Virtu Financial said Monday that Nissay Asset Management Corporation has adopted its Triton execution management system to enhance trading efficiency across global markets. The move follows a detailed vendor evaluation process. Nissay Asset Management, a wholly owned subsidiary established in 1995, specialises in insurance-related asset management and provides investment products for pension funds, individual investors and other long-term clients. The firm went live on Triton for domestic Japanese trading in September, with international desks due to transition later this year. Triton is a multi-asset execution platform designed for active traders and supports equities, ETFs, futures, options, FX and fixed income across more than 700 brokers and venues.  Virtu noted that the system integrates Algo Wheel and analytics tools, and can be tailored to client workflows, including bespoke wheel logic to meet internal requirements. Shuichi Uchida, head of trading at Nissay Asset Management, said adopting Triton and Virtu’s POSIT Alert had centralised “automated execution, RFQs, and IOIs” into a single interface.  He added that this “significantly enhanced our operational efficiency”, adding that the firm valued Triton’s “intuitive operability and scalability” alongside Virtu’s responsiveness to client needs. Nissay AM also highlighted Virtu’s strong client satisfaction within the Japanese institutional market and the companies’ longstanding relationship, having already implemented Virtu’s transaction cost analysis tools.  Phil Chevalier, co-head of Virtu Execution Services APAC, believes the selection validated the company’s strategy of providing flexible, best-in-class systems adaptable to clients’ workflow requirements.The post Nissay Asset Management Selects Triton to Streamline Trading Operations first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Virex Market has partnered with Spotware Systems to adopt the cTrader platform as the foundation of its trading environment.  The broker is aiming to deliver a more advanced and transparent experience for clients. It said the partnership aligns with its focus on building a secure, high-performance trading ecosystem.  By integrating cTrader, Virex Market will be able to provide access to a wide suite of tools designed for traders of all experience levels, including the cTrader Store, which offers trading bots, indicators, copy strategies, prop-trading challenges and plugins. cTrader has more than 11 million users globally and was recently named “Top Trading Platform for Brokers” by Finance Magnates for 2026. Its open-architecture design allows brokers to customise interfaces through plugins and connect with more than 100 third-party FX and CFD solutions. Virex Market CEO Wasi Mohammadi said the partnership represents “a strategic step in building Virex Market as a truly technology-driven brokerage,” adding that cTrader’s transparency and institutional-grade architecture support the firm’s values of fairness and long-term trader trust. Spotware COO Yiota Hadjilouka believes Virex Market’s innovation-led approach made it a natural partner for cTrader, enabling the delivery of “powerful tools and best-in-class trading experience” across its client base. The integration also enhances Virex Market’s social-trading functionality through cTrader Copy.The post Virex Market Partners With Spotware to Expand Trading-Platform Offering first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

On Friday, Compagnie Financière Tradition revealed an 11.4 percent increase in revenue to CHF 1.20 billion in 2025 on a constant-currency basis. The rise was said to have been supported by heightened market activity amid shifting global monetary policy and rising geopolitical uncertainty. The company said investors’ need to reposition portfolios drove higher transaction volumes across asset classes and regions.  Revenue from its interdealer broking division rose 11.2 percent, while its Japanese online retail FX business grew 18.8 percent. EBITDA, including joint ventures, increased 24.6 percent to CHF 209.9 million, with an operating margin of 17.4 percent.  Operating profit rose 28.9 percent to CHF 187.4 million at constant exchange rates. The group noted that reported performance was tempered by the stronger Swiss franc, particularly against the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen. Net profit attributable to shareholders increased 22.2 percent to CHF 134.2 million, with basic earnings per share rising to CHF 17.55. The board plans to propose an 11.1 percent increase in the dividend to CHF 7.50 per share. The group maintained a strong balance sheet, with consolidated equity at CHF 565.8 million before treasury shares and net cash of CHF 282.7 million including joint-venture holdings. Compagnie Financière Tradition said activity early in 2026 is ahead of last year at constant exchange rates, and it intends to prioritise organic growth, targeted recruitment and investment in digitalisation, data and analytics.  The company said strengthening balance-sheet quality and managing costs remain central to sustaining long-term resilience.The post Compagnie Financière Tradition Reports Strong 2025 Performance first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

TradingView revealed last week that it has added live market data from Singapore-based Antarctic Exchange, which enables users to chart its perpetual contracts directly on the platform. The integration is said to give traders access to pairs including BTCUSDT.P, ETHUSDT.P and SOLUSDT.P, which can now be added to watchlists and analysed using TradingView’s suite of indicators, alerts and charting tools.  Antarctic Exchange, founded in 2024, noted that it has processed more than $21 billion in trading volume and serves over 280,000 active addresses.  The platform positions itself as offering centralised-exchange performance while maintaining a transparent settlement design with on-chain verification components. TradingView commented that the addition strengthens its coverage of global digital-asset markets and forms part of its broader expansion of real-time data sources.  The platform provides access to over two million tradable instruments across hundreds of feeds. Antarctic Exchange believes its collaboration with TradingView enhances accessibility and supports more efficient analysis of its markets as its user base grows.The post Antarctic Exchange Data Goes Live on TradingView first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has opened an enforcement investigation into Market Financial Solutions Limited (MFS), which entered administration on 25 February. The regulator said MFS was registered only for compliance with the UK’s Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds regulations and was not otherwise authorised or subject to broader FCA oversight.  MFS specialised in complex property-related loans and had grown rapidly in recent years. Its failure has left creditors, including banks and private credit funds, with substantial exposures. Administrators from AlixPartners are overseeing the process. In its brief statement, the FCA confirmed the investigation but provided no detail on the focus of inquiries, although it has been reported that it comes amid allegations of fraud.The post FCA Launches Enforcement Investigation into Market Financial Solutions first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Ledger announced last week that it has appointed finance veteran John Andrews as its new chief financial officer.  The company also revealed it has opened a New York City office as part of a multi-million-dollar investment to scale its U.S. presence. Ledger secures more than 20 percent of global crypto assets and over 30 percent of dollar stablecoins held by retail investors. It said the move strengthens its position in its largest market globally.  Andrews joins from Circle, where he led capital markets and investor relations. Ledger noted that Andrews brings more than 25 years of financial-sector experience and will play a central role in expanding its institutional offering.  Meanwhile, the new office is expected to serve as a strategic hub for Ledger Enterprise, the firm’s infrastructure platform aimed at banks, asset managers, custodians and stablecoin issuers seeking secure digital-asset governance. Pascal Gauthier, chairman and CEO, said Andrews “brings the institutional rigour and financial leadership necessary to scale Ledger’s global vision,” adding that positioning Ledger Enterprise “at the epicentre of the financial world” would help meet rising demand for cryptographic security. The expansion coincides with Ledger’s broader effort to develop AI-accelerated security tools combining hardware protection, cryptography and artificial intelligence.  The company highlighted that teams remain “human-in-the-loop” to preserve expertise while enhancing productivity. Andrews believes Ledger had built “the most trusted security platform for digital assets” and was well placed to support institutions entering the sector.  The office opening follows a multi-year partnership with the San Antonio Spurs and will be marked by an industry event on 23 March.The post Ledger Appoints New CFO and Opens New York Office first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

CAB Payments has rejected a possible cash offer from StoneX Group Inc., stating that the proposal “significantly undervalues” the business and its medium-term prospects. The company received the unsolicited, non-binding proposal on 15 March, with StoneX indicating a possible offer price of 95 pence per share.  CAB Payments’ Independent Board, together with its advisers, carried out an assessment of the proposal and concluded that the price does not reflect the group’s progress or outlook.  The board has formally communicated its rejection to StoneX. In its evaluation, the company said it considered what it described as a “significant improvement” in financial and operational performance during FY25, alongside the medium-term guidance issued with its 2025 results.  It also consulted with major shareholders regarding the approach. CAB Payments noted that it continues to see strategic value in the group’s relationship-led business model, its ability to win and retain clients, and its differentiated emerging-market payments network.  It added that its regulated platform and growth strategy underpinned confidence in delivering “attractive total returns” for shareholders. Under the Takeover Code, the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers will set a deadline by which StoneX must either announce a firm intention to make an offer or confirm it does not intend to proceed. The post CAB Payments Rejects Takeover Approach from StoneX first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

London Stock Exchange Group has announced a series of senior appointments to strengthen its European-equities business, expanding leadership across the London Stock Exchange and its pan-European venue, Turquoise. Simon McQuoid-Mason, appointed in December 2025, will now lead Business Development alongside New Product Development and Market Structure.  LSEG said his expertise in market structure and electronic trading would support efforts to enhance execution quality and deepen customer partnerships. Tom Stenhouse has been appointed chief executive of Turquoise, subject to regulatory approval. He will also remain head of product, overseeing Turquoise Europe’s operations and the expansion of its trading footprint across the continent. Two further appointments were made at Turquoise Europe, based in Amsterdam. Elian Matthijssen becomes director, responsible for operating the venue and driving ecosystem growth, while Remko van Moll joins as senior business-development manager to lead customer engagement. Charlie Walker, deputy chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, said the appointments reinforce LSEG’s ambition to operate “competitive equities trading venues in Europe”. The post LSEG Strengthens European Equities Leadership with Senior Appointments first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Tradeweb Markets has expanded its dealer algorithmic-execution offering for U.S. Treasuries, adding strategies from Citi and RBC Capital Markets.  The move builds on the firm’s U.S. launch of dealer algorithms last year and supports its strategy to deepen liquidity and provide diversified execution styles. The algorithms allow institutional investors to execute Treasury orders over defined time horizons using liquidity from participating dealers.  The company noted that the enhancement supports its effort to integrate algo tools with proprietary data and analytics, moving towards a unified multi-dealer, multi-asset platform. Tradeweb said the suite complements its wider fixed-income ecosystem, including cash-and-futures spread execution.  The firm reported record average daily U.S. government-bond volumes of $237.2 billion in 2025, up 11.6 percent. Bhas Nalabothula, head of U.S. institutional rates, believes the addition of Citi and RBC will “strengthen the depth and breadth” of its multi-dealer environment.  Citi’s Jamie Mortimore stated that its algos provide firm, multi-level prices that improve clarity in fast markets. RBC’s Darcy Greenham said its tools integrate market intelligence to help clients optimise order management.The post Tradeweb Expands Dealer Algo Execution Suite for U.S. Treasuries first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Euronext has successfully launched the Euronext Nord Pool Power Futures market, completing a full migration of open interest from Nasdaq Clearing and marking a key step in its Innovate for Growth 2027 strategy. The market went live on 16 March following the transfer of 173 TWh of open interest.  All Nordic and Baltic power-futures contracts are now traded on the Optiq platform and cleared through Euronext Clearing.  The group stated that the launch contributes to Europe’s strategic autonomy by providing companies with tools to manage electricity price volatility. Euronext believes the initiative reinforces its long-term commitment to the Nordic region, following its acquisitions of Oslo Børs, Euronext Securities Oslo, Euronext Securities Copenhagen, Nord Pool and Admincontrol.  The new marketplace aims to revitalise liquidity through dedicated liquidity-provider programmes and a capital-efficient clearing model using Value-at-Risk methodologies. Eighty-six participants have connected to the market, with 16 clearing members offering the contracts. The platform will provide a unified venue for physical-power and futures-trading access, supporting cross-border integration and Europe’s wider energy-market development. Camille Beudin, chair of the Nord Pool board, said the launch, “reinforcing Europe’s strategic autonomy in the energy sector,” was a major milestone.  She added that combining Nord Pool’s benchmarks with Euronext infrastructure had created a “resilient and capital-efficient marketplace” designed to support price discovery and risk management in volatile energy conditions.The post Euronext Launches Nord Pool Power Futures Market  first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Pyth Network has launched Pyth Pro X, a market-data service designed for exchanges operating multi-asset markets.  The service provides real-time pricing and collateral-valuation tools for venues including Bitget, BitMEX, Coinbase, Crypto.com, DreamCash, LMAX and TradeXYZ. Pyth Pro X aims to replace fragmented vendor feeds and restrictive data-licensing arrangements with a unified price layer supporting crypto, equities, indices, FX and structured products.  Douro Labs chief executive Mike Cahill said the system was designed to break “the barriers preventing institutions from operating a truly real-time, global exchange”. The service offers sub-100-millisecond latency and more than 2,500 price feeds. It also includes 24/5 continuous pricing for over 50 U.S. equities to support the expansion of equity perpetuals and cross-margin frameworks. Marc Zeitouni, chief executive of Coinbase International Exchange, said integrating the service would help deliver “region-specific solutions” supported by high-fidelity pricing.  BitMEX’s Samuel Sandiford stated that it had become foundational for valuing crypto and real-world-asset collateral through a single data source. Pyth Pro X builds on the adoption of Pyth Pro, which surpassed $1 million in annual recurring revenue in its first month.The post Pyth Network Unveils Pro X Data Service for Multi-Asset Exchanges first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Flow Traders has launched a digital-assets OTC offering providing 24/7 two-way liquidity for tokenised money-market funds, equities and commodities, including Franklin Templeton’s BENJI and Tether Gold. The firm said the move reflects rising institutional demand to trade tokenised assets outside traditional market hours. The company noted that secondary-market activity for tokenised equities and commodities has grown across overnight and weekend sessions, creating a need for continuous liquidity and improved execution frameworks.  Chief executive Thomas Spitz stated that tokenisation could represent “one of the next major steps” in market-structure evolution, adding that activity in some large-cap U.S. stocks had at times reached 2–3 percent of notional volumes in tokenised and synthetic markets. Through the OTC platform, counterparties can hedge tokenised equity and commodity exposures using fiat or stablecoins, with risk controls designed for out-of-hours trading. Connectivity is available via FIX, OMS/EMS systems, ECNs or high-touch channels. Paolo Ardoino, chief executive of Tether, noted that demand for gold in both traditional and on-chain markets had accelerated, highlighting the role of liquidity providers in supporting assets such as XAU₮.  “Supporting XAU₮ across multiple exchanges and through their OTC desk helps strengthen the market structure around digital representations of physical gold,” he said. Flow Traders said asset coverage would expand in line with demand, regulatory requirements and supported venues, with availability varying by jurisdiction.The post Flow Traders Launches 24/7 OTC Liquidity for Tokenised Assets first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

MPC drops easing guidance as markets price in rate hikes for first time since 2023 The Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75% today in a unanimous 9-0 vote, the first time the MPC has voted unanimously on rates since September 2021, and a markedly more hawkish outcome than the 7-2 split most economists had expected. The decision itself was widely anticipated. What caught markets off guard was the unity. Even the committee’s most dovish members chose to hold fire, signalling that the Middle East conflict has fundamentally changed the policy calculus. Critically, the MPC dropped the forward guidance it had issued in February, that “Bank Rate is likely to be reduced further”, declining to repeat the line in its March statement. In its place, the committee said it was assessing both the inflation risk from higher energy prices and the drag on growth those prices would cause, and that it “stands ready to act as necessary.” A hawkish surprise Markets reacted swiftly. Pricing for BoE rate hikes in 2026 jumped to 65 basis points immediately after the announcement, up from 39 basis points beforehand. Two-year gilt yields surged 33 basis points on the day to 4.43%, the highest level since January 2025, extending a sell-off that had begun earlier on reports of further damage to gas infrastructure in Qatar. Sterling briefly strengthened against both the dollar and the euro following the announcement. CMC Markets: a “cautiously optimistic” hold Chris Cheverall, Head of UK at CMC Markets, said the unanimous hold reflects a pragmatic stance from the MPC rather than a pivot toward tightening. “Before the outbreak of the war, inflation was expected to fall closer to the 2% CPI target,” Cheverall said. “While the conflict in the Middle East may not be the primary driver of the decision to hold interest rates at 3.75%, tensions in the region are a consideration thanks to the sustained rise in oil and gas prices and increased uncertainty.” Cheverall characterised the decision as “a cautiously optimistic assessment of the UK growth outlook,” adding that holding steady “suggests the continuation of a more balanced approach, underscoring the view that policy is now firmly in restrictive territory, while avoiding the risk of overtightening into a weakening macroeconomic backdrop.” “By holding steady at 3.75%, the MPC is choosing to maintain a firm stance and buy time to avoid overreacting to short-term data,” he said. “Market focus now turns to the coming months, and what the eventual impact of the conflict and resulting energy crisis will be.” Divided in tone, united in vote While the vote was unanimous, the commentary from individual MPC members revealed a spectrum of views on what comes next. Chief Economist Huw Pill, who has consistently voted against recent rate cuts, said second-round inflationary effects from the energy shock “remain substantial” and that he is “ready to act” if longer-term inflation pressures emerge. At the other end of the committee, Alan Taylor, one of the most vocal supporters of easing, pushed back on the idea that a hike is imminent, saying he currently sees “a high bar to hiking” given the massive uncertainty around energy prices. Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden went further, saying he would have voted for a 25bp cut had it not been for the Middle East conflict, suggesting the underlying economic case for easing remains intact once the geopolitical fog clears. The economic backdrop The MPC is navigating what amounts to a stagflationary bind. GDP was flat in January, with Bank staff estimating underlying quarterly growth of just 0.1-0.2% in Q1. The unemployment rate stands at 5.2%, and labour demand remains weak. At the same time, Bank staff projections suggest the direct contribution of energy prices to CPI inflation in Q3 2026 will be around three-quarters of a percentage point, pushing the headline rate to an estimated 3.5%, well above the 2% target the Bank had expected to hit by mid-year. Prior to the Middle East conflict, disinflation had been progressing. Private sector regular pay growth had slowed to 3.3% in the three months to January, below the Bank’s February forecast. That progress has now been overtaken by events. What comes next The MPC’s next meeting concludes on 30 April, and the committee indicated it expects to have more information by then to assess the situation. For now, the message is clear: the hurdle to hiking is high, but the path back to cutting has become significantly longer. As Governor Bailey put it, monetary policy cannot reverse the energy shock, but it can respond to the risk that it becomes embedded in UK inflation expectations. The question for markets is whether “respond” eventually means tighten, or simply wait. The post Bank of England holds rates at 3.75% in surprise unanimous vote as Middle East conflict upends outlook first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

On Thursday, IG Group reported record financial results for the 12 months to 31 December 2025 and announced a strategic review aimed at maximising long-term shareholder value. Chief executive Breon Corcoran said: “Record financial results and accelerating customer growth demonstrate the strength of IG’s platform… now is the time to raise our ambitions.” Total revenue rose 7 percent year on year to £1.12 billion, while net trading revenue increased 10 percent to £1 billion. EBITDA edged 1 percent higher to £531.1 million, with margins remaining robust at 47.3 percent despite lower interest income and increased investment in technology, marketing and strategic initiatives. Adjusted earnings per share rose 5 percent to 115.3 pence, and the company announced a new £125 million share buyback. Customer metrics strengthened. First trades climbed 81 percent to 128,800, while active customers rose 174 percent to 742,100, driven largely by the acquisition of Freetrade. Excluding acquisitions, active customers were up 6 percent. The board has commenced a strategic review to evaluate options, including acquisitions, potential changes to IG’s domicile or listing venues, and possible combinations with other industry participants. The outcome will be presented at a Strategy Update in autumn 2026. A trading update for the three months to 28 February 2026 showed revenue up 2 percent to £274.2 million and net trading revenue up 5 percent. Assets under administration reached £19.5 billion after product expansion at Freetrade and the completion of IG’s acquisition of Independent Reserve. IG said it enters 2026 with “strong momentum”, expecting revenue growth towards the top end of its mid-to-high single-digit target range.The post IG Reports Record Revenue, Launches Strategic Review to Boost Long-Term Growth first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has launched ICE Private Credit Intelligence, a data platform to increase transparency in the fast-growing private credit market.  The service is being supported by anchor partner Apollo, with additional firms expected to join in the coming months. Private credit, now estimated at around $40 trillion globally, has grown rapidly amid regulatory shifts and rising demand for longer-duration capital.  However, ICE said data standards and information flows have not kept pace with the market’s expansion. The new platform establishes a private-credit data layer aligned with the experience of public credit markets.  Features include permissioned data-sharing using standardised reference data, large-scale document ingestion and extraction, and structured distribution of deal-level information.  ICE intends to expand capabilities into performance analytics, pricing insights and improved risk-management tools. “By bringing our vast data science expertise, and working with a leading firm like Apollo, we’re excited to launch a new service that will solve crucial challenges in the private credit market,” said Chris Edmonds, president of fixed income and data services at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). Eric Needleman, head of Apollo Capital Solutions at Apollo, feels that stronger infrastructure and more standardised data will support the sector’s continued maturation.The post Intercontinental Exchange Launches Private-Credit Data Platform with Apollo first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

LCH RepoClear and Clearstream have expanded their collaboration to allow settlement of Dutch government debt through Clearstream’s pan-European central securities depository solution. The upgrade enables RepoClear members to settle both cash and repo transactions in Dutch sovereign instruments within a harmonised cross-border post-trade environment.  The firms said the change supports greater European market integration, reduces fragmentation and enhances access to one of the continent’s most liquid government bond markets. By using Clearstream’s infrastructure, participants will be able to manage multiple markets through a single access point, benefiting from standardised settlement processes and improved mobilisation of cross-border collateral.  The extension also contributes to the development of Clearstream’s Trade Flow Hub, which consolidates cleared and uncleared activity through one settlement gateway. “The extension of Dutch debt through our collaboration with LCH RepoClear reinforces harmonisation across European markets,” said Dirk Loscher, head of custody and investor solutions at Clearstream.  Meanwhile, Michel Semaan, head of LCH RepoClear, stated that the move would “drive greater efficiency” for members. The service went live on 16 March and forms part of wider European efforts to modernise clearing and settlement infrastructure following recent regulatory and operational harmonisation initiatives.The post LCH RepoClear Expands Dutch Debt Settlement Through Clearstream first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

S&P Dow Jones Indices has licensed the S&P 500 to Trade[XYZ], enabling the launch of what the firms describe as the first officially licensed perpetual derivative contract linked to the benchmark index.  The product will trade on Hyperliquid, a decentralised, high-performance blockchain optimised for trading. The move marks the first time eligible non-U.S. investors can access leveraged S&P 500 exposure through an officially sanctioned, digitally native instrument available 24 hours a day.  Perpetual derivatives provide long or short leveraged positioning without a fixed expiry. The S&P 500 underpins more than $1 trillion in daily trading activity across futures, options, ETFs and structured products.  Bringing an officially licensed version on-chain expands access to the benchmark’s liquidity ecosystem and offers continuous trading outside traditional market hours. “This collaboration expands access and utility of our flagship benchmarks within digital trading environments,” said Cameron Drinkwater, chief product and operations officer at S&P Dow Jones Indices.  Collins Belton, chief operating officer and general counsel at Trade[XYZ]’s parent company, noted that the S&P 500 was “a natural starting point” for on-chain market expansion. The announcement follows earlier decentralised-finance initiatives from S&P Dow Jones Indices, including the S&P Digital Markets 50 index.The post S&P Dow Jones Indices Licenses S&P 500 to Trade[XYZ] For Perpetual Contracts first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

BridgeWise and Alpaca hae announced a strategic partnership to bring institutional-grade investment intelligence to the financial institutions using Alpaca’s brokerage infrastructure. The agreement gives Alpaca’s global network access to BridgeWise’s multi-language AI analysis, which covers more than 70,000 securities.  The firms said the combination of BridgeWise’s analytical engine and Alpaca’s scalable, multi-asset execution infrastructure offers an integrated “intelligence-to-execution’’ pathway for brokerages and their end-users. “Alpaca has set the gold standard for brokerage infrastructure,” commented Dor Eligula, chief business officer and co-founder of BridgeWise.  He believes the partnership will help eliminate friction and make insights more accessible to investors globally. Tarun Ajwani, chief revenue officer at Alpaca, added that BridgeWise’s AI engine provides “high-level analysis previously reserved for professional desks”. Financial platforms using Alpaca’s Broker API will now be able to offer clients not only security ratings and asset-level insights but also instant trade execution in stocks, ETFs, options, fixed income and crypto.The post BridgeWise and Alpaca Form Partnership to Deliver AI-Driven Investment Insights first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Robinhood has begun rolling out the beta version of its new in-app community product, Robinhood Social, to a select group of its most active customers, the company said this week. The feature, first previewed at the firm’s HOOD Summit last autumn, aims to create a verified social environment where traders can share strategies, follow others and view live, authenticated trades. The initial beta group consists of 1,000 customers who attended the September summit, with a further 10,000 to be added in the coming weeks.  “Beta allows us to learn quickly and build thoughtfully, prioritising quality, trust and feedback from our most active traders,” stated Abhishek Fatehpuria, the company’s vice president of product management. Robinhood Social introduces verified trader profiles, live trade viewing, and the ability to post and discuss trades across equities, single-leg options, crypto and prediction markets.  Participants can also view one-year and daily performance data, including profit and loss metrics. Upcoming features in the beta include news feeds, expanded trade-posting capabilities for futures and multi-leg options, and tools enabling users to follow insiders, hedge funds and politicians. The company noted that users were selected based on trading frequency and user-research criteria, and that the closed rollout will help refine moderation policies and identify missing features or bugs.  Robinhood said it hopes to move Robinhood Social out of beta “as quickly as possible”, with timing for general availability to be announced later.The post Robinhood Begins Beta Rollout of New Social Trading Product first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

The MPC faces its trickiest call in years: inflation is rising, but so is unemployment The Bank of England is expected to hold rates steady today, but the decision itself is almost beside the point. What matters is how the MPC frames a policy landscape that has shifted dramatically in under three weeks. As Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, notes, the probability of a rate cut at this meeting stood at 80% less than three weeks ago. Now markets are pricing a small chance of a hike. The swing has nothing to do with domestic data and everything to do with the Middle East conflict driving an historic energy price spike. Not 2022 again The temptation for the MPC will be to reach for the 2022 playbook, when surging energy costs sent UK inflation into double digits and the Bank was accused of acting too late. But Brooks argues the comparison is misleading. In 2022, the UK economy was running hot — post-Covid momentum, record-low unemployment, rapid wage growth, and a consumer willing to spend. None of that applies now. The UK recorded zero growth in January. Unemployment is climbing. Youth joblessness is acute, and recruiters report a markedly tougher hiring environment. A hawkish signal from the BOE in this context — one that pushes mortgage rates higher for the 1.8 million UK households expected to refinance in 2026 — would risk compounding an already fragile outlook. The 2011 parallel Brooks points to a more instructive precedent: 2011, when energy prices were similarly elevated but the BOE chose not to tighten, prioritising support for a vulnerable economy over an inflation threat it judged to be externally driven. She expects the MPC to adopt the same posture — acknowledging upside inflation risks while signalling that the bar for a hike remains high. The key distinction the BOE is likely to draw: this energy shock is not purely an inflation event. In a weak economy, higher energy costs act as a tax on growth, dampening demand rather than stoking a wage-price spiral. What the swaps market is telling us The overnight index swaps curve paints a clear picture of where expectations have moved. Today’s meeting is priced as a near-certainty hold, with the implied overnight rate steady at 3.729% through April. But from June onward, the market is pricing a cumulative shift toward tightening — with the implied rate climbing to 3.921% by September and reaching 3.952% by December, representing close to a full 25bp hike priced in by year-end. The sharpest single-meeting jump comes at the September meeting, where the probability of a hike surges above 30%. If the BOE pushes back on that trajectory today, rate expectations could reprice meaningfully lower. Market implications Sterling remains vulnerable. GBP/USD is trading below its 200-day moving average, and Brooks identifies the next support level at around $1.32 — last week’s low. A less hawkish tone from the MPC could accelerate the move. EUR/GBP may offer a cleaner read on the BOE decision, stripped of dollar effects. The weekly chart shows the pair trading around 0.8642 after a sharp sell-off from the November highs near 0.8700. The pound has outperformed the euro through the duration of the conflict, pushing EUR/GBP back toward levels last seen in April 2025. Brooks sees scope for a recovery toward 0.8685 — the 50-day moving average — particularly if the BOE strikes a dovish tone. The ECB, which also meets today, was already inclined toward an extended pause before the crisis, making EUR/GBP strength the path of least resistance if the MPC disappoints hawks. The oil price, ultimately, is driving the bus. Where it goes, rate expectations and currency markets will follow. Kathleen Brooks is research director at XTB.The post Bank of England may hold fire as energy shock rewrites the rate outlook first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.