In a release on Wednesday, IC Markets highlighted the Cypriot football club’s 2–0 victory in the opening match of the 2025–26 league season. The sponsorship agreement, extended earlier this year through 2027, reinforces IC Markets EU’s commitment to supporting both the club and the wider Limassol community.  The company described the renewal as part of a broader strategy to build connections beyond financial markets and align with institutions representing heritage, ambition and excellence. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with AEL Limassol,” said a spokesperson for IC Markets EU. “This renewal highlights our commitment not only to the club but also to the broader Limassol community. Football has the power to unite people, and we’re proud to stand alongside a team with such a storied history and loyal fanbase.” Founded in 1930, AEL Limassol is among Cyprus’s most historic and decorated football clubs, with success both domestically and internationally.  The renewed sponsorship provides the club with long-term backing as it seeks further achievements on and off the pitch during the current season. For IC Markets EU, the partnership reflects a strategy of using sport to strengthen its brand presence while engaging with communities.  The company said it looked forward to celebrating more successes with the club as the season progresses, building on the momentum of the opening victory. The post IC Markets EU Renews AEL Limassol Sponsorship appeared first on LeapRate.

The cancellation took effect on 28 July 2025 and was announced by ASIC on Thursday.  ASIC explained that under section 915B(3)(e) of the Corporations Act 2001, it has the authority to suspend or cancel an AFS licence where a licensee has not paid levies imposed under the ASIC Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy Act 2017, including any associated late or shortfall penalties, for at least 12 months after the due date. BDS Accounting, which had held AFS Licence number 489230 since December 2017, was authorised to provide financial product advice and deal in superannuation, limited to self-managed superannuation funds. ASIC said the firm’s failure to settle its industry levies met the conditions for cancellation. The levies form part of the regulator’s cost recovery framework, which requires licensed entities to contribute to the cost of regulating the financial services industry. BDS Accounting has the right to seek a review of the decision by appealing to the Administrative Review Tribunal. The regulator regularly uses its powers under the Corporations Act to enforce compliance with levy obligations, viewing the timely payment of levies as essential to ensuring fair cost-sharing among market participants. The post ASIC Cancels BDS Accounting’s Licence Over Unpaid Levies appeared first on LeapRate.

The firm said on Wednesday that the products span agricultural commodities, energy, metals and freight, and are listed on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange, the Dalian Commodity Exchange and the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange.  The initiative follows Marex’s approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission to act as an Overseas Intermediary. Marex said demand for these contracts has been growing among corporates and exporters seeking to manage long-term risks and enhance price discovery in Chinese domestic commodities.  The firm added that expanding access to China Internationalised Futures Contracts supports its strategy to broaden its geographic footprint and strengthen its relevance to clients. The move comes after the opening of Marex’s new Hong Kong office earlier this year, a step that Chief Executive Officer for Asia Pacific, Arthur Fan, said underlined the firm’s regional ambitions. “We continue to look for new ways to connect our global clients to Asian markets, providing them with new options to manage their risk,” Fan said. “This access is further evidence of our commitment to invest both in Asia and in our product offering, even during uncertain times in global markets.” Chinese commodity exchange-traded derivatives have grown rapidly since international market access was introduced in 2018.  According to the Futures Industry Association, they accounted for more than half of all global commodity contracts traded in the first five months of 2025. The post Marex Offers Access to China Internationalised Futures Contracts appeared first on LeapRate.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) found that between 2021 and 2024, MWL operated a so-called “low cost advice project” using referrals from telemarketers, leading more than 750 clients to invest $155 million in Shield.  ASIC said MWL failed to act in clients’ best interests, used misleading statements of advice, and had undisclosed bonus and referral arrangements. Deputy Chair Sarah Court said: “Clients who seek advice from financial advisers should be able to trust that the advice they receive will be in their best interest. Failing to manage conflicts has the potential to cause consumers to be given financial product advice that may not suit their needs.” ASIC determined that Maikousis was the “driving force” behind the scheme and lacked adequate appreciation of the obligations owed by a financial services provider.  He has been banned from providing or controlling any financial services business until 2035. The cancellation of MWL’s licence takes effect from 25 September 2025. ASIC has directed the firm to remain a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority until August 2026, allowing clients time to lodge complaints. The regulator’s investigation into Shield continues, including proceedings against Equity Trustees over alleged due diligence failures. Since 2022, more than 5,800 consumers have invested $480 million in the fund. The post ASIC Cancels MWL’s Licence and Bans Director Over Advice Failures appeared first on LeapRate.

The bank said its new direct payment rails provide “high transaction speed and a scalable platform,” designed to reduce the number of transaction hops compared with the common PSP-driven model.  The integration aims to boost success rates while simplifying reconciliation for merchants. Through a single connection to Deutsche Bank’s Merchant Solutions platform, clients gain access to UPI alongside cards and other local methods.  The bank’s orchestration layer routes payments via selected providers, with Deutsche Bank remaining the counterparty of record. Merchants can now accept UPI through QR codes, payment links and collection requests, with real-time reporting available online. Oliver von Quadt, Deutsche Bank’s global head of merchant solutions – acceptance, said the firm sees “significant potential to continue to grow our merchant solutions business in India.”  “While still early days, we are seeing significant interest from our corporate clients and PSPs on this offering with the objective of improving the overall customer experience,” he added. UPI handled 172 billion transactions worth $2.88 trillion in 2024 and is recognised in seven other countries including Singapore, France and the UAE.  Daily UPI transactions in India are expected to reach one billion in coming years, underlining the scale of the opportunity for banks and payment providers. The post Deutsche Bank Optimises UPI Connectivity to Streamline Merchant Payments in India appeared first on LeapRate.

The move makes eToro the first non-Nordic broker to offer complimentary real-time access to Nasdaq Nordic equities data to its global retail client base. The development builds on eToro’s existing agreement with Nasdaq for U.S. equity data and underscores both firms’ efforts to broaden retail investor access to localised markets. “Since our founding in 2007, eToro has built a global investment platform serving the needs of users from 75 countries around the world,” said Yossi Brandes, VP of Execution Services at eToro. “Many retail investors still have a strong home bias and this partnership enables us to offer a broader range of local stocks as well as superior pricing data for our users investing in European companies.” Retail participation in the Nordic main market has risen steadily, increasing from 7.7% in 2018 to 10.6% in the first quarter of 2025. Nasdaq Nordic exchanges, home to companies such as Volvo, H&M, Nokia and Novo Nordisk, have also historically delivered some of the strongest long-term real returns globally. “Expanding access to real-time market data is foundational to building a more connected and informed global investor community,” said Brandon Tepper, Global Head of Data at Nasdaq. The partnership also supports eToro’s broader strategy of expanding access to local markets through collaborations with other global exchanges. The post eToro Expands Partnership with Nasdaq to Offer Nordic Equities Data appeared first on LeapRate.

The firm has adopted Centroid Bridge, an advanced connectivity, liquidity distribution and execution engine, to improve trading performance, broaden its product suite and enhance risk management.  The integration is designed to support OW Markets’ growth strategy as it seeks to deliver a more competitive service to retail and institutional clients. “At OW Markets, we are always seeking ways to enhance our services and provide our clients with the most efficient and reliable trading solutions,” said Mohammad Yaghi, Founder and CEO at OW Markets. “With Centroid’s technology stack in place, we are poised to aggressively expand our offerings and achieve even greater heights.” The partnership is expected to deliver tighter spreads, deeper market access and faster trade execution.  Centroid Bridge also offers built-in tools to monitor and manage risks in real time, alongside infrastructure designed to scale with growing demand. Cristian Vlasceanu, CEO of Centroid Solutions, said: “It’s always exciting to collaborate with brokerages that are rapidly expanding.”  “Our technology is built to perform in high-throughput environments, and we look forward to helping OW Markets achieve new milestones in efficiency and success.” By strengthening its operational backbone, OW Markets aims to combine scale with innovation, while offering more flexible liquidity solutions tailored for financial institutions. The post OW Markets Partners with Centroid Solutions to Strengthen Brokerage Operations appeared first on LeapRate.

According to FINRA, between January 2018 and December 2021 the firm’s written supervisory procedures were not reasonably designed to ensure compliance with federal securities law requirements.  The regulator explained that under Rule 15c2-8(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, firms must provide customers expected to participate in an IPO with a preliminary prospectus at least 48 hours before sending a confirmation of sale. FINRA said J.P. Morgan’s supervisory system did not adequately verify whether delivery had taken place.  For most of the roughly 400 IPOs distributed during the review period, there was no supervisory check on whether institutional clients received the required documents.  In some cases, it was stated that customers who had declined electronic delivery were not added to the mailing list for hard copies, contrary to the firm’s own procedures. The regulator noted that J.P. Morgan identified some of the deficiencies in October 2021 and subsequently revised its procedures in December 2021 and again in January 2024. Without admitting or denying the findings, J.P. Morgan consented to the sanctions, which include a censure and the $150,000 fine. The firm also waived any right to contest its ability to pay. The post FINRA Fines J.P. Morgan Securities $150,000 Over IPO Prospectus Lapses appeared first on LeapRate.

Wuermeling, who will also chair the Supervisory Board of parent company 21.finance AG, brings extensive experience in financial governance and regulation.  He served on the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank from 2016 to 2023 and has held senior roles including Executive in Residence at ESMT Berlin and Attorney-at-Law at A&O Shearman.  He has also taught at Universität Potsdam for more than 25 years and sat on several supervisory boards in asset management. Max Heinzle, founder and chief executive of 21X, said Wuermeling’s appointment would be “crucial in navigating the complexities of the rapidly evolving digital asset ecosystem and ensuring our continued compliance.”  He added that his experience at the Bundesbank and involvement with international bodies such as the ECB Supervisory Board and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision would help shape the company’s long-term strategy. Wuermeling said he was “excited to be part of the journey of a frontrunner fintech and to navigate with the entire team the digital future of finance.”  He added that distributed ledger technology was gaining momentum quickly and stressed the need for 21X to maintain its pace and scale while meeting regulatory requirements. The company said the appointment underscored its commitment to strong governance and regulatory rigour as it moves to expand digital asset trading. The post 21X Appoints Joachim Wuermeling to Supervisory Board Ahead of Secondary Market Launch appeared first on LeapRate.

The decision was reportedly made by the company’s supervisory board on August 26, with the appointment subject to approval by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF). Once confirmed, Osiński will oversee XTB’s risk management system. Osiński brings over 15 years of experience in risk and financial oversight. A graduate of the Poznań University of Economics with a master’s degree in computer science and econometrics, he has also completed the CFA Level 1 exam and a series of specialist training programmes. His career began at the Polish Financial Supervision Authority in 2008 before moving to TMS Brokers S.A. Brokerage House as a risk specialist.  He later worked at Alior Bank S.A. assessing capital requirements, before rejoining TMS Brokers in senior roles, including head of the cash flow department and risk manager. Since 2021, Osiński has been a management board member for risk at OANDA TMS Brokers S.A., where he also served as risk director and head of financial risk at the OANDA Group. His tenure with OANDA will conclude on 31 August. XTB said the appointment strengthens its governance framework by adding specialist expertise to the management board.  The company added that Osiński’s track record in risk oversight positions him to support its ongoing growth and regulatory compliance. The post XTB Appoints Bartosz Osiński to Board as Risk Management Lead appeared first on LeapRate.

PISCES, or the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System, will allow buyers and sellers of shares in private companies to trade on an intermittent basis.  It is the world’s first regulated private stock market and will operate initially within the FCA’s financial markets infrastructure sandbox before a permanent regime is finalised in 2030. Simon Walls, executive director of markets at the FCA, said the approval marked “a major milestone in our drive to boost growth and unlock capital investment,” adding that it would help seed “a competitive market that gives greater investor access to exciting growth companies.” LSE chief executive Julia Hoggett welcomed the approval, describing it as “a significant step towards the launch of our Private Securities Market later this year.”  She added that the initiative would support firms “across all stages of their growth” by strengthening the continuum between private and public markets. Emma Reynolds, economic secretary to the Treasury, said the development showed government, regulators and industry working together to enhance the UK’s capital markets.  “This government is committed to working with the regulators and business to enhance our capital markets offering, supporting economic growth, and putting more money in working people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change,” she said. The post FCA Approves LSE as First Operator of New Private Stock Market PISCES appeared first on LeapRate.

The case centred on two ASX announcements made by TerraCom in February and April 2020, along with an open letter published in the Australian Financial Review and The Australian in March 2020.  In these communications, the company claimed that allegations made by a whistleblower were false and that its employees had been independently cleared. TerraCom later admitted the statements harmed the whistleblower by causing “hurt, humiliation, distress and embarrassment” and by damaging his reputation.  ASIC said the company had wrongly represented him as someone making baseless accusations for personal gain, despite an independent investigation partially supporting his claims. ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said the outcome sent a strong message. “ASIC took this case because whistleblowers shed light on important issues. Where corporations engage in conduct that harms whistleblowers, even unintentionally, they risk disincentivising others from coming forward. Companies should always properly consider and respond to the issues raised by whistleblowers,” she said. In addition to the $7.5 million penalty, TerraCom was ordered to pay ASIC’s legal costs of $1 million. The Federal Court proceedings followed a long-running dispute over a PricewaterhouseCoopers report commissioned by TerraCom into the allegations.  After several legal challenges, ASIC obtained access to the report in 2022. Civil penalty proceedings against four former TerraCom executives were dismissed last month. The post TerraCom Fined $7.5 Million in ASIC Whistleblower Case appeared first on LeapRate.

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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