Based in Hong Kong, Mastrangelo will lead Barclays’ Global Markets operations across the region, focusing on expanding product offerings and client relationships.  He will report functionally to Adeel Khan, Head of Global Markets, and regionally to Jaideep Khanna, CEO, Asia Pacific. Mastrangelo joins from Société Générale, where he most recently served as Head of Equities for Asia Pacific.  With nearly 20 years of experience across structuring, trading and platform development in Paris and Hong Kong, he has a track record of driving growth in fast-moving markets. “Jean-François has demonstrated an exceptional ability to build and lead high-performing teams in dynamic markets,” Khan said. “His deep understanding of the region, combined with a global perspective, will be pivotal as we accelerate growth and deliver for our clients in Asia Pacific.” Khanna added that the appointment “reflects our commitment to investing in talent and building our platform to offer best-in-class products and services for our clients.” The move comes as Barclays continues to build out its regional markets franchise to capture growing opportunities in Asia’s expanding capital markets. The post Barclays Names Jean-François Mastrangelo Head of Markets for Asia Pacific appeared first on LeapRate.

The new feature allows shoppers to split purchases between $30 and $1,500 into four equal payments over six weeks, with automatic instalments and no hidden charges.  Launching ahead of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping period, PayPal said the service aims to make budgeting easier during the holiday season. “PayPal has served Canadians for over 15 years and is one of the most trusted brands across the country,” said Michelle Gill, General Manager, Small Business and Financial Services at PayPal.  “Pay in 4 helps Canadians manage cash flow without late fees or hidden costs.” PayPal’s 2025 Festive Spending Survey found that 60% of Canadians who haven’t yet used BNPL would consider doing so if there were no fees.  Businesses also benefit, with PayPal reporting that merchants offering BNPL options see higher conversion rates and larger average order values. The launch coincides with a partnership with Cadillac Fairview, allowing shoppers to use Pay in 4 for online purchases and participate in festive experiences at malls in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. The post PayPal Launches No-Fee ‘Pay in 4’ Buy Now, Pay Later Option in Canada appeared first on LeapRate.

Under the agreement, State Street will support Albilad Capital’s securities services offering in Saudi Arabia by combining its global technology and product expertise with Albilad’s local market experience.  The partnership aims to strengthen the country’s capital market infrastructure and introduce advanced global investment solutions to domestic clients. “We are delighted to collaborate with Albilad Capital to support its clients and growth,” commented State Street Chairman and CEO Ron O’Hanley.  “By combining State Street’s global capabilities with Albilad Capital’s market knowledge, we will meet the growing demand for sophisticated investment solutions and help support the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a leading financial centre.” Zaid AlMufarih, CEO of Albilad Capital, said the agreement would enhance market competitiveness and localise global knowledge.  “We are proud of this agreement that combines State Street’s global expertise and advanced infrastructure with our leadership in the local market,” he stated. State Street, which has served clients in Saudi Arabia for over 25 years, manages $127 billion in assets under custody or administration and $60 billion in assets under management in the Kingdom. The post State Street Signs Strategic Agreement with Albilad Capital in Saudi Arabia appeared first on LeapRate.

The online trading platform explained that Vega uses advanced artificial intelligence to “transform complex market data into actionable insights,” helping investors make better-informed decisions.  Available exclusively to Webull’s U.S. customers at no cost, Vega is said to integrate news, technical data, and earnings information into one platform to create a more intuitive trading experience. Anthony Denier, Group President and U.S. CEO of Webull, commented: “The amount of information available to investors today is both a strength and a challenge. With Vega, we’re helping traders navigate that landscape with greater clarity and confidence.” Vega’s features include Options Statistics Insights, which identifies unusual options activity; Portfolio Review, analysing investor behaviour against goals; and Plain-Language Orders, which allow trades to be placed via natural voice commands.  The system also offers real-time personalised alerts through Vega Insights. Vega “evolves alongside each investor,” Webull stated. The feature supports both novice and experienced traders, aiming to make “powerful investing intelligence accessible to everyone” as part of Webull’s mission to democratise markets. The post Webull Launches Vega, Its AI-Powered Investment Decision Partner appeared first on LeapRate.

According to FINRA, the Minneapolis-based firm overstated statistical data on its quarterly Rule 606(a) reports covering customer order handling in U.S. securities and options.  The errors stemmed from a coding issue that caused one vendor to miscalculate the value of options orders, while other reports failed to disclose complete details about payment-for-order-flow and profit-sharing arrangements with execution venues. FINRA said Piper Sandler’s supervisory systems were not “reasonably designed” to ensure compliance with the reporting rule, noting deficiencies in its written supervisory procedures and lack of proper reviews of vendor data. The regulator added that accurate reporting is essential for transparency and investor protection, helping clients assess how firms route and execute their orders. Piper Sandler, which employs about 1,400 registered representatives across more than 70 offices, accepted FINRA’s findings without admitting or denying them. The firm has since corrected the errors, enhanced its disclosures, and revised its compliance procedures. The sanction includes a censure and a fine, which the firm has agreed to pay following acceptance of the settlement. The post Piper Sandler Fined $95,000 by FINRA Over Reporting Failures appeared first on LeapRate.

Brown has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of MIAX Futures and Chief Strategy Officer at MIAX Holdings. He will oversee the company’s growth strategy, including the planned launch of futures based on the Bloomberg 500 Index in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. “Shelly is a seasoned executive with a deep understanding of the roadmap to launching several key futures products,” said Thomas Gallagher, Chairman and CEO of MIAX. “I can’t think of anyone who brings more operational knowledge and efficiency to the table than him.” Ferraro, meanwhile, has been named President of MIAX Products, LLC, where he will lead efforts to expand the firm’s proprietary product range, including Bloomberg equity index derivatives.  He will retain his existing position as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Gallagher praised Ferraro’s “expert guidance” in developing MIAX Futures and said the company’s investment in technology has positioned it for new product expansion. The post MIAX Appoints Shelly Brown as Chief Executive Officer of MIAX Futures appeared first on LeapRate.

Under the partnership, the bank will provide transaction banking and financial markets services to support DeCard’s operations in Singapore.  This includes managing cardholder top-up processing, account management, and fiat-to-stablecoin settlements, alongside liquidity and FX hedging through Standard Chartered’s financial markets division. The launch marks the first phase of the collaboration, with plans to expand into other key markets.  The partnership comes amid growing demand for regulated digital-asset payment solutions that combine the speed and transparency of blockchain-based finance with the reliability of traditional banking systems. “This partnership is in line with our continued efforts to offer banking solutions for innovative fintech partners,” said Dhiraj Bajaj, Global Head of TB FI Sales at Standard Chartered. “Our investments in platforms and solutions allow us to be the trusted banking partner bridging TradFi to DeFi.” DCS Chief Commercial Officer Joan Han believes the collaboration will help bring “secure, transparent, and efficient stablecoin payments to the mainstream,” setting a benchmark for responsible digital asset use in daily life. Standard Chartered will also provide API connectivity and virtual account infrastructure to enhance reconciliation and payment visibility for DeCard cardholders. The post Standard Chartered Partners with DCS to Power Stablecoin-Linked Credit Card in Singapore appeared first on LeapRate.

The fintech company stated that October’s total marked a 13 percent rise from September’s $339 billion, reflecting accelerating adoption of tokenised settlement solutions in institutional markets. Broadridge believes its DLR system, the largest institutional platform for settling tokenised real assets, demonstrates growing industry confidence in distributed ledger technology.  The platform is said to support real-time settlement of repurchase agreements, enhancing liquidity and operational efficiency across the capital markets. According to Broadridge’s latest white paper, more than 80 percent of early adopters cited tokenisation’s potential to improve transparency and deepen investor engagement. Broadridge described tokenisation as a “transformative force” reshaping market structure and remarked that it is committed to supporting digital asset trading across its global platforms. The company added that it continues to invest in technologies that underpin a “digital-first financial ecosystem,” positioning itself as a leader in tokenised trading infrastructure as institutional adoption expands. The post Broadridge’s Blockchain Repo Platform Hits $385 Billion Daily Volume in October appeared first on LeapRate.

McCann, who will report directly to Chief Executive Helen Lofthouse, joins from Norton Rose Fulbright, where she is a partner in the corporate team.  She previously spent five years at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), where she rose to Chief General Counsel, leading the regulator’s legal and enforcement group overseeing banking, insurance, and superannuation supervision. Lofthouse said she was delighted with the appointment, adding that McCann’s experience would support ASX’s focus on market integrity and policy leadership.  “Lucinda’s appointment will build on the strong track record of our ASX Compliance team,” Lofthouse commented. McCann succeeds Daniel Moran, who stepped down in July after 15 years at ASX. The exchange said the appointment aligns with its renewed emphasis on governance and transparency, following its October decision to assume direct responsibility for future editions of the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations.  Former Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe will chair the new independent advisory group supporting that framework. The post ASX Appoints Lucinda McCann as Chief Compliance Officer appeared first on LeapRate.

The initiative builds on a partnership unveiled last year and responds to rising demand for high-quality collateral amid regulatory changes and new liquidity frameworks. The service integrates real-time data from Euroclear’s Collateral Highway, which now manages more than €2 trillion in collateral and external collateral pools.  Clients can configure multiple optimisation models and run “what-if” scenarios to determine the most efficient collateral deployment, all while ensuring full data segregation and security. Marije Verhelst, Euroclear’s Head of Product Strategy and Product Development for Collateral Management and Securities Lending, said the launch “addresses the growing demand from broker-dealers for more control over their collateral allocations through tailored models.” Transcend CEO Bimal Kadikar added that the partnership “enables seamless connectivity with Euroclear while maintaining neutrality and segregation for multi-venue optimisation.” The new solution aims to improve liquidity management and operational efficiency across the financial system, offering clients venue-neutral flexibility and transparency in collateral usage. The post Euroclear and Transcend Launch New Collateral Optimisation Service appeared first on LeapRate.

The company said Admirals MENA had applied for the cancellation of its licence to deal in investments as principal, a move it described as part of a broader strategy to streamline its international footprint and focus on markets offering the greatest potential for sustainable growth. Following the application, the FSRA approved the cancellation of the FSP. In a brief statement, Admirals said the decision “underscores Admirals Group AS’s continued strategic focus on optimising its global operations and concentrating resources in regions with the strongest potential for sustainable growth and operational excellence.” Admirals Group, which provides multi-asset trading and investment services, has been consolidating its operations amid an increasingly competitive regulatory landscape.  In September, Admiral Markets AS said it had entered into an agreement to divest its wholly owned subsidiary, Admiral Markets AS (Jordan) Ltd, a licensed investment firm, as part of the group’s strategy to refine its geographic footprint and align operations with its long-term priorities. The post Admirals Group Cancels Financial Services Permission to Refocus Global Operations appeared first on LeapRate.

According to FINRA, the Los Angeles-based brokerage failed to maintain possession or control of clients’ fully paid and excess margin securities, violating the Securities Exchange Act’s Customer Protection Rule.  The firm also lacked adequate systems and written procedures to ensure compliance, resulting in deficits that at times exceeded 100,000 shares valued at more than $2 million. The regulator said Wedbush further failed to include required mark-up and mark-down disclosures on more than 1,300 retail customer trade confirmations for municipal, corporate, and agency debt transactions. Between August 2022 and August 2023, FINRA found that the firm did not enter prevailing market prices in its systems in a timely manner and lacked adequate supervisory procedures to ensure compliance with disclosure rules. Wedbush, which employs around 500 registered representatives across 70 offices, accepted the findings without admitting or denying the allegations. The firm has since amended its supervisory procedures. The sanction follows FINRA’s routine cycle examinations and marks the latest in a series of enforcement actions targeting firms’ compliance with customer asset and disclosure obligations. The post Wedbush Fined $150,000 by FINRA appeared first on LeapRate.

The Chicago-based exchange operator said total average daily volume (ADV) in options reached 21.4 million contracts, a 47 percent increase from a year earlier. Cboe revealed the surge was driven by record trading in multi-listed options, which climbed to a monthly ADV of 15.9 million contracts, and a strong performance in its proprietary index options, which rose 38.6 percent to 5.5 million contracts. Trading in S&P 500 Index (SPX) options set multiple records during the month, including a new monthly ADV of 4.4 million contracts, a zero-days-to-expiry (0DTE) options record of 2.7 million, and a single-day peak of 6.4 million contracts on October 10. Equity trading also strengthened, with U.S. on-exchange activity up nearly 57 percent year-on-year to 2.02 billion shares, while off-exchange trading rose almost threefold. Cboe’s European and Canadian equity volumes increased 25 percent and 34 percent, respectively, while its futures activity rose 39 percent from a year earlier. The post Cboe Sets Record Monthly Options Volume in October appeared first on LeapRate.

The integration connects TradingView’s advanced charting and strategy tools with Opofinance’s brokerage services, creating a unified environment for market analysis and trade execution.  The broker, founded in 2021, is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). Opofinance serves more than 200,000 clients globally and offers access to over 1,000 instruments spanning Forex, stocks, indices, commodities, metals and cryptocurrencies. The partnership is aimed at streamlining the trading process for users seeking a seamless experience between analysis and execution.  According to Opofinance, traders can now log into their accounts directly from the Trading Panel to manage positions without leaving the TradingView interface. The broker also offers AI-assisted analytics and a tiered loyalty programme, designed to enhance the trading workflow and reward client engagement. The post Opofinance Integrates With TradingView appeared first on LeapRate.

The new functionality complements Nuvei’s existing Visa Direct for Card service and positions the company among the first global acquirers to offer both payout methods.  The move is expected to allow merchants to deliver faster, account-based payments across multiple currencies while reducing transfer fees and improving operational efficiency. “Consumers everywhere expect instant access to their money,” said Phil Fayer, Nuvei’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “By expanding our Visa Direct offering, we’re empowering merchants to meet those expectations with faster, more reliable payouts that enhance everyday financial experiences.” Visa’s Global Head of Visa Direct, Vira Platanova, commented the partnership would help more businesses reach payees globally “with capabilities built for scale, compliance, and operational simplicity.” Nuvei stated that the integration would support use cases including gig economy earnings, remittances, insurance claims, and marketplace settlements, while giving businesses access to over 11 billion Visa Direct endpoints worldwide. The rollout will begin in Europe, with additional regions and features planned for 2026.  Visa processed more than 10 billion Visa Direct transactions in 2024, up from 1.6 billion in 2019, reflecting the accelerating shift toward instant and account-based payments across the global financial ecosystem. The post Nuvei Integrates Visa Direct for Account to Expand Global Payout Capabilities appeared first on LeapRate.

The derivatives marketplace revealed that metals volumes rose 165 percent year on year to a record 1.7 million contracts, while cryptocurrency trading soared 226 percent to 379,000 contracts, equivalent to $15.3 billion notional. Record activity was also seen in soybean futures and options. Interest rate products remained the largest segment with 11.6 million contracts traded daily, while equity index ADV climbed 28 percent to 7.6 million. CME highlighted particularly strong demand for Micro E-mini Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 futures, both up 37 percent. Henry Hub natural gas options also saw activity rise 31 percent to 317,000 contracts. International trading volumes grew 13 percent overall, with Asia-Pacific up 29 percent and Europe, the Middle East and Africa up 9 percent.  BrokerTec’s U.S. repo platform recorded a record average daily notional value of $392 billion, up 24 percent. The company’s previous October record was set in 2023 with 25.2 million contracts. The post CME Group Sets New October Trading Record With 26.3 Million Contracts appeared first on LeapRate.

Eurex revealed in a press release on Thursday that the ECB would diversify its securities lending infrastructure and transfer part of its monetary policy portfolio operations to centrally cleared repo transactions.  The Frankfurt-based exchange, part of Deutsche Börse Group, stated that the move highlights “the growing importance of centrally cleared repo for the stability and integrity of European financial markets.” Imène Rahmouni-Rousseau, Director General Market Operations at the ECB, believes the shift supports “the smooth functioning and the resilience of euro area repo markets,” adding that central clearing “will diversify our securities lending channels for monetary policy portfolios and also contribute to broadening our existing market intelligence.” The ECB becomes the sixth central bank to join Eurex’s repo ecosystem, which now includes more than 160 participants from 21 countries, ranging from banks and government agencies to pension funds and insurers. Eurex reported that total outstanding volumes in its repo segments have grown about 50 percent since the end of 2024, underscoring the market’s depth and liquidity.  Executive Board member Matthias Graulich said the ECB’s participation was “a strong testament to the market’s trust in our resilient and efficient infrastructure,” as Eurex continues to expand links with central banks and public institutions across Europe. The post ECB to Join Eurex Repo Market in 2026 to Strengthen Euro Area Liquidity appeared first on LeapRate.

Under the agreement, LSEG will license Nasdaq’s eVestment private markets datasets, including Market Lens insights, hedge fund data and Limited Partner intelligence.  The deal also includes exclusive distribution rights for certain Nasdaq private fund and deal-level benchmarks. LSEG stated that integrating Nasdaq’s datasets into its ecosystem would expand transparency and improve decision-making across private investment markets.  “By integrating Nasdaq’s datasets with LSEG’s existing capabilities, we are creating a best-in-class solution that serves the entire private market ecosystem,” commented Gianluca Biagini, Group Co-Head of Data & Analytics at LSEG. The partnership follows LSEG’s September launch of the U.K.’s first Private Securities Market, reinforcing its focus on private market infrastructure.  Nasdaq said the collaboration supports its goal of embedding transparency and liquidity into private markets.  “This partnership empowers investors with seamless access to critical insights in existing workflow solutions to drive better-informed decisions,” stated Oliver Albers, Executive Vice President at Nasdaq. The combined offering will merge LSEG’s editorial and transactional data with Nasdaq’s fund performance and LP analytics, providing a single source for investment targeting, deal execution and portfolio optimisation. The post LSEG and Nasdaq Partner to Deliver Enhanced Private Markets Data appeared first on LeapRate.

The US-based payments technology firm said the appointments were designed to support its expansion in embedded payments and strengthen its network of software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) partners. “Brent and Sharat join Fortis at a crucial point in our company’s trajectory,” remarked Chief Executive Greg Cohen. “As we scale to meet increasing market demand, their combined expertise in financial operations, risk management, and strategic partnerships will be critical to our success.” Coles has over 25 years of experience in fintech and payments, having held senior roles at Onbe, Clearent and BluePay.  He will oversee financial operations, strategic planning and capital allocation. “My focus will be on building the financial infrastructure needed to scale efficiently while delivering value to our customers, partners, and stakeholders,” Coles commented. Shankar, who previously served as Executive Vice President of Risk at Corpay and held leadership roles at Intuit and First Data, will manage Fortis’s risk and operations functions.  He believes the firm is “uniquely positioned to lead” the evolving embedded payments space. The company said the expanded C-suite underlined its commitment to operational excellence and innovation in the fast-growing financial technology sector. The post Fortis Strengthens Leadership Team With CFO and Risk Chief Appointments appeared first on LeapRate.

The financial services group reported quarterly revenue of $484.6 million, up 24 percent from a year earlier, with adjusted profit margins improving to 20.7 percent.  The company stated that the results were “at the top end of our previously announced preliminary range,” highlighting the firm’s resilience in a “more challenging operating environment.” Revenue from Agency and Execution surged 52 percent to $258.5 million, supported by strength in securities and Prime Services.  Clearing revenue rose 14 percent to $133.5 million on the back of one of Marex’s highest-ever quarters for client onboarding, with average balances up 4 percent to $13.3 billion. However, Market Making revenue fell 16 percent, reflecting weaker conditions in metals and agricultural markets amid ongoing tariff uncertainty. Lowitt said Marex’s diversification had underpinned its performance: “This quarter demonstrated how we have successfully diversified our business.” “The fourth quarter has started very strongly, and we are optimistic about the rest of the year and the year ahead.” The group maintained its investment-grade credit rating from S&P in September and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share. The post Marex Reports 25% Profit Growth in Q3 as Prime Services Drive Momentum appeared first on LeapRate.