Pirum today announced the appointment of Renato Lima as Chief Revenue Officer. Lima joins the Leadership team with immediate effect and will lead Pirum's global revenue operations across EMEA, North America, APAC – where Pirum extended 24/5 dedicated service coverage from 1 April 2026. The appointment represents a statement of intent in Pirum's commercial evolution. As the industry confronts accelerating regulatory obligations – from T+1 settlement in the UK, EU, and Switzerland (October 2027) to SEC Rule 15c3-3 – demand for Pirum's Complete, Connected Lifecycle platform is growing across all regions and client segments. Lima's mandate is to translate that demand into disciplined, data-driven growth at scale. Lima joins from FIS, where, as SVP Head of Sales for Capital Markets, he led international sales teams across the globe for nearly nine years, building a consistent record of revenue growth across complex, long-cycle institutional relationships. Before FIS, Lima spent close to 15 years at Bloomberg, culminating in his role as European Head of Enterprise Solutions and, prior to that, as European Head of Global Data, where he oversaw a department of more than 200 data analysts. The combination of enterprise sales leadership and deep data expertise puts Lima directly at the centre of what Pirum's clients need most: a partner who understands both the commercial relationship and the data infrastructure that underpins it. Renato Lima said: “Pirum sits in an enviable position at the intersection of a highly capable platform and a deeply interconnected client community that depends on one another to operate. At the same time, the industry is entering a pivotal phase with T+1 settlement, AI-ready infrastructure, and the push toward 24/7 trading, which are all driving the need for real-time, enterprise-wide systems and operations. For me, what makes the opportunity so compelling is the chance to sharpen Pirum’s commercial model. Not just within sales, but across every function that supports our clients and the broader market. It’s about ensuring we translate that unique position into consistent, measurable value for clients, while scaling how we engage, support, and grow alongside them.” Ben Challice, Chief Executive Officer at Pirum, said: "Renato's appointment to the Leadership team continues to signal where Pirum is heading. We have built a platform that processes over US$6.5 trillion in transactions daily, covers the complete securities finance lifecycle, and is trusted by every major securities finance firm. The next chapter is about turning that foundation into sustained global growth – across new regions, new client segments, and new capabilities as the industry moves toward AI-first operations. Renato brings the industry relationships, the commercial discipline, and the collaborative approach that this next phase demands."

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced today that is has initiated a review of certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to identify potential violations of applicable law or CDFI requirements and to help ensure that CDFIs that receive federal assistance act as proper stewards of taxpayer funds.    “CDFIs play a critical role in expanding access to capital in underserved communities,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.  “CDFIs that engage in predatory practices and take advantage of the very communities they are intended to serve will be reviewed and, where appropriate, held accountable.  We remain committed to enforcing the law and protecting taxpayer resources while supporting the mission of responsible CDFIs.”  This ongoing review is part of Treasury’s efforts to strengthen oversight of federal grant programs, promote accountability, and prevent abuse.  Treasury is assessing whether CDFIs are complying with applicable legal requirements and the terms of CDFI Fund assistance agreements.  Where appropriate, Treasury will take action consistent with applicable law and program requirements.

With just 18 months until Europe transitions to a T+1 settlement cycle, firms must move beyond strategy and begin implementing operational changes to ensure they are ready, according to Val Wotton, Managing Director and Global Head of Equities Solutions at DTCC. In a statement marking the 18-month milestone, Wotton emphasized the urgency for firms to optimize their post-trade processes. He highlighted that Europe's transition presents unique challenges not seen in the U.S. move to T+1. “Unlike the U.S., Europe’s transition comes with multiple layers of complexity due to its highly fragmented landscape, which spans multiple trading venues, CCPs, CSDs and currencies,” Wotton stated.To meet the accelerated timeline, Wotton stressed that inefficiencies in the post-trade lifecycle—including trade allocation, confirmation, matching, and settlement—must be eliminated. He advised firms to begin identifying risks from counterparties who have not automated their workflows and to assess their reliance on third-party technology providers for any potential gaps. “The next 18 months are therefore critical,” Wotton urged. “Firms that invest now in automation, reimagined post-trade workflows, data standardization and cross‑market alignment, while engaging with clearing and post‑trade partners, will be best positioned to navigate Europe’s transition successfully.” He concluded by framing the preparation period as a crucial foundation for the future of the market. “At DTCC, we view this phase as foundational to ensuring that Europe’s move to T+1 is not only enabled, but strengthens market resilience and efficiency.”

The FCA is seeking views on proposals to change rules that govern the publication of research during the initial public offering (IPO) process. The FCA is consulting on removing the requirement for a 7-day delay before connected research on an IPO can be published. It also consults on removing rules that require firms to provide independent analysts with the same information as their own research analysts. These rules were introduced in 2018 to encourage the production of unconnected research, but they have not achieved that aim. However, feedback from the market suggests that they have also added complexity, risk and cost to the IPO process, and have put the UK at a competitive disadvantage compared with other international listing venues. Removing these requirements would simplify the IPO process and improve the conditions for listing in the UK. This would support the FCA’s work to strengthen the UK’s capital markets and to support growth and competitiveness. Jon Relleen, director of infrastructure & exchanges, supervision, policy & competition division, said: 'Market feedback has been clear that these rules can introduce additional risk, cost and complexity without delivering the intended benefits. We are committed to reducing friction, supporting growth, and ensuring the UK remains a competitive and trusted place for companies to raise capital.' No other rule changes are proposed at this stage. However, the paper includes discussion questions on whether further reform of the 2018 IPO information flow rules may be appropriate. This consultation helps to deliver one of the commitments set out in the FCA’s letter to the Prime Minister in December 2025. The FCA welcomes feedback by 29 May 2026. Background CP26/14: Changes to information flows for UK equity IPOs. Find out more information about the FCA.

The FCA Board appoints new members to decision-making committee. The Board of the FCA has appointed Jonathan Peddie and Raymond Cox KC as new members of the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee (RDC). The RDC is responsible for taking certain regulatory decisions on behalf of the FCA relating to contested enforcement action. Committee members bring a broad range of professional experience to support fair, independent and evidence-based decision-making. Alison Potter, the chair of the RDC, said: 'I am delighted to welcome our new members to the committee. Both Raymond and Jonathan bring significant legal and financial services expertise and regulatory enforcement experience, which will complement existing committee members and enhance the overall capability and effectiveness of the RDC.' Background More detail about the work of the RDC is available on the FCA website, including the biographies of all committee members. The RDC is an FCA Board Committee that is operationally separate from the rest of the FCA. The FCA Board appoints the RDC chair and members, who are drawn from across a spectrum of business, consumer and industry backgrounds. Find out more information about the FCA. 

GlobalData has announced the latest Financial and Legal Adviser League Tables, in terms of the total value and volume of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals they advised on in the consumer sector during Q1 2026. Financial Advisers Morgan Stanley top M&A financial adviser in consumer sector during Q1 2026 Morgan Stanley was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial adviser in the consumer sector during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 by both value and volume, according to the latest financial advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform. An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Morgan Stanley achieved the leading position having advised on seven deals worth $51.6 billion. Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Morgan Stanley showcased improvement in both volume and value of deals advised by it during Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025. However, the growth was more prominent in terms of value primarily driven by its involvement in a single very high-value deal ($44.8 billion deal for the merger of Unilever’s foods business with McCormick). Interestingly, the other advisers that were also involved in this deal occupied the next three top spots in the value ranking chart and were significantly ahead of their peers.” Goldman Sachs occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $49 billion worth of deals, followed by Rothschild & Co with $46.7 billion, Citi with $44.8 billion whereas and Centerview Partners with $3.8 billion. Meanwhile, PWC occupied the second position in terms of volume with seven deals, followed by Goldman Sachs with six deals, Rothschild & Co with six deals and Raymond James Financial with five deals.   Legal Advisers Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and Baker McKenzie top M&A legal advisers in consumer sector during Q1 2026 Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and Baker McKenzie were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the consumer sector during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 by value and volume, respectively according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform. An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $46.2 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Baker McKenzie led in terms of volume by advising on a total of nine deals. Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “There was a slight improvement in deal volume for Baker McKenzie in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025 and its ranking by this metric improved from the second to the top position during this period. “Meanwhile, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, despite advising on much lesser number of deals, managed to lead by value in Q1 2026. The involvement in $44.8 billion deal for the merger of Unilever’s foods business with McCormick played a pivotal role in Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson securing the top spot by value. In fact, the next five advisers in the value ranking chart were also involved in this high-value deal.” Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $45.2 billion worth of deals, followed by Hogan Lovells with $44.9 billion whereas Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Clifford Chance and Sullivan & Cromwell jointly held the fourth position with each of them advising on one deal worth $44.8 billion. Meanwhile, Ropes & Gray occupied the second position in terms of volume with seven deals, followed by Kirkland & Ellis with seven deals, Greenberg Traurig with six deals and Latham & Watkins with five deals.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is pleased to announce today (Monday) the introduction of weekly expiries for 17 single stock option classes in two batches, on 15 June 2026 and 22 June 2026, respectively. Weekly stock options have become one of HKEX’s fastest-growing derivatives instruments. Since launching in November 2024, more than 36 million contracts have been traded, with weekly expiries consistently representing approximately 21 per cent of the volume of the corresponding single stock options products in 2026. With the launch of the 17 new weekly stock options, HKEX will expand its range in this short-dated product category to a total of 33 offerings. These new weekly stock options will supplement the current monthly contracts, providing investors with increased flexibility and additional instruments to help manage short-term market risks. Ten new weekly stock options that commence trading on 15 June ANTA Sports Products Limited (2020) ANA 200 Thursday, 18 June 2026 Friday, 26 June 2026 Zijin Gold International Company Limited (2259) ZJG 200 WuXi Biologics (Cayman) Inc. (2269) WXB 500 WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd. (2359) WXA 500 Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. (2899) ZJM 2,000 Laopu Gold Co., Ltd. (6181) LAO 100 Bilibili Inc. (9626) BLI 60 Akeso, Inc. (9926) AKS 1,000 Trip.com Group Limited (9961) TRP 150 Pop Mart International Group Limited (9992) POP 200   Seven new weekly stock options that commence trading on 22 June Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (16) SHK 1,000 Friday, 26 June 2026 Friday, 3 July 2026 Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (175) GAH 5,000 Li Auto Inc. (2015) LAU 200 Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Company Limited (2382) SNO 1,000 China Life Insurance Company Limited (2628) CLI 1,000 XPeng Inc. (9868) PEN 200 NetEase, Inc. (9999) NTE 500   Details of new weekly stock options are available in the circular issued today. General stock options contract summaries are also available on the HKEX website.

This morning (April 27, 2026), the management of Rami Levy Real Estate opened trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, marking the company’s listing.  Rami Levy Real Estate is the largest company to have been public since the beginning of the year, with the highest capital raised, amounting to approximately NIS 521 million. It is the first company to issue shares in 2026, among eight new companies that have joined the Exchange since the beginning of the year. The company operates in the development, construction, ownership, and management of income-producing real estate assets in Israel, with an emphasis on commercial centers, shopping malls, logistics complexes, office buildings, hospitality, and mixed-use projects. In parallel, the company operates a dedicated residential development and urban renewal arm, which includes projects under construction, in planning, and in development across the country. As of the end of 2025, the total value of the group’s investment real estate amounted to approximately NIS 1.96 billion, in addition to approximately NIS 0.6 billion in land inventory for construction and residential units for sale.  In 2007, the real estate activity was separated from the retail activity of the Rami Levy Group. Over the years, the company developed a wide range of commercial centers and income-producing assets. Since 2020, the company expanded its activities into residential development, and in 2024 it entered the field of urban renewal. The company raised approximately NIS 521 million through the issuance of shares and warrants.  The company is expected to join the TA-Real Estate Index, the TA-Israel Yielding Real Estate Index, and the TA-200 Index.  Rami Levy, Chairman of Rami Levy Real Estate, said: “After years during which we developed the company’s real estate activity, the IPO marks a significant milestone in the life of the company, as we prepare for the next stage of growth that the company is expected to achieve in the coming years, in the field of commercial centers and income-producing assets, as well as in residential development. We will continue to act with commitment to creating long-term value and building a stable and leading company in its field.”  Moti Hazan, CEO of Rami Levy Real Estate, said: “Today we mark another significant stage in the company’s development, following its successful IPO this year and the beginning of its journey as a public company. We thank the investing public for the trust they have placed in us, in the company’s activities and in the business potential inherent in it in the coming years. The company’s development momentum is expected to lead to a doubling of our scope of activity, alongside expansion of our residential and urban renewal initiatives, including the construction of thousands of housing units across the country. On this occasion, I would like to thank all of the company’s employees, managers, and partners, whose dedication, professionalism, and ongoing commitment contributed to the success of the company and the IPO, and to reaching this important milestone. Together, we will continue to work with determination to implement the company’s strategic plans, create value for investors, and ensure continued long-term growth.”  Ron Klein, EVP, Head of the Economic Department at TASE, said: “We are pleased to see companies such as Rami Levy Real Estate joining the Exchange, together with 7 additional new companies since the beginning of the year. The income-producing real estate sub-sector in Israel currently includes 45 companies with a total market value of approximately NIS 220 billion. I believe we will continue to see additional real estate companies joining the Exchange in the near future. I wish the company’s management and employees great success as it becomes a public company, and continued growth and development through the Exchange.”  

Market capitalisation of approximately NOK 2.4 billion 19th listing on Euronext in 2026 Euronext today congratulates BEWI Invest ASA (ticker code: BINT) on its listing on Euronext Oslo Børs. This is the 19th listing on Euronext so far this year.  BEWI Invest is a Norwegian industrial owner with a long‑term and responsible investment perspective, with a portfolio primarily comprised of companies operating within industrials, real estate and seafood. The company supports the development of resilient and sustainable businesses that create long‑term value and contribute positively to local communities. Prior to the listing, KMC Properties ASA (ticker: KMCP) and BEWI Invest merged. BEWI Invest was listed through the admission to trading on 27 April 2026 of the 103 210 053 shares making up its equity. At opening today, the share price of the company was set at NOK 23 per share, giving the company a market capitalisation of NOK 2.4 billion on the day of listing. Bjørn André Ulstein, CEO of BEWI Invest, said: “The listing of the company on Euronext Oslo Børs is an important and planned milestone in our development of a long-term industrial owner and partner for businesses and owners within industrial production, real estate and seafood. The most important focus, however, is our continued commitment to developing our businesses and thereby create growth in underlying values and cash flows for the benefit of our portfolio companies, the company and our shareholders. Through improved access to capital, the listing gives the company a new and important tool to succeed in achieving these goals.”    About BEWI Invest ASA BEWI Invest is a long-term partner for companies in industrial production, real estate and seafood. Headquartered in Trondheim, the group operates across several countries and employs thousands of professionals committed to sustained profitable growth and value creation within its portfolio companies. Through active and responsible ownership, the Company maintains a long-term perspective with sustainability at the core. For more information: www.bewiinvest.com.

Euronext Athens welcomes the decision by STOXX to reclassify Greece to Developed Market status, marking another important milestone for the Greek capital market and confirming the significant progress achieved in recent years. The decision will come into effect on 21 September 2026. STOXX becomes the last major international index provider to recognise Greece as a Developed Market, following earlier decisions by the leading providers S&P Dow Jones, FTSE Russell and MSCI.  The decision reflects the sustained strengthening of Greece’s market ecosystem, liquidity, and international investor appeal, as well as the broader recovery and resilience of the Greek economy. The Developed Market classification is expected to further enhance the visibility of the Greek capital market among global investors and support broader participation from international institutional capital. Yianos Kontopoulos, CEO of Euronext Athens, said: “STOXX’s decision to reclassify Greece to Developed Market status is a strong vote of confidence in the progress of the Greek capital market and the Greek economy. With this announcement, all major international index providers now recognise Greece as a Developed Market. This is a highly symbolic and substantive achievement that reflects years of reforms, improved market quality and growing investor confidence. As part of Euronext, Euronext Athens is well positioned to build on this momentum, further strengthen liquidity, attract new capital and support the long-term growth of Greek companies.” For more information:https://www.stoxx.com/document/News/2026/April/stoxx_country_classification_result_2026.pdf 

ETFGI, reported today Active ETF Q1 net inflows were $US245.21 Billion which is up 70% from the prior record set in 2025 that assets of US$2.12 trillion invested in the actively managed ETFs industry globally at the end of March. During March the actively managed ETFs industry globally gathered net inflows of US$77.97 billion, bringing year-to-date net inflows to a record US$245.21 billion, according to ETFGI's March 2026 Active ETF and ETP industry landscape insights report, an annual paid-for research subscription service. ETFGI, is a 14 year old leading independent research and consultancy firm renowned for its expertise in subscription research, consulting services, 6 annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summits, and ETF TV on global ETF industry trends. (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted.) Highlights Assets of $2.12 Tn invested in the actively managed ETFs industry globally at the end of March, below the record high assets of $2.15 Tn at the end of February 2026. Assets increased 10.4% year-to-date in 2026, going from $1.92 Tn at the end of 2025 to $2.12 Tn. Net inflows of $77.97 Bn in March. YTD net inflows of $245.21 Bn are the highest on record, followed by YTD net inflows of $144.51 Bn in 2025, and the third highest record YTD net inflows of $71.23 Bn in 2024. 72nd month of consecutive net inflows. “During March the S&P 500 declined 4.98% in March and is down 4.33% year‑to‑date in 2026. Developed markets excluding the United States fell 10.99% in March but remained up 0.18% for the year. Within developed markets, Korea (‑24.15%) and Luxembourg (‑21.47%) recorded the largest declines during the month. Emerging markets declined 10.13% in March and were down 2.84% year‑to‑date. Egypt (‑19.42%) and South Africa (‑17.24%) experienced the steepest losses among emerging markets in March.” According to Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner, Founder, and Owner, ETFGI. Growth in assets in the actively managed ETFs industry as of end of March Source: ETFGI data sourced from ETF/ETP sponsors, exchanges, regulatory filings, Thomson Reuters/Lipper, Bloomberg, publicly available sources and data generated in-house. Note: “ETFs” are typically open-end index funds that provide daily portfolio transparency, are listed and traded on exchanges like stocks on a secondary basis as well as utilising a unique creation and redemption process for primary transactions. “ETPs” refers to other products that have similarities to ETFs in the way they trade and settle but they do not use a mutual fund structure. The use of other structures including grantor trusts, partnerships, notes and depositary receipts by ETPs can create different tax and regulatory implications for investors when compared to ETFs which are funds.   The actively managed ETFs industry globally has 4,969 products, with 6,754 listings, assets of $2.12 Tn, from 695 providers listed on 47 exchanges in 37 countries at the end of March. Dimensional is the largest active ETF provider globally by assets, with $271.66 bn, representing 12.8% market share. JPMorgan Asset Management ranks second with $264.15 bn and 12.4% market share, followed by iShares with $134.51 bn and 6.3% market share.  Collectively, the top three providers, out of 695, account for 31.6% of global active ETF AUM, while the remaining 692 providers each hold less than 6% market share. Net flows Highlights Actively managed ETFs listed globally gathered net inflows of $77.97 bn during March. Year‑to‑date net inflows reached $245.21 bn, the highest on record, surpassing the previous high of $144.51 bn in 2025 and the third‑highest record of $71.23 bn in 2024. Equity‑focused actively managed ETFs listed globally attracted $48.64 bn of net inflows in March, bringing year‑to‑date net inflows to $132.58 bn, well above the $73.64 bn recorded at the same point in 2025. Fixed income‑focused actively managed ETFs listed globally reported $23.08 bn of net inflows during March, lifting year‑to‑date net inflows through March 2026 to $94.26 bn, compared with $57.71 bn at the same point last year. Substantial inflows can be attributed to the top 20 active ETFs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $31.30 Bn during March. iShares Large Cap Core Active ETF (BLCR US) gathered $4.04 Bn, the largest individual net inflow.  Top 20 actively managed ETFs/ETPs by net new assets March 2026​ Source: ETFGI data sourced from ETF/ETP sponsors, exchanges, regulatory filings, Thomson Reuters/Lipper, Bloomberg, publicly available sources and data generated in-house. Note: This report is based on the most recent data available at the time of publication. Asset and flow data may change slightly as additional data becomes available.   Investors have tended to invest in Equity actively managed ETFs/ETPs during March.

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc (NYSE:BR) today announced plans to support groundbreaking work in financial literacy in Ireland. Supported by IDA Ireland, the project will enable Broadridge to explore how artificial intelligence can be used to simplify the language in financial disclosures and make investment products more accessible to Irish retail investors. “Ireland is a leading international centre for innovation in financial technology,” said Denis Curran, Head of International Financial Services, Emerging Business and Engineering & Green Economy at IDA Ireland. “We are delighted to support Broadridge in its mission to enhance financial literacy through the power of artificial intelligence. I wish the team at Broadridge every success with this innovative project.” This collaboration addresses a critical challenge facing Ireland's financial services sector. While Ireland hosts over €5 trillion in fund assets and is Europe's ETF powerhouse, retail investor participation remains low. Research shows that dense, jargon-heavy disclosures create a significant barrier, with only 18% of EU citizens demonstrating high financial literacy according to the European Commission's 2023 Eurobarometer Survey. “This partnership with IDA Ireland positions Broadridge at the centre of a national initiative to leverage technology to make sophisticated investment products genuinely accessible to retail investors,” said Stephen Johnston, Senior Country Officer, Ireland, at Broadridge. “We've analysed investment disclosures from the 50 largest UK asset managers and found that nearly half were written at an academic level that would be difficult for most retail investors to understand. Across Europe, around €14 trillion sits in household savings accounts. At a time when purchasing power is eroding due to inflation, too many of these savers lack clarity and confidence in how best to realise their investment potential. By applying AI to create plain-language communications while maintaining regulatory compliance and accuracy, we can measurably boost engagement and help move Irish savers from deposit accounts into long-term investments that can support their financial futures.” Broadridge's research project will investigate how AI-driven plain-English communications can transform complex fund documentation into clear and simple information that empowers everyday Irish savers to make informed investment decisions. The initiative aligns with both the European Commission's Financial Literacy Strategy and regulatory efforts such as the UK FCA's Consumer Composite Investment framework to deliver simplified, user-friendly disclosures. Broadridge’s Dublin team supports clients across Ireland’s financial services community, delivering a broad range of technology and operational solutions. With dedicated Dublin-based regulatory expertise, the team partners with leading global asset managers and fund administrators to navigate complex requirements, including PRIIPs, MiFID, Solvency II and the evolving UK–EU regulatory landscape. Results from the study will be shared with industry stakeholders and regulators to inform best practices.

GlobalData has announced the latest Financial and Legal Adviser League Tables in terms of the total value and volume of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals they advised on in the metals & mining sector during Q1 2026. Financial Advisers BMO Capital Markets top M&A financial adviser in metals & mining sector during Q1 2026 BMO Capital Markets was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial adviser in the metals & mining sector during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 by value as well as volume, according to the latest financial advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform. An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that BMO Capital Markets achieved the leading position having advised on five deals worth $8.7 billion. Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “There was an improvement in the total number of deals advised by BMO Capital Markets during Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025. Resultantly, it went ahead from occupying the 28th position by volume in Q1 2025 to top the chart by this metric in Q1 2026. “Similarly, in value ranking also, it was not among the top 10 in Q1 2025 but went ahead to lead in Q1 2026. The involvement in two billion-dollar deals* during Q1 2026 helped BMO Capital Markets to top the chart by value RBC Capital Markets occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $7 billion worth of deals, followed by Morgan Stanley with $5.6 billion, Bank of Nova Scotia with $5.5 billion and National Bank of Canada with $4.4 billion. Meanwhile, Moelis & Company occupied the second position in terms of volume with three deals, followed by RBC Capital Markets with two deals, Morgan Stanley with two deals and Bank of Nova Scotia with two deals. *Deals valued ≥ $1 billion Legal Advisers McCarthy Tetrault and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin top M&A legal advisers in metals & mining sector during Q1 2026 McCarthy Tetrault and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the metals & mining sector during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 by value and volume, respectively according to the latest legal advisers league table GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform. An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that McCarthy Tetrault achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $7.3 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin led in terms of volume by advising on a total of seven deals. Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, apart from leading by volume in Q1 2026, also gave close competition for the top position by value. While McCarthy Tetrault led the chart by value, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin missed the top spot by a whisker and occupied the second position by this metric with $7 billion in total deal value in Q1 2026. “Interestingly, both the firms advised on two billion-dollar deals* each during the quarter, which helped them solidify their leadership positions in terms of value during the quarter. Moreover, apart from leading by value in 2026, McCarthy Tetrault also occupied the second position by volume with five deals.” Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison occupied the third position in terms of value, by advising on $5.5 billion worth of deals, followed by Cassels Brock & Blackwell with $5.1 billion and Blake Cassels & Graydon with $4.5 billion. Meanwhile, Cassels Brock & Blackwell occupied the third position in terms of volume with five deals, followed by A&O Shearman with four deals and Blake Cassels & Graydon with three deals. *Deals valued ≥ $1 billion

Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) will hold its Sixty-Fifth (65th) Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at its corporate head office, 2–4 Customs Street, Lagos.According to the notice, shareholders will consider and, if deemed fit, approve the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, alongside the reports of the Directors, Auditors, Board Evaluation Consultants, and Audit Committee. The meeting will also deliberate on the declaration of a final dividend and the re-election of three Non-Executive Directors retiring by rotation: Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, Mrs. Ojinika Olaghere, and Dr. Okechukwu Itanyi.Other ordinary business items on the agenda include authorizing the Board to fix the remuneration of the external auditors, determining the remuneration of Managers, and electing members of the Statutory Audit Committee.As part of special business, shareholders will consider a proposed bonus issue of one new ordinary share for every three existing shares held as at the close of business on April 10, 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. The proposal also includes an increase in the Company’s share capital from ₦1,102,309,954 to ₦1,469,746,605, to accommodate the bonus shares and amendments to the Memorandum of Association to reflect the new capital structure.NGX Group stated that the AGM will be streamed live on its website and social media platforms to enable broader participation by shareholders and stakeholders unable to attend physically.

A major milestone in Euronext’s long-term commitment to Greece underlining confidence in the local talent pool and growing technology ecosystem Recruitment is underway, with a focus on building high-value capabilities in technology and market operations to have the centre fully operational by the end of 2026 Rebranding to Euronext Athens also completed earlier this week, marking a new chapter for the Greek capital market Euronext, the leading European capital market infrastructure, today inaugurated its Technology and Support Centre in Athens, accelerating its strategic expansion in Greece and reinforcing Athens’ role within its pan-European infrastructure. The inauguration was held in the presence of Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Greek Minister of Economy and Finance and President of the Eurogroup, and Roland Lescure, French Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy and  Digital Sovereignty, while France holds the Presidency of the G7 for 2026, alongside Stéphane Boujnah, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext, Camille Beudin, Chairman of Euronext Athens, and Yianos Kontopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of Euronext Athens. The event was also attended by ambassadors from all Euronext countries and representatives of the financial and business communities, reflecting the increasingly European dimension of Athens’ role within Euronext’s network.  The inauguration marks a concrete step in positioning Athens as a dual financial and technology hub in Europe. This milestone comes days after the completion of the rebranding of Athens Exchange Group to Euronext Athens, anchoring the Greek capital market within Euronext’s federal model and Europe’s largest liquidity pool. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Greek Minister of Economy and Finance, and President of the Eurogroup, said: “Euronext’s investment constitutes yet another tangible proof that Greece has made a strong return to the European forefront. The recent upgrade of the Greek stock exchange by MSCI to “developed market” status cements this trajectory. I recall that since 2013 Greece had been downgraded to an “emerging market.” In 2015, in the midst of the economic crisis, the stock exchange shut down for five weeks. This difficult period now belongs to the past. Today’s event is a clear signal that a new era is opening for the Greek economy. In this context, the strategy of Euronext, and the expansion of its presence through acquisitions, serves a core objective that we fully share: the creation of larger, stronger, and more competitive corporate entities at a European scale, as well as the facilitation of MnAs and the transition of businesses to greater size and scope.” Roland Lescure, French Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, said: “I am thrilled by Euronext's acquisition of the Athens Stock Exchange, this a strong step towards European integration. It reinforces our economic sovereignty by strengthening a European leading player and concretely advancing the Savings and Investment Union initiative championed by Greece and France in Brussels.” Stéphane Boujnah, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext, said: “Today marks a step change for Euronext in Greece. With the inauguration of our Technology and Support Centre and the completion of the rebranding to Euronext Athens, we are not only delivering on integration, but we are also scaling our ambition. Athens is becoming a strategic hub for both market infrastructure and technology, supporting our activities across Europe and reinforcing our long-term commitment to Greece.” The Athens Technology and Support Centre will support the development, operation and resilience of Euronext’s market infrastructure across multiple countries, strengthening the Group’s technology capabilities and diversifying its operational footprint in Europe. Built on Greece’s strong and growing talent base, the centre is already ramping up recruitment in high-value areas including software engineering, data and analytics, cybersecurity and market operations, with the objective of becoming fully operational by the end of 2026. The centre is also a key enabler of the ongoing integration of Euronext Athens into Euronext’s pan-European platform, with the migration to the Optiq® trading platform planned for June 2027 and post-trade integration by 2029. This roadmap will align Greece with Euronext’s single technology platform, single order book and unified liquidity pool, unlocking greater efficiency, resilience and cross-border access for market participants. Together, the rebranding to Euronext Athens and the inauguration of the Technology and Support Centre mark the beginning of a new phase for Greece within Euronext: one in which Athens is set to play a growing role as both a financial gateway and a technology hub for Europe. Caption: Roland Lescure, French Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Greek Minister of Economy and Finance and President of the Eurogroup, alongside Stéphane Boujnah, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext [Link to access additional pictures – Credits: Euronext Athens]

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced an interim final rule and interim final order related to activities of national banks and Federal savings associations. The interim final rule clarifies the longstanding powers under Federal law for national banks to charge certain fees, regardless of whether those fees are set by the bank or a third party. These preexisting powers under Federal law have recently come into question relative to the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA). The IFPA becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and would create a complex, potentially unworkable, and destabilizing standard for national banks, Federal savings associations, and the nation’s payment card systems. Further, such effects could be exacerbated to the extent other states impose similarly unworkable or conflicting standards. The OCC’s interim final order confirms that Federal law preempts the IFPA, expressly providing that national banks and Federal savings associations are neither subject to nor required to comply with this State law. These two OCC actions will help prevent the imminent negative effects of the State law’s application to OCC-regulated banks. They do not affect and are not in conflict with the applicability of any other Federal laws that do or may in the future apply to banks regarding payment card activities. Indeed, by appropriately applying preemption to the IFPA, it affirms the ability of the Federal government, including Congress, to set consistent standards governing payment card activities of national banks and Federal savings associations, including as to interchange fees. Comments on the interim final rule and interim final order are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Related Links Interim Final Rule: National Bank Non-Interest Charges and Fees (PDF) Interim Final Order: Order Preempting the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (PDF)

 New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul today released the following statement in response to the federal government’s lawsuit against New York for enforcing the state’s gambling laws in actions against prediction market platforms:   “Once again, this administration is prioritizing big corporations over consumers and New Yorkers’ best interests. New York’s gambling laws are designed to protect consumers, whether they are placing bets in a prediction market or a casino. When gambling platforms, including prediction markets, violate our laws, we will not hesitate to hold them accountable. We look forward to continuing to defend our laws in court.”  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today filed an amicus brief in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court confirming the CFTC’s exclusive jurisdiction over the U.S. commodity derivatives markets, including event contract markets commonly referred to as prediction markets. The brief was filed in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. KalshiEx LLC, No. SJC-13906. The filing in Massachusetts comes as a part of the CFTC’s broader effort to protect its jurisdiction over prediction markets from an ongoing campaign of state encroachment. “Some states continue to pursue ever-escalating, illegal enforcement actions against CFTC-regulated exchanges, despite rulings from multiple courts halting those efforts,” said Chairman Michael S. Selig. “Congress has entrusted the CFTC with the sole authority to regulate commodity derivatives markets, including prediction markets. To any state that seeks to nullify federal law and seize authority over these markets, I say again: we will see you in court.” The amicus brief outlines the history and structure of the Commodity Exchange Act and describes how the comprehensive scheme designed by Congress preempts state laws as applied to CFTC-regulated markets. The CFTC has previously filed lawsuits against Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, and New York, securing a temporary restraining order against state regulation of CFTC-regulated prediction markets in Arizona. The CFTC has also filed an amicus brief and argued that state laws are preempted before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. RELATED LINKS Filed Amicus Brief

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to halt the State of New York’s efforts to apply state gambling laws against CFTC-registered contract markets. New York has sought to enforce state laws against CFTC-registered entities through cease-and-desist letters and civil enforcement suits. In its complaint against New York, the CFTC seeks a declaratory judgment that federal law grants it exclusive authority to regulate event contracts and requests a permanent injunction preventing the state from enforcing preempted state laws against its registrants.  “CFTC-registered exchanges have faced an onslaught of state lawsuits seeking to limit Americans’ access to event contracts and undermine the CFTC’s sole regulatory jurisdiction over prediction markets. New York is the latest state to ignore federal law and decades of precedent by seeking to enforce state gambling laws against CFTC-registered exchanges,” said Chairman Michael S. Selig. “As I’ve said before, the CFTC will not allow overzealous state governments to undermine the agency’s longstanding authority over these markets.”  The CFTC’s action builds upon ongoing efforts to affirm its exclusive jurisdiction over CFTC-registered designated contract markets that offer trading in event contracts. It follows similar CFTC lawsuits in Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois. RELATED LINKS Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief: State of New York

At the end of the settlement date of April 15, 2026, short interest in 3,689 Nasdaq Global MarketSM securities totaled 16,579,123,734 shares compared with 16,513,796,397 shares in 3,694 Global Market issues reported for the prior settlement date of March 31, 2026. The mid-April short interest represents 2.71 days compared with 2.73 days for the prior reporting period. Short interest in 1,643 securities on The Nasdaq Capital MarketSM totaled 3,919,142,444 shares at the end of the settlement date of April 15, 2026, compared with 3,881,873,664 shares in 1,642 securities for the previous reporting period. This represents a 1.16 day average daily volume; the previous reporting period’s figure was 1.30. In summary, short interest in all 5,332 Nasdaq® securities totaled 20,498,266,178 shares at the April 15, 2026 settlement date, compared with 5,336 issues and 20,395,670,061 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This is 2.16 days average daily volume, compared with an average of 2.26 days for the prior reporting period. The open short interest positions reported for each Nasdaq security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is generally understood to mean the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller. For more information on Nasdaq Short interest positions, including publication dates, visit https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/quotes/short-interest or http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/short_interest.asp.