Gold fell as much as 6% to near $5,000 per ounce on Tuesday, March 3, its steepest single-day decline in a month, in what looked like a jarring paradox: the precious metal sold off violently on the same day that the US-Israel strikes on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz closure were still dominating headlines. Wednesday, March 4, brought a partial recovery, with gold bouncing +2% to near $5,200, as the market digested what Tuesday's sell-off was really about. Safe havens, it turns out, are not immune to the macro consequences of the very events that trigger demand for them. In this article, I will examine why gold is falling, analyzing the XAU/USD chart and checking the newest gold price predictions, based on my over a decade's experience as an analyst and retail inwestor.Follow me on X for real-time gold market analysis: @ChmielDkWhy Gold Is Falling? The Iran War ParadoxThe explanation for Tuesday's sell-off is counterintuitive but analytically precise. Prakash Bhudia, Chief Growth Officer at Deriv, articulated the mechanism that most commentators missed: "Gold didn't fall on Tuesday in spite of the conflict, it fell because of it. The war drove oil higher, which pushed inflation expectations up, which pushed rate cuts off the table, which strengthened the dollar, which crushed gold. The safe-haven bid was real. The macro consequence of the thing that triggered it was bigger."That chain reaction is visible in the data. Four factors converged simultaneously on Tuesday to overwhelm the geopolitical safe-haven premium:Dollar surge: The US dollar strengthened sharply as oil-driven inflation expectations reset the interest rate outlook, and a stronger dollar directly pressures dollar-denominated goldFed rate cut repricing: Markets moved to pricing in an 80% probability of just one 25 basis point cut in 2026, mostly in September, versus earlier expectations of multiple cuts - a devastating shift for a non-yielding assetUS 10-year yield back above 4%: Rising bond yields attract capital away from gold toward fixed income, compressing the opportunity cost argument that drove the bull marketMargin calls from equity crash: The Dow Jones fell as much as 1,200 points on Tuesday before recovering, triggering margin calls that forced portfolio liquidations, and gold, being one of the most liquid profitable positions in many portfolios, was sold to cover losses elsewhereSpot gold fell as much as 6% to nearly $5,018, while gold futures declined a still-steep 4.41% to $5,088.16 by end of session. Silver simultaneously plunged almost 12% to under $80, as silver's extreme volatility relative to gold continued to play out exactly as outlined earlier this week.Gold Price Technical Analysis: Nothing Structural Has ChangedAs shown on my chart, Tuesday's dramatic session did not break any meaningful structural level. Gold stopped, as I identified, at the psychological $5,000 support, which held on a closing basis despite the intraday dip below it. The metal is now bouncing +2% Wednesday to near $5,200, confirming that buyers defended this level.The overall picture on my chart is the same consolidation range that has defined gold for weeks. The lower boundary is the 50-day EMA together with the $4,850 level, which also coincides with the mid-February lows.The upper boundary is the January 28 peak near $5,400, above which gold has not yet closed on a daily basis, the January 29 spike to $5,600 was briefly tested intraday but the session closed below it, confirming that level as resistance. The same pattern repeated on March 2, when gold approached that zone briefly before retreating hard.Maksymilian Bączkowski, analyst and trader at Comparic.pl, provided a precise options-market perspective: "Analysis of GLD indicates significant reshuffling in market positioning after the recent price decline. The total Gamma Exposure for GLD is currently 1.32M, which at a price of 472.85 suggests the market is in a relatively stable zone, though with a clear dominance of call gamma above the current price."The key levels on my chart from top to bottom:Even if gold were to break below the current $4,850-$5,000 support zone, my chart shows a series of important defences before any structural damage is done. $4,550 and then $4,360 represent the peaks tested at the end of last year. Below those, the 200-day EMA currently runs near $4,100, expanding into a broader support zone around $4,000-$3,900, the area that coincides with the October-November 2025 lows.I will only change my bullish stance on gold if price breaks below $4,000. That level is currently about 20% below where we are trading. Everything between $5,200 and $4,000 remains within the structural bull market's correction range as far as my analysis is concerned.Tuesday's sell-off exposed something analysts have been flagging in gold price prediction discussions throughout 2026: in the current environment, safe havens are subject to violent swings in ways they historically were not.Gold Price Predictions 2026: Institutions Still Bullish Despite VolatilityThe Fibonacci projections pointing to $6,100-$7,300 that I outlined in February have not changed mathematically. What has changed is the timeline and the volatility around the path. The institutional consensus for year-end 2026 remains firmly above current levels, with the key question being how many 4-6% sessions must be absorbed along the way.This is precisely why ANZ raised its gold forecast to $5,800 for Q2 2026 even after the February selloff. The structural demand from central banks and institutions absorbs these corrections over time, but the short-term path includes sessions exactly like Tuesday's.The WGC's downside scenario of $3,360, which I noted aligns closely with my own $3,300-$3,440 support zone identified from April-August 2025 peaks, represents the reflation shock case where the Fed is forced to hike rather than cut. Given Tuesday's rate cut repricing, that scenario is no longer purely theoretical. It remains, however, a tail risk rather than a base case.CMC Markets' move toward physical precious metals business amid exactly this kind of volatility underscores that institutional appetite for gold exposure remains structurally intact, the demand is there, the volatility is simply the price of admission.What Happens Next: $5,000 Must HoldWednesday's +2% recovery to near $5,200 is constructive but not decisive. As shown on my chart, the immediate question is whether gold can consolidate above $5,000 and build a base for a recovery toward the $5,400 resistance zone, or whether Tuesday's sell-off has introduced enough uncertainty to retest the $4,850 support.The NFP report on Friday is the next major macro catalyst. A weak print would weaken the dollar, ease rate cut fears, and provide meaningful support for gold. A strong number would reinforce the "higher for longer" narrative that crushed gold on Tuesday and potentially reopen the $4,850 test.Geopolitics remain the wildcard. The conflict that initially triggered gold's rise to $5,400 is still active and unresolved. If escalation resumes, the safe-haven bid returns, but Tuesday showed that the macro transmission mechanism (oil, inflation, dollar, rates) can override safe-haven demand even during active military conflict. That is the new reality of trading gold in 2026.My structural stance is unchanged: I remain a bull. The $5,000 level held. The 200 EMA is 20% below current prices. The institutions backing this metal with $6,000+ year-end targets have not moved. Tuesday was a violent reminder of what this market can do in a single session, not a signal to abandon the thesis.FAQ, Gold Price AnalysisWhy is gold falling?Gold fell 4-6% on Tuesday despite ongoing US-Israel strikes on Iran because the war's macro consequences overwhelmed the safe-haven bid. As Prakash Bhudia of Deriv explained, the conflict drove oil higher, which pushed inflation expectations up, which reduced Fed rate cut expectations to just one 25 basis point cut in 2026, which strengthened the dollar and crushed gold. Simultaneously, the Dow Jones fell 1,200 points, triggering margin calls that forced gold liquidations. How low can gold go in 2026?As shown on my chart, gold's immediate support zone is $4,850 (50 EMA plus mid-February lows), followed by $4,550 and $4,360 (late 2025 highs). The 200-day EMA currently runs near $4,100, expanding into a broader $4,000-$3,900 support zone coinciding with October-November 2025 lows. I only turn bearish below $4,000, which is currently approximately 20% below current prices. The World Gold Council's downside scenario targets $3,360 in a reflation shock case.Will gold recover after Tuesday's crash?Wednesday's +2% bounce to near $5,200 is the first sign of recovery. My chart shows that as long as $4,850 holds, the bull structure is intact and a recovery toward the $5,400 resistance remains the base case. The NFP report Friday is the next major catalyst, a weak print would support gold through dollar weakness and rate cut re-pricing. Major institutional forecasts including JP Morgan at $6,300, Goldman Sachs at $6,000+, and ANZ at $5,800 remain unchanged.Is gold still a safe haven?Yes. gold remains a long-term store of value and central bank reserve asset, with central banks buying at record levels throughout 2025-2026. However, in the short term, gold is vulnerable to margin call liquidations, dollar strength, and the paradoxical macro consequences of the geopolitical events that trigger safe-haven demand. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Leverate said interest from existing MetaTrader brokers has climbed sharply since it began marketing a managed “ecosystem” around MT4 and MT5, leaning on a three-month free-trial offer that removes setup fees and other upfront charges.The brokerage-technology vendor revealed to FinanceMagnates.com that inbound interest from established MT4/MT5 brokers has surged by more than 400% since the campaign started less than two months ago, while sales rose 76% over the same period. Pricing Pressure Builds in Broker TechThe promotion is an extension of Leverate’s recent pricing moves in a crowded market for retail FX and CFD infrastructure, where brokers often buy bundles that can include platform hosting, CRM, liquidity connectivity, risk tools, back-office systems, and payments.When Leverate first launched its three-month free-access offer for the MT4/MT5 stack in January, the move was seen as a response to intensifying competition, with rivals also pushing bundled infrastructure packages to lock in brokers.A month later, the company extended its no-upfront-cost approach further, rolling out a tiered "free-to-start" model for its broader CFD brokerage tech that ties pricing to the number of live accounts rather than revenue or volume benchmarks.Leverate, which has operated in brokerage technology for nearly two decades, is among a group of vendors trying to reduce friction for brokers that want to launch, switch providers, or renegotiate commercial terms. Many providers still charge setup fees and monthly platform costs, leaving brokers to weigh migration risk against price.Leverate Cites Higher MT5 Upsell DemandAlongside the inbound-interest and sales figures, Leverate said demand among MT5-licensed brokers for additional solutions has doubled since the campaign began, which it framed as a shift toward more managed, add-on infrastructure around MetaTrader.The company also claimed its MT4/MT5 solution webpage is now one of the three most-visited pages on its site. Leverate did not share traffic totals, time periods, or how it defines "solution page" visits versus other pages.Leverate said multiple brokers have already gone live on the offering within weeks of the launch and that "the queue behind them is growing." It did not name clients or say how many firms are in implementation.Free Trial Remains CenterpieceLeverate has positioned the free trial as a full-production test, not a limited preview. Shmulik Kordova, Leverate's chief operating officer, said: "We believe so strongly in our solution that we're willing to let brokers experience it fully before asking for any commitment. Three months is enough time to see real results, real clients onboarded, real trades executed, real profits generated."Leverate is not the only vendor pushing bundled MetaTrader infrastructure. B2Broker has been active on the same front, teaming up with Your Bourse to offer turnkey packages combining liquidity, risk management, and trading platforms, while Match-Trade Technologies markets tiered MT4/MT5 white-label bundles aimed at different broker profiles.The company did not detail what happens commercially after the trial ends, including how pricing is structured for brokers that continue or whether any trial users are locked into minimum terms.Broader Product Push Spans New SegmentsLeverate's MetaTrader push sits alongside other product lines it has been marketing to brokers. In late February, the company opened a prediction-markets platform to brokers, citing an 85% monthly retention figure while regulatory classification questions in parts of the industry remain unresolved. Ran Strauss, Leverate's CEO and co-founder, added: "Our ecosystem has been refined and proven over 19 years in the industry. We're removing technological hesitation and enabling brokers to operate live, in real market conditions, before committing to scale."Earlier, it partnered with Level2 and Convrs to add no-code algorithmic trading automation to its platform, as FinanceMagnates.com exclusively reported. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Doing More with Less on Crypto RegulationThis column has discussed the current US administration’s infatuation with cryptocurrency at various points over the last nine months, noting how every pronouncement from the government and regulators has included gushing praise for Trump’s efforts to make the country the most crypto-friendly jurisdiction on the planet.One of the regular lines is that the US has become the safest and easiest place in the world to trade digital assets. But recent events at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should not fill investors with confidence.The head of the CFTC has confirmed that the regulator is finalising approval for the trading of crypto perpetual futures and is working with the SEC on policies for other digital assets.Read more: Has Europe Killed Crypto Perps Even before It Started?But, as always, the announcement came with a pop at the previous US administration, with Mike Selig stating that “the prior administration drove a lot of these firms and the liquidity offshore” while noting that an announcement on ‘true’ professional futures was coming soon.Selig said the two regulators were collaborating to create a taxonomy for crypto assets that should provide clarity around the definition of a security. “Part of that starts with our existing derivatives markets,” he said, claiming that many of these firms want to move on-chain.However, all this is happening in the wake of the CFTC decimating its Chicago office, which has responsibility for complex enforcement actions. It was revealed last month that all but one of the 20 enforcement attorneys employed at the office had been released, with the final remaining member leaving shortly afterwards.One of the attorneys was quoted as saying that the move could be linked to the office’s success in securing large settlements from a number of leading crypto exchanges. In a statement, the CFTC said the “Division of Enforcement remains active and fully capable of executing its mission”.Of course, in a scenario reminiscent of an episode of the classic UK political comedy The Thick of It, where a minister’s political advisers distil feedback from a focus group down to the views of a single person who did not even provide honest responses, there is little danger of anyone else on the CFTC commission expressing concern about current policy, since the other four places on the commission are currently vacant.Small Is Beautiful When It Comes to UK StocksData from Aberdeen Investments suggests that UK small caps yielded more than large caps in January, the first time this has happened since the 2000s.Looking at the bottom 10% of the UK main market by market capitalisation, UK small caps were yielding 3.4% on average in January, compared to around 3% for UK large caps. This indicates that investor sentiment towards the smaller end of the UK equity market is beginning to improve following a year of strong returns in the large cap segment, which was one of the best-performing major asset classes globally in 2025.UK stocks Thursday: FTSE 100 +0.19%, FTSE 250 +0.61%, FTSE All-Share +0.25%, FTSE SmallCap +0.33%, FTSE AIM UK 50 -0.04%. Gains led by mid- and small-cap segments, while the AIM index edged slightly lower#DAX #CAC40 #IBEX35 #EuroStoxx50 pic.twitter.com/SZ20fhT2Ir— Rymond_Inc (@rymondIncKenya) September 18, 2025According to Abby Glennie, manager of the Aberdeen UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust and Aberdeen UK Smaller Companies Fund, UK small caps now share many of the same attributes that made large caps so compelling a year ago, but with potentially stronger growth characteristics.She observes that valuations for UK smaller companies currently stand at a roughly 25% discount to large caps — a gap that is wide by historical standards — and that income dynamics have shifted meaningfully for small caps, potentially broadening their appeal to income-focused investors.Read more: How CFD Brokers Can Capture UK's £10–£50 Micro-Investing Trend in 2026Ben Ritchie and Rebecca Maclean, investment managers at Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust, note that faster-growing medium and small companies would be expected to trade at a lower yield than their more mature and slower-growing large cap peers, which they refer to as a telling sign of the value available in this part of the market.Investors have started to recognise this value since the start of the year, with the FTSE 250 and Small Cap indices catching up with large cap performance.Growing momentum behind the view that there are other places to invest beyond US equities is welcome news for overlooked markets such as the UK, and for its small and mid-cap sectors in particular.A Practical Solution to an ‘Artificial’ DilemmaDiscussion of AI investment often focuses on identifying the best time to exit a market that has spooked more than a few observers who are concerned that we are heading for a downturn.Analysts searching for clues to the future direction of a market often refer to stock valuations (specifically their prices in relation to profits, sales or other financial metrics), but this can be a blunt instrument.As previously noted, US tech sector valuations remain significantly below the peaks reached during the dotcom bubble.Another potential indicator of an overheating market is the comparative performance of various stock categories. Those who were around in the late 1990s will recall that unprofitable new stocks rose sharply in value alongside stocks of companies with little or no track record of revenue generation.This extended period of exceptional performance from companies that have yet to become cash flow positive has not yet been replicated in the AI space, even though there are several companies in this position.One way to monitor signs of a slowdown in AI expenditure by hyperscalers is to keep an eye on their financial reports and analyse comments made during earnings calls — a task that is, ironically, made much easier by artificial intelligence tools that can sift through large volumes of data to detect patterns.Some analysts have taken this a stage further by looking at what the suppliers (and the suppliers of the suppliers) of companies such as Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and Oracle are saying to gain a broader picture of demand. Any drop in order volumes would point to issues before any useful information is forthcoming from the hyperscalers. This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

For the global financial elite, "The East" is no longer just a destination for capital allocation; it has become a benchmark for sophisticated FinTech infrastructure and standardized professional talent.Founded by Wei Sheng, a former retail trader who transformed his personal journey into a structured ecosystem, Traderpreneur Xcellence (TX) has emerged as one of Malaysia’s most structured trading education ecosystems — illustrating how Asia is redefining the way financial talent is cultivated and scaled.At the center of this transition is Malaysia—emerging as a pioneer leading FinTech institution—and the "Traderpreneur Excellence" ecosystem, which is redefining how human capital is scaled through structured, technology-driven systems.The Structural Case for Asia: A Demographic and Digital Inflection PointAsia’s rise is not speculative—it is structural. Southeast Asia is home to over 680 million people, with one of the youngest and most digitally native populations in the world. Retail trading participation across the region has grown at double-digit rates annually, fueled by:Rapid FinTech adoption across mobile-first platforms.Increasing access to global markets including FX, indices, commodities, and crypto.A rising middle class seeking alternative income streams.Expanding digital financial penetration across emerging economies.According to recent industry data from IBS Intelligence, Asia is set to capture nearly half of the global FinTech market by 2025. Within this landscape, Malaysia stands as a pioneer, with mobile-first adoption rates—such as e-wallet usage—now exceeding traditional banking footprints. For global institutional leaders, this is not just a growth market—it is a demographic tailwind that will shape the next decade of financial participation.The Regulatory Alpha: Why Malaysia is the Modern BlueprintInstitutional investors and global leaders prioritize stability and clarity above all else. Malaysia’s recent ascent as a FinTech powerhouse is the result of a deliberate, progressive regulatory environment. Through the initiatives of Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission, the nation has built a "safe-haven" for financial innovation that mirrors the rigor of Western markets while maintaining the agility of a growth economy.TX’s Structural Advantage: A Data-Driven Talent EngineWhile macro opportunity creates the backdrop, competitive advantage determines who captures value. TX’s ecosystem is built on measurable, compounding data infrastructure. Over the past three years, TX has accumulated thousands of structured trading behavior data points, consistent AI Insight usage metrics, and capital allocation data derived from its funded trader program.This creates a proprietary behavioral dataset on how Southeast Asian traders think, execute, and improve. For institutional partners, this represents:Real-time localized trading intelligence.Behavioral risk modeling inputs.Talent screening benchmarks and strategy consistency indicators.Proof of Systemization: Measurable Operational MetricsUnlike fragmented providers, TX operates within a structured growth architecture including defined student progression pathways (Beginner → Structured → Mentored → Funded) and capital deployment performance oversight.In the first two months alone, eight funded traders achieved successful payouts—not through speculation, but through consistent execution within internally structured capital allocation frameworks.This is evidence of system maturity being built to solve real-world friction for traders by providing:Performance Tracking: A clear, data-driven view of execution metrics to ensure institutional-grade accountability.Efficient Journaling: Streamlined data entry to reduce the "chaos" of manual tracking.Frictionless Mentorship: Direct booking of guidance to ensure traders remain aligned with core Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).Decision Fatigue Reduction: A structured environment that prioritizes execution over emotional bias.The Malaysia-Taiwan-UAE Corridor: A Global Talent IncubatorSince December 2025, TX has transitioned from a localized success story to a nationwide and international powerhouse, expanding with unprecedented speed. For an institutional leader, TX’s expansion is a lesson in strategic positioning.Rapid Global Expansion: TX has begun structured regional validation in Taiwan and UAE markets, testing cross-border adoption scalability. Since late 2025, the ecosystem has aggressively scaled beyond its borders to Taiwan and UAE, with a clear roadmap to anticipate and enter new global markets.Community Scale: The ecosystem has reached a milestone of 5,783 active members this month, proving that the demand for a structured, trustworthy, and disciplined trading environment is a global phenomenon.The Conclusion for Global LeadersThe "frontier" is no longer a place you merely invest in; it is a system you partner with. The rise of the professional Traders in the East—supported by Malaysia’s FinTech leadership and proprietary systems like TX Learn—is a structural shift that global leaders cannot afford to ignore.As Asia’s financial infrastructure matures, ecosystems like TX illustrate how the region is not merely absorbing capital — but actively building the next generation of market participants. For those looking to secure a foothold in the future of global finance, the path is clear. It is time to look East. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

CryptoQuant has released its Annual Exchange Leader Report 2025, evaluating centralized exchanges across structural transparency, trading performance, reserves, and proof-of-reserves (PoR) standards. In this year’s assessment, KuCoin was recognized as the leading exchange in PoR transparency, earning a score of 96.7 (A+).The report measures transparency across public wallet disclosure, user-level balance verification, reporting cadence, third-party attestations, and recency metrics. KuCoin achieved the highest structural transparency standards among evaluated platforms.According to CryptoQuant’s findings, KuCoin combines public wallet disclosure, monthly Merkle-tree–based Proof-of-Reserves reports, user-side balance verification mechanisms and independent third-party attestations.KuCoin publishes monthly Merkle-tree–based Proof-of-Reserves reports verified by Hacken, with its latest update dated February 6, 2026, alongside a February attestation. The exchange has maintained more than 39 consecutive monthly reports and consistently discloses reserve ratios exceeding 100%.The report highlights that reserve transparency and verification practices have become increasingly important indicators of exchange resilience and counterparty risk management, particularly in an evolving regulatory landscape.KuCoin’s PoR leadership aligns with its broader $2B Trust Project, an ongoing initiative focused on strengthening security systems, enhancing compliance frameworks, advancing risk controls, and reinforcing user asset protection standards across global markets.BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin, commented:“Transparency and compliance are foundational to long-term trust in digital asset markets. Structural safeguards — including verifiable reserves, consistent reporting cadence, and third-party validation — are not optional; they are essential. Our $2Billion Trust Project reflects our commitment to building a resilient, security-first platform that meets the highest standards of disclosure and regulatory alignment.”In addition to its leadership in PoR transparency, the report also noted KuCoin’s strong growth momentum across spot and derivatives markets in 2025, reflecting structural development alongside continued investment in security and compliance infrastructure. Read the full report here .About KuCoin Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform trusted by over 40 million users across 200+ countries and regions. The platform delivers secure, innovative, and compliant digital asset services, offering access to 1500+ digital assets, spot and futures trading, institutional wealth management, and a Web3 wallet. Recognized by Forbes and Hurun, KuCoin holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022 Certifications, underscoring its commitment to top-tier security. With AUSTRAC registration in Australia and a MiCA license in Austria, KuCoin continues expanding its regulated footprint under CEO BC Wong, building a transparent and reliable digital‑asset ecosystem.Learn more: https://www.kucoin.com/ This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Eurex is considering a move into prediction markets as major US exchanges develop contracts allowing traders to bet on economic events. According to Risk.net, Zubin Ramdarshan, the global co-head of derivatives products and markets at Eurex, said the exchange has researched the concept for several years and frequently raised it in budget discussions.U.S. Rivals Accelerate Event-Based ProductsEurex already lists dividend derivatives regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission as event contracts. Ramdarshan said this could form the basis for any future move into prediction markets.Meanwhile, US exchanges including CME, Cboe, and Nasdaq are preparing binary contracts tied to asset prices and macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, unemployment, and interest rate decisions.CME is exploring ways to combine retail and institutional access, a model Eurex may study for its own framework. Non-bank market-maker Susquehanna International Group launched a prediction desk in 2023 targeting retail clients. Read more: Nasdaq Wants Investors to Make Yes or No Bets on Its Index amid Event-Trading BoomEurex continues to deepen liquidity in short-term contracts, adding same-day options on the Euro Stoxx 50 and DAX in 2023. Eurex has not confirmed whether prediction markets would target retail, institutional, or both categories of investors.Major Exchanges Race into Event Trading Elsewhere, CME, the world's largest derivatives marketplace, launched event contracts in late 2022 for retail traders on benchmarks like S&P 500, oil, gold, and currencies. By February 2026, these hit 100 million contracts traded in just eight weeks, covering financial indicators, cultural events, and sports—showing strong retail and expanding institutional uptake.Cboe Global Markets actively develops regulated binary options for event-style trading, targeting S&P 500 outcomes by mid-2026 under SEC oversight. At the same time, Nasdaq is exploring binary contracts for asset prices and economic data but has not confirmed launches as of early 2026. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), Eurex's parent group via Deutsche Börse ties, invests up to $2 billion in Polymarket (2025) to distribute event data institutionally and eyes listing weather or inflation binaries on ICE Futures U.S. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR) has expanded investment options for Swedish investors by introducing global derivatives and credit capabilities within the tax-efficient Investeringssparkonto (ISK) structure. The enhancement allows clients to trade futures and options across multiple international exchanges and access portfolio lending while maintaining the ISK’s tax benefits.An ISK (Investeringssparkonto) is a Swedish investment savings account that lets individuals hold assets like shares, funds and other securities while paying a simple annual tax on the account value instead of tax on each profit or dividend.Investors can buy and sell as often as they want without reporting every transaction, because the tax authority applies a standardized yearly tax based on the account’s average value and deposits.Global Derivatives and Lending According to the broker, Swedish investors have long faced limits when trading through ISK accounts, as most local platforms only support Nordic-listed derivatives. The update changes that by opening international markets to ISK users.Interactive Brokers Enables Broader Global Diversification Within Swedish ISK Accounts https://t.co/cyzuox1xzf pic.twitter.com/mkiWwHa6sO— Latest News from Business Wire (@NewsFromBW) March 3, 2026“Swedish investors should not have to choose between tax efficiency and global market access,” said Kevin Keller, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited. “By bringing global derivatives and portfolio lending capabilities into the ISK structure, we are enabling Swedish investors to diversify internationally, hedge strategically, and manage portfolios with greater precision.”Continue reading: Interactive Brokers Sees Retail Trading Rise as Daily Trades Approach 4.4 Million in FebruaryThe ISK account, known for its simple tax model and lack of contribution caps, is widely used among retail investors in Sweden. Interactive Brokers has now extended its functionality to include institutional-grade products, allowing users to manage risk and broaden exposure beyond domestic holdings.Clients can apply for portfolio loans within the ISK framework, with tiered interest rates starting from 2.335%. The broker confirmed there are no charges for account opening, maintenance, or transfers.Existing Interactive Brokers customers can add an ISK account through the platform’s mobile, web, or desktop interface and begin trading global instruments within minutes.Mirroring UK Brokers’ Rush into ISA By contrast, the UK’s ISA (Individual Savings Account) exempts dividends and capital gains from tax within the wrapper but caps new subscriptions each tax year, so the focus sits on using a limited annual allowance for fully tax-free growth.Several brokers have expanded into the ISA market recently as competition for UK retail flows intensifies. XTB entered the UK ISA space in 2024 with a stocks and shares ISA and then added a cash ISA in 2026, pairing it with a 6% introductory AER rate for new clients. Trading 212 now offers both a stocks and shares ISA and a cash ISA on a zero-fee, flexible basis, allowing withdrawals and redeposits within the same tax year without losing allowance. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

MARA Holdings, the largest Nasdaq‑listed public bitcoin miner by BTC held, has revised its treasury policy for 2026. The update allows potential sales of its accumulated bitcoin reserves.In a Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, the company said it expanded its digital asset management strategy to include the sale of bitcoin held on its balance sheet. This move represents a notable shift from MARA’s prior approach of retaining mined bitcoin as a long-term investment.MARA’s revision follows a period in which the company emphasized accumulation. In 2024, it announced a full-HODL approach to retain mined bitcoin and make opportunistic purchases. The company later raised substantial capital through convertible notes, largely aimed at increasing its bitcoin holdings.Nasdaq Miner Updates Digital Asset PolicyThe company wrote: “In the second half of 2025, we changed our digital asset management strategy to permit sales of bitcoin generated from operations, and in 2026, we expanded the strategy to allow for sales of bitcoin held on our balance sheet.”It added: “Accordingly, we may hold bitcoin for long-term investment purposes and may also buy or sell bitcoin from time to time, subject to market conditions and our capital allocation priorities.”According to the filing, the digital asset management strategy includes treasury holdings, lending arrangements, trading activities, and collateralized borrowing.BREAKING: The largest publicly traded Bitcoin miner, MARA Holdings, is planning to SELL the majority of its Bitcoin reserves.MARA has just updated its treasury policy to allow sales of its accumulated BTC. The company currently holds 53,822 BTC, worth roughly $4.7 billion… pic.twitter.com/OTF7sALn5g— Jacob King (@JacobKinge) March 3, 2026Mining Power Increases Despite Output DeclineAs of December 31, 2025, MARA held 53,822 BTC. About 28% of those holdings were deployed under the strategy, including 9,377 BTC loaned to counterparties and 5,938 BTC pledged as collateral against $350 million in outstanding credit facilities. The lending activity generated $32.1 million in interest income.However, the company’s bitcoin exposure also resulted in losses during 2025. MARA recorded a $422.2 million decline in the fair value of its holdings, mainly reflecting a fall in bitcoin’s market price.MARA mined 8,799 BTC in 2025, a 7% decline from 9,430 BTC in 2024, due primarily to the April 2024 halving event and rising network difficulty. Despite lower output, it increased its energized hashrate to 66.4 EH/s, a measure of its total mining power. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

When US-Israeli strikes on Iran began last weekend, local crypto activity did not explode in a rush for the exits. Instead, transaction volumes and flows on Iranian platforms fell sharply as authorities enforced sweeping internet restrictions and exchanges shifted into defensive operations. TRM Lab's analysis shows that Iran’s largest exchange, Nobitex, recorded around $3 million more in combined inflows and outflows around the strikes. However, these movements remain within its historic operating range and likely reflect internal treasury shifts rather than capital flight.Despite the escalating conflict in the region, crypto traders are increasingly treating Bitcoin as a financial lifeline in Iran. They are reportedly using it to hedge against domestic uncertainty and potential restrictions on the banking system.Amid the escalating conflict in Iran, many citizens are turning to Bitcoin as a financial lifeline. Reports and on-chain data shows increased buying activity followed by large withdrawals from local exchanges into self-custody wallets.BITCOIN IS FREEDOM FOR ?? https://t.co/9JKx1aMv6o pic.twitter.com/BysoXM1Bgt— Satoxis (@satoxis) March 3, 2026Blackouts Choke LiquidityIran’s crypto slowdown begins with the internet switch. Connectivity reportedly fell by about 99% as the regime imposed severe restrictions, a playbook it used during the 2025 Iran-Israel conflict and earlier mass protests.Local exchanges also share key infrastructure, which magnified the shock. Wallex attributed a temporary outage to a power problem at the Asiatech data center, a facility Nobitex also uses in its hosting stack. That single point of failure underscores how physical dependencies can ripple across supposedly decentralized markets.You may also like: Gold Price Tests $5,400, Oil Jumps 13% as Strait of Hormuz Shuts: Iran War Rocks MarketsTrading volumes between February 27 and March 1 fell by roughly 80%, matching both a retreat in risk appetite and simple inability to reach platforms in real time. Nobitex Flows: Noise, Not a Bank RunAgainst this backdrop, Nobitex’s wallets drew attention. TRM identified an extra $3 million in activity on February 28 versus the prior day, driven in part by an internal transfer on Polygon from a hot wallet to cold storage. Analysts also flagged a separate cold storage movement of more than USD 35 million from a Nobitex hot wallet, but classified it as routine infrastructure liquidity management, not a sign of large-scale withdrawals. Nobitex has reportedly processed around USD 5 billion in volume since the start of 2025, making it the central hub of Iran’s crypto market. In that light, the observed transfers sit within normal operational ranges, even if they occurred during a period of heightened geopolitical tension. The exchange kept deposits and withdrawals open “to the extent possible” but warned clients to expect delays and shallower markets. Ramzinex paused crypto deposits and withdrawals while stressing that client assets sat in cold wallets, and Tabdeal switched to twice-daily batch withdrawals with warnings of delays of up to 24 hours. Last year, Nobitex was hit by a major hack that drained about $82 million from its wallets.Meanwhile, Wallex suspended crypto withdrawals indefinitely as it cited infrastructure instability, while Aban Tether halted both crypto and rial withdrawals to contain outflows.Central Bank Pulls the USDT BrakeThe most consequential intervention came from Iran’s Central Bank. Under its direction, several exchanges, including Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin and Tabdeal, temporarily suspended trading in the USDT–toman pair, the primary bridge between dollar-linked stablecoins and the rial.USDT’s dollar peg and central role in local pricing likely motivated the move. By halting this pair, authorities slowed rapid repricing of the rial and limited the speed at which savers could rotate into dollar exposure via stablecoins. TRM estimates that Iran-linked wallets have processed around USD 11 billion in crypto since the beginning of 2025, placing the country among the larger national markets by on-chain volume. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

NinjaTrader Group, the retail futures brokerage acquired by Kraken for $1.5 billion, today (Tuesday) launched NinjaTrader Connect, a new B2B platform designed to let brokers, fintechs, and trading firms build their own regulated futures and prediction markets businesses without constructing the underlying infrastructure themselves.According to the press release, the offering, available through a single API, bundles everything from client onboarding and funding tools to clearing, margin controls, risk surveillance, and a white-labeled front-end trading platform. NinjaTrader is essentially packaging 20 years of its own operational infrastructure and offering it to third parties on a commercial basis.Turning Two Decades of NinjaTrader Into a Product"We've spent more than 20 years building, operating, and scaling a retail futures brokerage in highly regulated markets," said Martin Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader Group. "NinjaTrader Connect takes the infrastructure behind that success and makes it available to other brokerages. Instead of starting from scratch, partners can build on a foundation that has already been battle-tested at scale."That pitch - skip the build, borrow the backbone - is increasingly appealing to brokers who want exposure to futures and prediction markets but don't want to absorb the cost and complexity of becoming a registered FCM from scratch. NinjaTrader is already registered with the CFTC as a futures commission merchant and holds NFA membership, two hurdles that typically take years and significant legal spend to clear.The move follows a busy expansion period for the firm. In January 2026, NinjaTrader extended access to EU retail traders as CFD brokers began showing interest in adding futures products to their lineup, and last October the company jumped into prop trading with two dedicated technology platforms.Prediction Markets Emerge as Key Infrastructure BattlegroundThe timing of the launch isn't accidental. Prediction markets - where users trade on the outcome of real-world events - have gone from a niche curiosity to a serious product category that brokers are actively trying to add. NinjaTrader Connect explicitly includes prediction market infrastructure in its offering, putting it in direct competition with a cluster of vendors racing to serve that same demand.Leverate launched its own white-label prediction markets platform for brokers in February 2026, claiming 85% monthly retention rates and same-week deployment timelines. Before that, a partnership between Plaee and Crypto.com's CDNA unit brought CFTC-compliant prediction market infrastructure to third-party platforms. The pattern is consistent: rather than building proprietary products, platforms are increasingly plugging into shared regulated infrastructure. A recent deep-dive into broker technology stacks outlined how crowded and competitive that vendor space has become.What NinjaTrader brings that most of those vendors don't is existing CFTC registration and a live FCM operation with real clearing relationships.FCM Model Gets a B2B Makeover"Market access alone is no longer enough," added Max Shanbrom, Executive Vice President and General Manager at NinjaTrader Connect. "Modern brokerages need infrastructure that supports onboarding, funding, risk management, and a seamless trading experience that meets end-clients wherever they are in their trading journey."That argument, that clearing alone doesn't cut it anymore, reflects a broader tension playing out across the brokerage industry. As analysis published last year on the B2B infrastructure shift noted, retail flow alone is becoming harder to rely on, and the firms building durable businesses are those that can offer complete operational stacks, not just execution or liquidity.NinjaTrader's B2B push also comes as the company works to expand its international footprint. In February, it appointed former IG Group executive Christopher Tripp as General Manager for international operations, based in the UK, with European growth as a stated priority. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

iSAM Securities (UK) Limited has reported a decline in profitability for the financial year ended 30 June 2025. Profit before taxation stood at £4.5 million. In the previous year, the company reported £12.8 million. This represents a fall of 65% year on year.The decline was linked to lower revenue and higher operating costs. The company remained profitable due to non-operating income.Revenue Drops, Expenses Climb at iSAMTurnover for the year was £19.56 million. In 2024, turnover was £27.04 million. This marks a decrease of £7.48 million, or 27.7%. The reduction reflects weaker core trading activity.Administrative expenses increased during the same period. Costs rose from £28.31 million in 2024 to £31.74 million in 2025. The increase of 12.1%, combined with lower turnover, further reduced margins.Other Income Offsets Larger Core LossesThe company recorded an operating loss of £12.18 million for 2025. In 2024, the operating loss was £1.27 million. This indicates that core operations generated a larger loss compared to the prior year.Other income rose significantly. It increased from £6.39 million in 2024 to £12.66 million in 2025. Interest received declined during the year. It fell from £7.69 million to £4.02 million, a decrease of 47.7%.The combined effect of higher other income and interest received offset the operating loss. As a result, the company reported a profit on ordinary activities before taxation of £4.50 million. The tax charge for the year was £1.18 million, lower than in the previous year. Profit after taxation totalled £3.32 million. In 2024, the company reported £9.63 million.Previous Year Performance for ContextFor comparison, in the financial year ending 30 June 2024, iSAM Securities (UK) reported turnover of £27.04 million, down from £31.62 million in 2023. Administrative expenses fell slightly to £28.31 million. The company recorded an operating loss of £1.27 million, which was partly offset by higher other income of £6.39 million and interest income of £7.69 million. Pre-tax profit reached £12.81 million, with post-tax profit at £9.63 million. The board confirmed that resources remained adequate to support ongoing operations. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

FXAQ focuses on providing its traders with the utmost level of support possible. As expected, this includes a funded account upon completion of prerequisite challenges, but that isn’t what distinguishes it from the competition. It’s the company’s expansive ecosystem of support that includes advanced platforms, low-risk trading environments to apply theoretical knowledge, and, possibly, the most important benefit: education. The prop trading broker is one of the few in the industry that provides structured knowledge through a practically exhaustive library of educational opportunities to its clients. The approach includes a comprehensive evaluation program that culminates in an expert-designed test of knowledge to validate learning and boost confidence as you work towards a funded account. A Standards-driven InstitutionFXAQ refers to itself as a standards-driven institution and backs this title with an extremely methodical and comprehensive trading experience. Clients can first trade on a simulated market, minimizing the risk while familiarizing themselves with the tools and advantages available to them. Second, FXAQ provides prop traders with a complete course, so they can become CFST-Certified. Once the course is completed and traders are certified, clients can choose from multiple types of funded accounts, with controllable funds from $25,000 to $200,000. Traders can choose between FX/CFDs, Futures, and Crypto accounts. Finally, FXAQ always designs challenge terms to be achievable and transparent, helping their clients, as much as possible, achieve the goals they set for themselves. The firm offers traders access to three of the industry’s most popular platforms, DxTrade, cTrader and Match-Trader. All of these platforms feature user-friendly interfaces to facilitate quick decision-making and action, while offering sophisticated technical analysis tools. Combined with FXAQ’s educational materials, these tools should enable traders of all levels of experience to systematically trade CFD/FX, Futures, and Crypto derivatives. For more in-depth knowledge, the company offers access to a valuable certification program. The Certified Systematic Futures Trading ExamThe broker's certification program, called the Certified Systematic Futures Trading Exam (CSFT), is worth highlighting here. The two-level system is designed for any type of individual who participates in systematic trading with derivatives, futures, options, and other OTC instruments. The first level of the module covers product characteristics and compliance. It is perfect for compliance staff, operations analysts, exchange professionals, Introducing Brokers, and traders. The second level caters to more advanced market participants. This builds on what was learned and practiced during the first level. This section can be beneficial to trading algorithm developers, HFT strategists, quantitative analysts, systematic futures traders, options traders, systems engineers or supervisors, and risk managers. The certification also gives holders access to a community of like-minded professionals, exclusive events, seminars, and webinars. Get a Funded Account and Unlock Your PotentialWith the help of FXAQ’s interactive live training, live-trading sessions, webinars, podcasts, and tailored prop trading programs that allow you to customize your trading conditions, traders can unlock their true potential. For more information related to the Certified Systematic Futures Systematic Trading Exam, prop trading derivatives, or how to get a fully funded account, feel free to reach out. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Pepperstone’s majority shareholder, which holds 60 per cent of the contracts for differences (CFDs) broker and includes its Chair, Fiona Lock, has been ordered to pay AU$96.9 million, plus interest, to Champ Private Equity after a long legal battle over the sale.Current Pepperstone Owner vs Former OwnerTamas Szabo, Pepperstone’s CEO, and former director Andrew Defina are also shareholders in Lock’s FX Group Holdings, which bought the majority stake in the broker from Champ in 2018.FX Group had already paid over AU$77 million to Champ last December, according to the latest court document.A Pepperstone spokesperson told the Australian Financial Review that the legal battle is between its current and previous owners and does not involve the firm in any way or affect its operations.“This is a contractual dispute between current and former shareholders, relating to historical contractual matters,” the Pepperstone spokesperson told the publication.An Alleged Drafting Mistake Behind the Legal BattleLock worked for Champ, now rebranded as CPE Capital, when it bought a stake in Pepperstone in 2016 for AU$90 million. However, within two years, the private equity firm decided to exit the deal, and Lock decided to leave the firm and buy out the Pepperstone stake.To finance the deal, Lock borrowed AU$150 million from Champ, which was to be repaid over five years with interest. The total amount to be paid from Pepperstone’s dividends under that agreement was AU$211.6 million.Lock paid the entire amount, including interest, in just four years.Then came the dispute: according to Champ, Lock also agreed to split profits above AU$25 million for four years after the loan was repaid.However, the drafted contracts stated that Pepperstone would share profits only after it repaid the AU$211.6 million loan and not on any profits below AU$25 million.Later, Champ claimed that its lawyers had made drafting errors in the original sale agreement and that this was not the intention of the two parties. Lock maintained that the drafted contract was accurate, as the terms appeared in a detailed share agreement.The Australian court, however, ruled in favour of Champ last September. An appeal in this case was lodged in December and is yet to be heard.FinanceMagnates.com reached out to Pepperstone's CEO Szabo, but did not receive any comment as of press time. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Silver fell to $83.70 per ounce on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, down another 7% on the day after losing nearly 5% on Monday, wiping out the entire safe-haven premium built on the back of the US-Israel strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that rattled global markets at the weekend. From Monday's opening spike above $96, the metal has now shed roughly 13% in just 48 hours, returning to the same sideways range that defined the entire month of February. Gold, by contrast, closed Monday up 1% and is falling just 1.3% on Tuesday, trading near $5,256. Silver, as it has repeatedly demonstrated throughout 2026, is playing an entirely different, far more violent game.In this article, I examine why silver price is falling, analyzing XAG/USD chart and the newest silver price predictions for 2026.Follow me on X for real-time silver and gold analysis: @ChmielDkWhy Silver Price Is Going Down Today? From $96 to $84 in 48 HoursMonday morning's spike was textbook. The US-Israel military operation, Khamenei's death, Iranian ballistic missiles striking Dubai, and the Strait of Hormuz shutting down sent investors flooding into precious metals. Silver surged to $96+, its highest level since late January, testing levels that had analysts momentarily excited about a return to triple digits.Rashad Hajiyev, a widely followed precious metals analyst, posted on Monday morning at 8:54 AM: "Silver going back to a triple digit is a matter of days now..." Silver going back to a triple digit is a matter of days now…— Rashad Hajiyev (@hajiyev_rashad) March 2, 2026Silver then proceeded to fall 13% in the next 48 hours. That's not a knock on the analysis, it's an illustration of exactly what silver does. The metal broke above the $90-91 resistance just days before the conflict escalated, and the same speculative capital that drove it higher exited with equal aggression the moment the geopolitical premium showed any sign of compression.As it stands on Tuesday, silver has returned precisely to the consolidation range it spent the entire February trapped in. The war premium has been erased completely.Silver Technical Analysis: $80 Is the Line in the SandAs shown on my chart, silver is now falling directly toward the 50-day exponential moving average, which sits near the $80 round-number level. These two factors together create a strong support zone roughly in the middle of the February-March sideways range, and this is where I expect the current selling pressure to slow or pause.The structure of the range is clear. The upper boundary sits at $90, which is now the primary resistance I am watching. This is the level silver needs to reclaim before any meaningful recovery can be considered. Below the market, the 50 EMA and $80 psychological level form the first line of defence. If that gives way, the next meaningful support is at $70, which marks the lower boundary of the entire consolidation and coincides with the February lows.The bull trend on my chart is only officially broken if silver falls below $60. That is where the 200-day EMA runs, forming a wide support zone together with the $55 level, which corresponds to the October 2025 peaks, retested in November. A breakdown below $60 would represent a structural shift, not just a correction.My overall stance remains that of a structural bull on silver in the medium term. I expect a return to all-time highs and an eventual re-entry into price discovery territory. But the path there requires, first, a recovery above $90, and ideally a decisive break above the $100 psychological level. Until then, as shown on my chart, we are in consolidation and the bears are in short-term control.Silver vs Gold: The Volatility DivergenceThe numbers over the past 48 hours are stark. Gold surged to $5,400+ Monday, closed the session up 1%, and is falling 1.3% on Tuesday. Silver spiked to $96, gave back 5% Monday, and is down another 6.25% Tuesday. Over two days, gold is roughly flat. Silver is down 13%. This is not an anomaly, it is silver's defining characteristic.The reason for the divergence is structural. Silver's extraordinary rally earlier in 2026 was driven partly by safe-haven demand but also by speculative capital rotating from crypto and momentum traders chasing a parabolic move. That same hot money exits fast and without mercy. Gold, as a pure monetary safe haven, attracts a stickier class of institutional buyer. Silver sits between two stools, part precious metal, part industrial commodity, and when risk appetite shifts, it gets hit from both sides simultaneously.The historical precedent on my chart is the January 30 session, where gold fell 9% in one of the strongest single-day selloffs for precious metals in 13 years while silver collapsed over 20% on the same day. That single data point tells you everything about silver's beta to gold. On the way up, it outperforms dramatically, with silver rising 40% in January 2026 vs gold's 15%. On the way down, the exits are narrower and the drops are steeper."These moves are not merely a passing speculative wave but reflect a comprehensive repricing of geopolitical risks in light of the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran,” Rania Gule, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com MENA, captured the gold dynamic that silver could not match. :When gold breaks historical highs in a short period, the key message the market sends is that precautionary demand outweighs all other considerations, including yield assessments and opportunity costs."Silver Price Predictions 2026: From $60 to $350The breadth of silver forecasts for 2026 is almost comically wide, and the current $83.70 price sits at the very pessimistic end of the institutional spectrum. Since silver breached $100 for the first time and then hit its all-time high near $121.64 in January 2026, the forecast range has expanded dramatically."What if a war in the Middle East is going to be a trigger for a start of a parabolic run in the precious metals. In such case $250 silver price is very modest price target. Let's see how markets react and I might raise the target for silver to $350,” Hajiyev added.What if a war in the Middle East is going to be a trigger for a start of a parabolic run in the precious metals. In such case $250 silver price is very modest price target. Let's see how markets react and I might raise the target for silver to $350...— Rashad Hajiyev (@hajiyev_rashad) March 1, 2026The most striking detail in this table is that JP Morgan's full-year 2026 average of $81 per ounce sits almost exactly where silver is trading right now. That means the largest institutional bank on Wall Street effectively forecasted that silver would spend a significant portion of 2026 at or near $80-82. Monday's spike to $96 was the outlier. This, unfortunately, is the base case.Bank of America's range is the most analytically interesting. Metals research head Michael Widmer projects $135 based on a compression of the gold/silver ratio to 2011 lows of 32:1, and an extreme $309 if the ratio returns to the 1980 Hunt Brothers level of 14:1. With gold near $5,256, a 32:1 ratio implies silver at $164, and a 14:1 ratio would put silver above $375. These are not predictions of what will happen, they are illustrations of what is possible if silver reverts to its historical relationship with gold.The correction is real, the short-term pain is real, but the structural case that analysts cited for $180-$400 targets earlier this year has not fundamentally changed. Getting back there starts with defending $80.FAQWhy is silver falling today, March 3, 2026?Silver is down 6.25% on Tuesday to $83.70, continuing Monday's 5% decline from the Monday open high of $96+. The metal initially surged on safe-haven demand following US-Israel strikes on Iran, the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei, and the Strait of Hormuz closure. As markets partially digested those developments and the immediate war premium compressed, silver gave back all its gains and returned to the February consolidation range. The selloff is amplified by silver's higher beta to gold and speculative positioning unwinding rapidly.How low can silver go in 2026?According to my technical analysis, the immediate downside target is the $80 level, where the 50-day EMA provides a strong support zone. If that breaks, the $70 level (lower consolidation boundary, February lows) becomes the next meaningful support. My chart shows the bull trend only officially breaks below $60, where the 200-day EMA runs together with the $55 support zone (October 2025 highs). JP Morgan's 2026 average forecast of $81 provides institutional support near current levels, while BMO Capital Markets has a more bearish target of $60 in Q4 2026.Why does silver fall harder than gold?Silver's dual identity as both safe-haven and industrial metal creates conflicting pressures during geopolitical events. War fears spike safe-haven demand initially, but recession fears simultaneously pressure industrial demand, creating a ceiling that gold, as a pure monetary metal, doesn't face. Should I buy silver at $84?Silver at $83.70 trades almost exactly at JP Morgan's full-year 2026 average forecast of $81 per ounce, suggesting institutional support near current levels. My chart shows strong technical confluence at $80 (50 EMA + round number). However, $70 and $60 remain possible downside targets if $80 breaks. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Favourable market conditions have seen CFD traders in Singapore emerge from several years of ‘hibernation’ – and the diversity of products they are trading points to a sustainable return to growth.Market Growth and ConfidenceAccording to Investment Trends’ 2025 Singapore Leverage Trading Report, Singapore's leverage trading market posted its first growth in active participants since 2021.Lorenzo Vignati, associate research director at Investment Trends, refers to a market that has come through significant macroeconomic shifts with its core base intact, which is significant because sustained confidence enables traders to stay active, adapt their strategies, and continue contributing to market liquidity and momentum.Return of Experienced TradersPhil Waters, managing director for Asia Pacific and emerging markets for OANDA, observes that traders who stepped back during quieter periods have returned as volatility and macro themes picked up again and describes Singapore as a market where, when conditions present an opportunity, experienced traders re-engage quickly.“What we are seeing is a more mature cycle, less hype and more informed participation,” he adds.Structural Improvements Support GrowthLast year’s growth was driven by a combination of market conditions and structural improvements in the trading experience, with improved access to educational resources and trading technology—particularly AI-powered tools—giving traders greater confidence in identifying and managing opportunities, suggests Yaki Razmovich, managing director, eToro Singapore and Asia.“In parallel, platforms have enhanced the user experience, becoming more intuitive and mobile-friendly and enabling users to start with smaller investment amounts, which has lowered barriers to entry,” he explains.Popular Products and Market SophisticationWhile brokers agree on the factors that have contributed to increased CFD trading volumes, their views on the most popular products reveal a sophisticated market where no one type of trader dominates.“Generally, US single-stock direct market access CFDs (DMA CFDs) dominate interest in Singapore,” suggests Ademola Olopade, group head of prime brokerage and investment banking and CEO of Mauritius, CGS International Securities. “Large-cap US equities—particularly in technology, AI-linked names, and high-liquidity blue chips—see the highest engagement across all age groups.”But Olopade also refers to increased participation in crypto and hard commodities such as gold and silver, as well as market indices, noting that earnings cycles and macro announcements often drive concentrated activity in these names.“Then there is consistent interest in commodities during macro-driven volatility, although US equities remain the anchor product,” he continues. “The client profile in Singapore does not exhibit extreme retail speculation, and capital allocation tends to be more measured, with traders being more attentive to margin discipline. The most active client segments comprise experienced retail traders with mid-sized accounts.”Balanced Expansion Across Client SegmentsA combination of previously inactive clients returning to the market and demand from new participants, particularly through institutional and professional channels, has created balanced expansion, according to Andreas Wigström, managing director, LMAX Global.“FX, major global indices, commodities, and equity CFDs remain the most popular products in Singapore, reflecting demand for liquidity, transparency, and global market access,” he says. “The most active participants tend to be experienced retail traders and institutional-style clients, often trading around macro events and short-term opportunities.”Wigström also refers to strong underlying interest in digital assets, which is increasingly influencing demand for regulated crypto-related leveraged products.Asset Classes and Trading BehaviourWhile observing that FX remains foundational in Singapore, Waters also notes strong engagement in major indices and commodities as traders position around global macro themes, and says stocks have also progressively gained traction, which is one of the reasons his firm recently added international share CFDs to its offering.“The typical active client here is informed and self-directed,” he says. “They understand leverage, they compare platforms carefully, and they tend to trade across asset classes rather than sticking to just one. They also commonly use guaranteed stop-loss orders, which is the trait of a smarter trader.”In 2026 so far, commodities rank first in terms of the number of Singapore-based users who have opened CFD positions, notes Razmovich, due to huge price movements in precious metals like gold and silver.Robson Lee, assistant honorary secretary of the Securities Investors Association, adds demand for improved platform consolidation to the list of growth factors and says inexperienced traders tend to gravitate towards major indices, FX pairs, and large-cap stocks, as such instruments tend to display more predictable behaviour and have tighter spreads.Increasing Role of AI in TradingThree in four of the traders surveyed by Investment Trends are either using or plan to use AI for charting, signal generation, and performance analysis, an indication that such tools have moved from experimental features to core infrastructure for many retail participants.Access to AI-driven tools has become increasingly important for Singapore CFD traders, suggests Wigström. “Many traders are already using AI, or actively planning to, as part of their daily workflow to improve speed, consistency, and decision-making. The strongest demand is for tools that are embedded seamlessly into the platform and genuinely enhance outcomes rather than add complexity.”CFD traders’ AI demands focus more on decision intelligence rather than AI tools per se, notes Olopade, who adds that these traders are not seeking automated, algorithm-driven systems that generate buy or sell signals, but rather tools that improve decision-making and clarity, such as enhanced charting, behavioural insights, and risk attribution.“In Singapore, traders prefer tools that augment judgement rather than replace it,” he continues. “We see the strongest demand lying in post-trade analytics, such as understanding drawdowns, sizing of positions, and capital concentration risks. AI is valued not for shortcuts but for deeper market understanding.”This theme is taken up by Waters, who agrees that traders don’t want ‘AI for the sake of AI,’ but instead are looking for tools that genuinely improve decision-making.“Whether that is to learn, for trading signals, or performance analytics, the expectation now is that platforms should help them see opportunities more clearly and manage risk more effectively,” he says. “The key is integration—traders don’t want to use different systems. They want these capabilities built into the platforms they already use, whether that is TradingView, MT4, or increasingly MT5.” This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

DXtrade, the multi-asset trading platform developed by Devexperts, has partnered with theScreener to embed market data analysis and investment intelligence directly inside the platform used by brokers, banks, and prop firms worldwide.Under the deal, brokers that license DXtrade will be able to offer their clients equity research, sector analysis, and market intelligence. theScreener delivers its content across multiple languages and covers publicly traded instruments globally.DXtrade Brings theScreener's Investment Research Inside the Trading Platform"One of DXtrade's strong differentiating factors is the platform's ability to integrate with third parties," said Jon Light, Senior Director of Product Management at Devexperts. "Having open APIs sets DXtrade apart from competitors, empowering brokers to mold and optimize their individual offering, making it both unique and market-leading."The partnership adds another name to what has become a growing list of third-party integrations built into DXtrade's ecosystem. In January 2026, DXtrade's mobile platform integrated BrokerIQ, bringing CRM functionality to mobile users - the firm had first connected with BrokerIQ back in 2023. That same month, Devexperts built out a full infrastructure stack for prop firms through a deal with Arizet, folding in a CRM, risk engine, and trading interface designed specifically for that segment.The AI Chatbot Problem Brokers Are Trying to SolveThe reasoning behind theScreener integration touches on a challenge that retail brokers have been grappling with more openly in recent months. As general-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT become a go-to resource for retail investors, there is a real risk that traders seek out information outside the broker's platform, and sometimes do not come back to execute."With public AI chatbots tending to become the new front door to investing, we help trading platforms keep their clients' decision-making workflow in-house... combining Devexperts' leading brokerage platform with our meaningful, fact-based content creates a uniquely intuitive, ready-to-use solution for brokers worldwide,” Catharina Lusser, Global Business Executive at theScreener, framed the product squarely around that concern.By placing investment intelligence directly inside the trading interface, the integration attempts to remove any reason for a trader to look elsewhere.DXtrade's Integration Push Picks Up PaceDecember 2025 brought integration with TRAction automated regulatory compliance reporting for CFD brokers, cutting out the manual data transfers that had previously connected trading activity to compliance systems. And going further back, DXtrade linked with TradingView in early 2024, giving brokers a route to traders who prefer to operate directly through TradingView's charting interface.The theScreener partnership extends that logic into investment research. DXtrade currently supports stocks, options, futures, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, FX, CFDs, and both margin and spot crypto. The platform runs on web and mobile and is available as a white-label app that brokers can partially or fully customize. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

RoboMarkets has taken its primary European website, robomarkets.com, offline. The site now displays only a logo and a 'coming soon' message as the group continues adjusting its European business model. This domain, previously the main portal for European operations, no longer provides client access. This shift follows a broader restructuring process that began more than a year ago and has directly impacted the accessibility of RoboMarkets’ European services. A Shift in Strategy In late 2024, the RoboMarkets group announced it would discontinue retail forex and CFD offerings in Europe and focus on stock trading for European clients. Under that plan, RoboMarkets Deutschland GmbH, regulated by the German BaFin, became the main vehicle for serving European retail stock traders. Its website, robomarkets.de, remains operational. In January 2026, the company expanded its equities offering by adding access to more than 1,400 stocks and ETFs listed on Xetra, Deutsche Börse’s electronic trading platform reinforcing its pivot toward exchange-traded instruments. Meanwhile, RoboMarkets Ltd, regulated by CySEC in Cyprus, planned to concentrate on institutional services. Recent Developments The status of the .com site adds a new element to that transition. In recent months, the group has also seen several senior departures, including Vanyo Walter, who led the German stockbroking push, and Konstantin Rashap, who stepped down as Chief Business Officer of the CySEC-regulated entity in January 2026. Separately, the company secured a Category 1 license from the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) in Dubai in late 2025, opening the door to activity in the Middle East. Together, the website suspension, executive changes, and expansion outside Europe indicate the group is reassessing how it structures its regional operations. However, the group has not made clear how prominently Europe will feature in that setup going forward. At the time of publication, RoboMarkets had not responded to requests for comment regarding the status of its European strategy. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

IG Group (LON: IGG) has ended its search for a new Chair by announcing Andrew Barron for the role. He has been appointed as Board Chair Designate and Non-Executive Director of the Group.A Hard-to-Find ReplacementThe announcement came after Mike McTighe confirmed his retirement from the role of IG Chair in September 2025.Although McTighe was due to step down by the end of 2025, the company failed to find his replacement within the specified timeframe, forcing him to remain in the role until his successor was appointed.McTighe’s tenure as IG’s Chair began in February 2020. He will remain in the role “until the necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained to ensure an orderly transition”.Barron, meanwhile, is not from the trading industry. He spent his 25-year career in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors. He is currently a non-executive director at Openreach and Verisure and is also Senior Operating Partner at Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners.“IG has established an attractive position in global financial technology, and the potential to drive further growth and transformation is significant,” Barron said.A Positive Moment for IGThe Chair transition is taking place at a time when IG Group's shares are expected to enter the FTSE 100 from the FTSE 250. The broker's shares are also attracting large institutions, as the US asset management firm Capital Group acquired a substantial 5 per cent stake after a similar investment in Plus500 last year.Meanwhile, IG is also shifting its focus towards the cryptocurrency market. It is already offering spot crypto trading in the UK through a third-party partnership and has also acquired a crypto exchange to offer “crypto products” in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.The London-listed broker is also running bold marketing campaigns, first with Pat Cash in response to increased incentives on cash ISAs, and now launching a Fat Cat Index to check whether UK investors are paying extra fees on investment platforms. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Taurex has successfully completed its Series C funding round, securing a $40 million capital injection to support its next phase of growth. The round was led by major shareholder, Oscar Hilt Tatum IV, reinforcing strong long-term confidence in the company’s strategy and performance. The raised capital will be deployed across several strategic initiatives, including the continued development of Taurex’s proprietary back-office infrastructure, the evolution of its mobile application into a full AI-powered trading platform, and the acceleration of its global expansion plans including additional regulatory licenses. Taurex has rapidly established itself as a major global brokerage, regularly achieving over $100 billion in monthly client trading volume. The company now serves more than 50,000 clients and partners across approximately 140 countries, highlighting its strong international footprint. Nick Cooke, CEO and original founder of Taurex, commented: “We are very happy to have secured additional funding to spearhead the company’s growth. What we have achieved in the last six years would take many other firms over a decade to accomplish. We have very exciting plans for our technology roadmap, which will be the backbone of the company’s future success. Our aim is for Taurex to be the broker of choice across key global markets as we continue to scale across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.” Since 2023, Taurex has delivered exceptional growth, with trading volumes increasing by 950% and new client acquisitions rising by 250%. Its proprietary trading brand, Atmos Funded, has also demonstrated strong momentum, having registered 20,000 clients and 10%+ month-on-month growth throughout 2025. Taurex currently operates three core brands: its retail brokerage Taurex, its institutional liquidity and prime services division Taurex Prime, and its funded trader programme Atmos Funded. Together, these businesses position Taurex as a diversified, technology led trading group with a clear focus on scalability, innovation, and global reach. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

In a single day, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig replaced the heads of three of the agency's most consequential offices, making clear he intends to run a CFTC that looks and acts very differently from the one he inherited.The trio of appointments, a former federal prosecutor to lead enforcement, a Goldman Sachs and FCA veteran to handle international affairs, and a Capitol Hill insider to manage Congressional relations, amounts to a near-complete overhaul of the agency's senior operating layer. The question now is what Selig actually does with that team.The Chairman took over from Acting Chairwoman Caroline Pham, whose tenure reshaped the CFTC's stance on prediction markets, perpetual futures, and digital assets. Selig has signaled continuity on crypto, but his enforcement pick in particular suggests the agency won't be soft on bad actors even as it pushes a pro-innovation agenda. Whether those two goals can coexist at the CFTC is the central tension his new team will have to navigate.Former Prosecutor Takes the Helm at EnforcementDavid I. Miller will lead the Division of Enforcement, joining from private practice where he was a litigation partner at Greenberg Traurig and then Morgan Lewis. His work there spanned white-collar defense, government investigations, securities and commodities enforcement, and digital asset matters.Before his years at the defense bar, Miller spent nearly a decade as a government lawyer. He served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he worked in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force alongside CFTC enforcement staff. He also prosecuted terrorism cases for the Justice Department, served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, and worked as assistant general counsel at the CIA."He brings to the Commission decades of experience as a federal prosecutor and white-collar defense attorney, with a proven track record of defending market participants against the novel legal theories of overzealous regulators," the Chairman said, adding that the division should be "focused on its core purpose of policing fraud, abuse, and manipulation rather than setting policy."Paul Hayeck, who has served as acting enforcement director since June 2025, will remain at the agency as chief of the Enforcement Division's Complex Fraud Task Force.Goldman Sachs Veteran Returns to International OfficeMel Gunewardena gets a dual title: director of the Office of International Affairs and Senior Markets Advisor to the Chairman, an unusual pairing that puts him simultaneously in charge of cross-border regulatory coordination and inside the Chairman's advisory circle.Gunewardena has navigated between Wall Street and Washington more than once. He spent years as a managing director in global markets trading at Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, and State Street, running prime brokerage and derivatives businesses across three continents. He then joined the CFTC as chief market intelligence officer from 2019 to 2022, where he led internal task forces during the COVID-19 disruptions and extreme volatility in the crude oil, natural gas, and electricity markets. Most recently, he served as a senior advisor for global markets to the chief executive of the UK Financial Conduct Authority and chaired its Secondary Markets Advisory Committee."I am committed to helping ensure the United States, as the world's largest commodities and derivatives market, remains the most competitive and attractive marketplace," Gunewardena said. "I look forward to delivering data-driven, forward-looking insights on market structure and risk management, and providing guidance during periods of uncertainty."Mauricio Melara, who has run the international office on an acting basis since January 2025, will stay on within the division.The appointment comes as Selig and SEC Chair Paul Atkins push forward a joint initiative called "Project Crypto," aimed at coordinating rulemaking across both agencies on digital assets.Congressional Insider to Handle Legislative RelationsAlan Brubaker takes over the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, the CFTC's primary interface with Congress and other federal bodies. He comes from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he served as a senior advisor to Chairman James Comer of Kentucky and worked across multiple oversight and investigation matters involving federal agencies.Before that, Brubaker was vice president of external affairs at Prudential Financial. His background in agricultural and financial policy was a selling point for Selig, who said Brubaker's "congressional experience handling economic, agricultural and financial policy matters" would be an asset as the CFTC works with lawmakers on what the chairman described as "free market, pro-innovation policies.""Agriculture is arguably one of the most critical sectors of our economy," Brubaker said, "and I'm excited to help ensure America's farmers, ranchers, and food suppliers have fair and liquid markets for managing their global risk."Selig has moved quickly to assemble his team since taking the chairmanship. Last month, the CFTC also flagged integrity concerns in prediction markets after exchange operator Kalshi sanctioned two traders for alleged insider trading. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.