The integration is said to allow SKsoft clients to process international payments in more than 145 currencies across over 200 countries, while also gaining access to Corpay’s currency risk management services.  By consolidating payments and treasury functions into a single solution, the companies aim to enhance operational efficiency, visibility and control for enterprise users. “This partnership reflects Corpay’s continued investment and momentum within the Microsoft Dynamics space, strengthening our ERP strategy,” said Frank Mannarino, Vice President, Head of Channels & Alliances at Corpay Cross-Border Solutions.  “We are excited to partner with a marquee partner like SKsoft to continue to bring value to the ecosystem, providing shared clients with the seamless global payment and treasury capabilities they need to scale confidently.” SKsoft, which specialises in embedded banking and treasury automation for Dynamics 365, said the collaboration would remove the complexity of managing multiple global banking systems.  “By integrating Corpay’s proven cross-border payment capabilities, we are giving our clients the ability to initiate and manage international payments directly from Dynamics 365, reducing costs, improving visibility, and eliminating the complexity of separate global banking systems,” said Aynsley Keller, Chief Operating Officer of SKsoft. The combined solution is available immediately to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management clients, offering faster settlement, expanded foreign exchange coverage and improved cash flow optimisation. The post Corpay and SKsoft Partner to Streamline Cross-Border Payments appeared first on LeapRate.

Developed by the firm’s Data, Analytics & Innovation team, the tools aim to combine advanced technology with Citi Wealth’s personalised client service model.  Advisor Insights is said to provide bankers and advisors with a customised dashboard carrying timely messages on market developments, portfolios and current events, including commentary from Citi Wealth’s Chief Investment Office. AskWealth, meanwhile, is a generative AI-powered assistant that delivers instant answers across Citi’s Wealth ecosystem.  Citi explained that the tool is designed to help advisors and service teams resolve client queries quickly while providing access to market research and investment insights. “Advisor Insights and AskWealth are pivotal steps forward in the expansion of Citi Wealth’s AI, data and technological capabilities,” said Joe Bonanno, Head of Data, Analytics & Innovation.  “These platforms will save hours of time for our advisors, bankers and service teams while reinforcing for clients the personal and high-touch experience that is a tradition at our firm.” Advisor Insights is currently being piloted with advisors in Citigold and Citi Private Client North America, with plans to expand to Citi Private Bankers and international markets in late 2025 and early 2026. AskWealth is now available globally after its launch in Asia. “These new AI-powered tools are gamechangers for Citi Wealth,” said Andy Sieg, Head of Wealth. “They give our advisors sharper insights, streamline how we work, and open new possibilities for serving clients with speed and precision.” The post Citi Wealth Unveils AI-Powered Tools for Client Communications appeared first on LeapRate.

The alliance will see BMG leverage StoneX Payments’ technology platform and settlement network, giving it access to over 375 correspondent banks and payment endpoints across 180 countries.  The partnership is designed to improve payment efficiency, reduce reliance on intermediary banks, and expand access to underserved markets. StoneX Payments will facilitate foreign exchange and payment processing in more than 140 currencies through its API-driven system, including its new proprietary payment engine, XPay.  The integration is expected to enable faster settlement times, greater transparency, and validation of transaction data for BMG’s international clients. Thiago Vieira, global head of StoneX Payments, said the partnership “is another meaningful step on our journey to build products and services that facilitate money movement and payment distribution for international organisations globally.” “Through our proven infrastructure, and powered by our state-of-the-art, proprietary new payment engine, XPay, we now have the privilege of serving over 85 banking institutions,” added Vieira. Niels van Tol, head of business development at BMG, commented that the “represents a substantial evolution in the services we offer to our clients.” He added that StoneX’s global network and innovative infrastructure will allow the company to broaden its liquidity management capabilities with new currencies and “deliver enhanced flexibility and transparency in international transactions.” The post StoneX Partners with Bank Mendes Gans to Boost Cross-Border Payments appeared first on LeapRate.

The firm’s analysis of IvyDB Europe trading volumes between 2010 and 2025 is said to show that while the American options market has expanded dramatically, Europe’s story has been more restrained.  “It appears that European options markets tell a more subdued story over the past 15 years, compared to the U.S.,” the report noted. Among the regional standouts, the Netherlands and Denmark emerged as clear growth winners.  Dutch trading volumes have risen steadily, supported by retail investor participation, new product listings, and exchange-driven innovation.  Denmark’s market saw a sharper trajectory, with activity accelerating from 2020 onwards during the pandemic-era retail trading boom. By contrast, Spain and the UK have been in consistent decline. OptionsMetrics said Spain’s market is shown to have suffered a volatile but downward path, with occasional spikes during stress events before settling at low levels.  Meanwhile, they noted that the UK has seen a steadier fall, sliding from peaks in the mid-2010s to more modest volumes today. Germany, once weakened by a significant dip, has managed to climb back to previous levels. Meanwhile, larger markets such as France, Italy and Belgium have maintained relatively steady activity, punctuated by spikes during periods of market turbulence. The OptionsMetrics findings highlight Europe’s fragmented options landscape, where only a handful of markets have achieved growth momentum, leaving the region trailing the US in overall derivatives expansion. The post European Options Markets Lag US Growth: Dutch and Danish Trading Leading Gains appeared first on LeapRate.

Until now, customers wanting to trade crypto were required to open and use a separate Webull Pay account via a standalone app.  With the latest update, Webull has integrated those functions, enabling investors to manage their Webull Pay accounts and trade crypto alongside stocks and options in one place. The platform now supports 24/7 trading of more than 50 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana. Anthony Denier, U.S. chief executive and group president at Webull, said: “Our mission has always been to deliver a streamlined, user-centric investing experience.  “By reintegrating crypto trading into the Webull app, we are making it easier for customers to access and manage their entire portfolio, whether they’re trading stocks, options, or digital assets. This update removes friction and provides a seamless centralized platform for navigating all investment opportunities.” Stephen Yip, chief executive of Webull Pay, stated that “cryptocurrencies have become an essential part of today’s diversified investment strategies,” and the firm is “excited to again offer crypto trading through Webull to deliver a more unified and convenient experience that reflects how modern investors want to manage their portfolios.” At present, crypto trading through Webull is available only in the US and Brazil, with plans to expand to additional markets in the coming months. The post Webull Brings Back Crypto Trading for US Investors appeared first on LeapRate.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said Equity Trustees oversaw the investment of about A$160 million in retirement savings into Shield across 2023 and 2024.  The fund had “no track record,” ASIC said, and thousands of members ultimately saw their balances reduced. ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said: “Instead of acting as an effective gatekeeper for its members’ retirement savings, ASIC alleges Equity Trustees allowed thousands of members invest to in Shield which had no track record. Those members ultimately saw their super balances eroded.” She added that the case was part of ASIC’s broader efforts to safeguard superannuation savings: “Superannuation trustees play a critical role helping people save for their retirement. We expect them to do so with care and skill and put the interests of their members first.” ASIC alleges that Equity Trustees failed to exercise the diligence expected of a prudent trustee, act in the best financial interests of members, and ensure financial services were provided “efficiently, honestly and fairly.” Court noted the action was “the first action against a superannuation trustee in relation to this complex set of investigations,” warning that further cases were likely. ASIC is seeking declarations and civil penalties. The post ASIC Sues Equity Trustees Over Alleged Superannuation Due Diligence Failures appeared first on LeapRate.

The companies said in a press release that the collaboration expands their partnership from blockchain to AI-enabled global cash management, aiming to cut foreign exchange costs and improve risk management for Ant International and its clients.  Both companies are participants in the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s PathFin.ai programme, which seeks to advance AI adoption in financial services. The joint system is said to enable real-time data exchange and AI-powered FX forecasting, with Standard Chartered stating the integration allows it to predict Ant’s FX exposures with more than 90 per cent accuracy.  This, in turn, is expected to help manage risk more effectively and reduce clients’ hedging costs.  Falcon now forecasts Ant’s cashflow and FX exposures on hourly, daily and weekly bases, processing more than 60 per cent of Ant’s FX-related transactions and lowering FX costs by up to 60 per cent. Madhu Menon, Global Head of SC PrismFX Sales at Standard Chartered, said: “Our latest collaboration with Ant International sets the path for an innovative approach to managing and hedging FX risk and costs for Ant International and their clients globally.” Kelvin Li, General Manager of Platform Tech at Ant International, added: “By integrating Standard Chartered’s robust banking capabilities with Ant International’s innovative solutions, we are able to enhance the way businesses manage their global liquidity and FX strategy.” The partners said they would continue to expand their cooperation as cross-border transaction volumes rise. The post Standard Chartered and Ant International Unveil AI-Powered FX and Treasury Solution appeared first on LeapRate.

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The purchase price is comprised of $135 million at closing, which is expected in the fourth quarter of this year, subject to certain closing conditions, and up to an additional $65 million in potential future earn-outs. The transaction includes intelliflo’s U.S. subsidiaries, RedBlack and intelliflo Portfolio.  The company said intelliflo’s US-based subsidiaries will be established as a standalone business called RedBlack, run by a separate management team. Founded in 2004, London-headquartered intelliflo serves more than 30,000 professionals across 2,600 advisory firms, supporting the management of about £450 billion in client assets.  Its platform delivers tools for client onboarding, financial planning, compliance, and reporting, and integrates with over 120 third-party applications. Carlyle said its investment would help intelliflo expand in the UK and Australia. Equity financing will be provided by Carlyle Europe Technology Partners V, a €3 billion fund focused on technology investments. Fernando Chueca, managing director at Carlyle, said: “intelliflo is a mission-critical software provider to the UK’s wealth management ecosystem, with a deeply embedded and loyal customer base. We are excited to partner with Nick, Bryan, and the team to unlock the company’s full potential and deliver a new stage of growth.” Nick Eatock, intelliflo’s chief executive and founder, said Carlyle’s backing would enable the company to continue building innovative solutions for advisers in its core markets. Evercore advised Invesco, with HSF Kramer as legal adviser. Carlyle was advised by Gibson Dunn, with due diligence provided by Altman Solon, PwC, Oliver Wyman and Ringstone. The post Carlyle to Acquire intelliflo from Invesco in $200m Deal appeared first on LeapRate.

Revenue and other income rose 33 per cent year-on-year to HK$14.08 billion, while profit attributable to shareholders climbed 39 per cent to HK$8.52 billion.  The exchange operator said core business revenue grew 34 per cent, supported by record volumes in the cash equities and stock options markets, alongside higher depository fees and increased net investment income. Net investment income from corporate funds rose to HK$1.04 billion, compared with HK$901 million a year earlier, boosted by an exchange gain from a stronger U.S. dollar against the Hong Kong dollar.  Operating expenses increased 6 per cent, reflecting a HK$90 million fine imposed by the UK Financial Conduct Authority linked to the 2022 nickel market events. Excluding one-off items, costs rose 1 per cent. Chief executive Bonnie Y Chan said: “HKEX started 2025 from a position of strength, reporting the Group’s best-ever half-yearly revenue and profit. Volumes in the Cash Market, Derivatives Market and Stock Connect all reached record half-yearly highs and we regained our position as the world’s No.1 IPO venue by funds raised.” Chan added that HKEX is pressing ahead with initiatives to strengthen its markets in the second half, including a shorter settlement cycle, expanded paperless listing regime, and updated IPO price discovery requirements. The post HKEX Posts Record Half-Year Profit as IPO Market Rebounds appeared first on LeapRate.

The collaboration will centre on tokenised real-world assets, tokenised funds and regulated stablecoins, drawing on Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to facilitate secure, compliant cross-chain transactions.  Use cases under development include tokenisation of assets such as real estate and bonds, bringing net asset value data for funds onchain, and enabling payment-versus-payment (PvP) settlement for foreign exchange and cross-border transactions.  Chainlink’s Proof of Reserve will also be used to provide transparency around stablecoin backing. A recent survey by SBI Digital Asset Holdings is said to have found that 76% of over 50 financial institutions surveyed intend to invest in tokenised securities to benefit from reduced costs and faster settlement, though the absence of institutional-grade infrastructure was highlighted as a key barrier to broader adoption. “It has been great working with the SBI team, they are one of the most forward-looking and technically advanced groups in the blockchain industry,” said Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink.  “SBI’s choice to rely on the Chainlink standard for their digital asset transactions shows that the security/reliability, compliance features, and cross-border connectivity of Chainlink are what is needed to do high-value institutional transactions.” Yoshitaka Kitao, chairman and chief executive of SBI Holdings, said: “With our combined strengths, we are delighted to be working together on developing groundbreaking, secure, compliance-focused solutions … that accelerate the widespread adoption of digital assets in Japan and the region.” The post SBI Group Partners with Chainlink to Advance Institutional Digital Asset Adoption appeared first on LeapRate.

Between April 2020 and August 2023, USBI reportedly did not submit 42 SARs because it applied an incorrect monetary threshold when assessing suspicious transactions.  The firm used the $25,000 reporting threshold applicable to banks instead of the $5,000 threshold required for broker-dealers.  FINRA added that as a result, activity involving account intrusions, identity theft and internet scams went unreported. The regulator said the error reflected shortcomings in USBI’s anti-money laundering policies and procedures, in violation of its rules.  Broker-dealers must have systems capable of detecting and reporting transactions that meet the $5,000 threshold, whereas banks operate under a higher limit in some cases. The problem is said to have stemmed from a centralised compliance process across USBI and its banking affiliate, which led to the misapplication of the bank standard to brokerage accounts.  USBI discovered the mistake in August 2023 after reviewing a separate FINRA enforcement action. The firm then undertook remedial steps, including a six-year review of its reporting practices, retroactively filing the missing SARs, and updating internal procedures and staff training. FINRA noted USBI’s cooperation and prompt self-reporting in determining sanctions. The firm agreed to settle without admitting or denying the findings. The post FINRA Fines U.S. Bancorp Investments $500,000 Over Reporting Failures appeared first on LeapRate.

The company announced that the ETFs will debut on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Taiwan Stock Exchange on 18 September.  The move is expected to give investors in Japan and Taiwan easier mutual access to each other’s capital markets while diversifying investment opportunities. In Japan, Nomura will introduce the “NEXT FUNDS TIP FactSet Taiwan Innovative Technology 50 Index Exchange Traded Fund” (code: 412A, nickname: NF Taiwan Tech 50 ETF).  The fund will track the TIP FactSet Taiwan Innovative Technology 50 Index, which selects companies that generate most of their revenues from the technology sector.  Nomura explained that eligible stocks are chosen based on factors including research and development activity, stock price momentum and profitability, before narrowing down to the top 50 by market capitalisation. At the same time, Nomura Asset Management Taiwan will list the “NEXT FUNDS – Nomura TOPIX Feeder ETF” (code: 009812) in Taipei.  The fund is designed to track the performance of the TOPIX Total Return Index, providing Taiwan investors with exposure to the largest ETF in Japan, the NEXT FUNDS TOPIX ETF. Nomura Asset Management, which listed its first ETF in Japan in 1995, manages more than ¥40 trillion ($265 billion) in ETFs as of July, accounting for 43% of Japan’s ETF market by assets under management and the largest share in Asia. The post Nomura to Launch First Cross-Listed ETFs in Japan and Taiwan appeared first on LeapRate.