post IG Group Chairman Mike McTighe to Step Down by End of 2025 appeared first on LeapRate.

The swissSPTC on Friday published recommendations for a smooth transition from the current T+2 cycle, reflecting a wider global shift to faster settlement.  North America adopted T+1 in 2024, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein see the change as crucial to maintaining competitiveness, reducing counterparty risk and bolstering market stability. SIX said more than 20 organisations from across the financial ecosystem contributed to the swissSPTC’s analysis, including trading venues, clearing and settlement providers, banks, issuers and industry associations. Authorities were kept closely involved throughout. The recommendations, developed by a dedicated T+1 Task Force, are structured across six workstreams covering operational processes, international alignment, liquidity management, legal and regulatory considerations, insights from North America and stakeholder communication.  The swissSPTC said the recommendations are intended to be living guidance and could be adapted if market or regulatory conditions change before implementation. SIX, which operates the domestic market infrastructure, is incorporating the council’s requirements into its own T+1 project. The framework will apply to all transferable securities traded on Swiss venues and settled through SIX SIS, the Swiss central securities depository. SIX added that a consultation on the T+1 transition is open until 10 October, with swissSPTC and SIX set to present their plans at an industry event in Zurich on 23 September. The post SIX and swissSPTC Set Roadmap for T+1 Settlement Shift in Switzerland and Liechtenstein appeared first on LeapRate.

Under the agreement, SBI will subscribe for 390,000 new Ridge-i shares via a third-party allotment and, through its subsidiary SBI Securities, acquire 584,000 shares from Ridge-i chief executive Takashi Yanagihara.  These shares will subsequently be transferred to SBI on 30 September. Ridge-i, which operates alongside subsidiary Star Music Entertainment, develops custom AI solutions and digital marketing services, ranging from consultation to implementation.  SBI said the tie-up builds on previous collaborations, including applying Ridge-i’s AI technology to financial and non-financial data across its group companies, as well as projects in digital marketing with SBI Neo Media. SBI operates businesses spanning financial services, asset management, private equity, crypto-assets and next-generation fields such as bio-healthcare and Web3.  The company said the partnership would allow the two groups to form “a unified team that goes beyond a conventional outsourcing relationship”, aiming to accelerate AI-driven innovation across the organisation. Planned initiatives include using generative AI to boost productivity, developing new investment experiences through data-driven services, and expanding into digital marketing and Web3-enabled entertainment businesses.  The companies also intend to explore AI-based models for valuing creative talent and intellectual property, as well as joint development of financial products tailored to the media and entertainment sectors. The post SBI Holdings to Acquire Stake in Ridge-i Through Capital and Business Alliance appeared first on LeapRate.

The inclusion follows the quarterly review of the CAC family of indices by the Scientific Committee. The company, which operates regulated markets in Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris, has seen its market capitalisation rise from €1.4 billion at IPO to €14.5 billion as of August 2025. Over the same period, annual revenue has more than tripled to €1.6 billion, while adjusted EBITDA has climbed from €225.4 million to more than €1 billion. Euronext’s expansion has included the 2021 acquisition of the Borsa Italiana Group, which paved the way for its entry into the CAC Next 20, and a July 2025 announcement of plans to extend its federal model to Athens.  The group now spans the full capital markets value chain, from listing and trading to clearing, settlement, custody and technology solutions. Stéphane Boujnah, chief executive officer and chairman of the managing board, said: “Our inclusion in the CAC 40 is a testament to the remarkable journey we have undertaken since our IPO in June 2014.  “Since then, we have accelerated our growth through strategic acquisitions, geographic expansion, and diversification into new asset classes, trading and post-trade services, and SaaS solutions.” Boujnah added that the move “illustrates the resilience of our business model” and reflects the company’s “unwavering commitment to transparency, innovation and excellence.” The post Euronext to Join France’s CAC 40 Index appeared first on LeapRate.

The company said a further update on the appointment of a successor will be made in due course. No details were provided regarding the reasons behind the management change. The departure comes as the London-listed cryptocurrency mining company also confirmed an increase in its share capital following the vesting of restricted stock units. Between 6 June and 9 September 2025, 1,171,754 new ordinary shares were issued under Argo’s equity incentive plan. As of 12 September, the company’s issued share capital now stands at 720,658,568 ordinary shares with a nominal value of £0.001 each. All shares carry voting rights, and Argo confirmed that it does not hold any in treasury. The total number of voting rights in the company is therefore 720,658,568. This figure provides the denominator for shareholders to assess whether they are required to notify changes in their holdings under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. Argo, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, operates cryptocurrency mining facilities. The company has faced operational and financial challenges over the years amid volatility in the digital asset market, with cost pressures and fluctuating bitcoin prices weighing on the sector. The post Argo Blockchain Removes CFO and Updates on Voting Rights appeared first on LeapRate.

The news was unveiled at Stripe Tour Sydney, where the firm also highlighted its advances in artificial intelligence and stablecoin-based services. The firm said Stripe Capital will provide small and medium-sized businesses with pre-approved financing directly through the Stripe platform, using payments data to assess eligibility.  Approved funds are typically available within one to two business days, with repayments linked to a business’s earnings. The company emphasised that there are no compounding interest charges, late fees or early repayment penalties. “SMBs are the backbone of the Australian economy, but around half report difficulty securing funding,” said Karl Durrance, managing director for Australia and New Zealand at Stripe. “With the cost of business rising sharply in recent years, Stripe Capital can help businesses stay resilient amid economic uncertainty.” The product will also be extended to platforms using Stripe, allowing them to offer financing to their own customers. It is expected to be available in the coming months. Research by YouGov and Stripe is said to show that 70% of Australian decision makers surveyed have already integrated AI into their operations, with businesses on Stripe ranking second globally for adoption of its agentic AI tools.  Stablecoin use is also reportedlt gaining traction, with 53% of executives either using or planning to adopt them. Stripe supports leading regional firms, including Atlassian, Canva and Xero, and processes over $1.4 trillion annually worldwide. The post Stripe to Launch Capital in Australia as Users Surpass One Million in ANZ appeared first on LeapRate.