CME Group said Thursday that it has launched a broad-based Agriculture Index designed to provide a unified price benchmark tracking the aggregate performance of five sectors central to the global farm economy. The index integrates futures prices across Grains, Oilseeds, Livestock, Dairy and Lumber, and will be updated on a monthly basis.  CME Group said the five-sector structure allows the benchmark to comprehensively track structural changes in supply chains, shifting industrial demand and evolving consumer habits affecting the cost of farm goods worldwide. John Ricci, Managing Director and Global Head of Agricultural Products at CME Group, stated: “Agriculture doesn’t move one commodity at a time — and neither should the benchmarks that track it.  “By aggregating futures prices across five sectors on a single platform, the CME Group Agriculture Index gives producers, traders and analysts a more complete read on the farm economy and where it’s headed.” The index methodology is said to be designed to neutralise price differences between delivery months for futures contracts while applying appropriate weightings across different markets, providing what CME Group described as a fair representation of commodity costs. The Agriculture Index complements the existing Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, a monthly nationwide survey of 400 agricultural producers measuring sentiment and outlook on the farm economy.The post CME Group Launches Agriculture Index to Track Global Farm Economy Across 5 Commodity Sectors first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

CME Group announced on Thursday its plans to launch Treasury Link, a new service designed to connect U.S. Treasury futures and cash markets through a single spread trading mechanism. The derivatives marketplace described the service as an industry first, adding that it is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026 subject to regulatory review. It is expected to enable transparent, centralised spread trading between CBOT Treasury futures and BrokerTec cash Treasuries on CME Globex.  CME explained that by leveraging the technology behind its existing FX Link product, Treasury Link will allow market participants to transact the differential between futures and cash markets via a single submission, eliminating legging risk for the first time. “Treasury Link will connect the cash and futures markets in a way that wasn’t possible before — delivering faster, more efficient execution to market participants and unlocking new spread trading opportunities across fixed income,” commented Mike Dennis, Global Head of Fixed Income at CME Group.  Reed Staub, Head of North American Futures Execution at Morgan Stanley, said the introduction of Treasury Link “removes a significant variable — legging risk — from the equation, and represents a major leap forward in market structure efficiency.” The launch comes as CME Group’s fixed income complex continues to see strong trading volumes. In the first half of 2026, interest rate futures and options average daily volume rose 9% year-on-year to 16.6 million contracts, with BrokerTec overall average daily volume up 13% to $1.067 trillion.  U.S. Treasury futures set a single-day volume record of 37.6 million contracts on 26 May.The post CME Group to Launch Treasury Link to Connect Cash and Futures U.S. Treasury Markets first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) has announced that Centralised Raiffeisen International Services & Payments S.R.L. (CRISP), the shared service centre for Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), has upgraded to the company’s next-generation reconciliation platform, BRx Match. The implementation is designed to support CRISP’s expanding business needs, improving efficiency, transparency and accuracy across markets in Europe and Asia while reducing risk exposure. The new platform will also help CRISP manage a projected fourfold increase in transaction volumes across its operating regions. Andreea-Beatrice Manea, General Manager at CRISP, said a modernised and scalable reconciliation platform is essential for maintaining operational excellence and meeting regulatory requirements. She added that the long-standing partnership with Broadridge continues to deliver value, with BRx Match providing the technology needed to support CRISP’s growth ambitions while ensuring compliance with current industry standards. The agreement builds on a business relationship between the two companies dating back to 2009 and represents a significant step forward in CRISP’s reconciliation infrastructure. Sandeep Saggi, General Manager, Regulatory Solutions and Data Control at Broadridge, said the expanded partnership highlights the company’s ability to support complex, multi-market reconciliation needs as institutions modernise their operations. BRx Match’s cloud-based architecture offers enhanced automation, improved exception management and integration with ISO 20022 messaging standards. The platform will support CRISP’s operations across 14 markets, including the DACH region, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia, covering both new implementations and migrations from earlier Broadridge solutions.The post Broadridge Upgrades Raiffeisen Bank’s Reconciliation Technology with BRx Match first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a circular ordering internet brokers and virtual asset trading platform operators (VATPs) in Hong Kong to abandon one-time passwords (OTPs) in favour of phishing-resistant authentication methods, as account takeover attacks targeting client credentials continue to rise. The regulator’s directive, published on 9 July 2026, requires firms to stop using OTPs for both client login and device binding, citing well-documented vulnerabilities in the technology alongside the emergence of more secure alternatives such as passkeys and bound-device recognition. Firms have up to 12 months to comply, though the SFC expects larger internet brokers to move immediately. Phishing remains a dominant threat vector, accounting for 57% of security incidents reported to the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre in 2025. The SFC first flagged concerns over OTP reliance in a February 2025 circular on cybersecurity reviews of licensed corporations. Beyond authentication upgrades, the SFC is pushing firms to strengthen monitoring for suspicious login, trading and withdrawal activity, notify clients promptly of key account events, and respond swiftly to hacking incidents. Dr Eric Yip, the SFC’s Executive Director of Intermediaries, said protecting client accounts demands a layered approach. “Licensed firms should strengthen their first line of defence with robust authentication solutions, stay alert to suspicious activities, and respond swiftly before harm is done,” he said. The SFC stressed that senior management at internet brokers and VATPs bear ultimate responsibility for account security, warning it will hold firms accountable for client losses stemming from control failures. Investors, meanwhile, are being urged to use strong, unique passwords, keep devices updated, access accounts only via official channels, and report suspicious activity immediately to their firms and relevant authorities.The post Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission Orders Phishing-Resistant Logins for Brokers, Crypto Platforms first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

CMC Markets, a FTSE 250 company and global multi-asset financial services firm, has expanded its CMC Invest platform by launching fractional investing. The company revealed that fractional investing is now available across CMC Invest’s Stocks & Shares ISA, Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and General Investment Account (GIA). The launch enables clients to buy and sell fractional shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), allowing them to invest from as little as £1. The brokerage explained that by investing based on value rather than needing to purchase whole shares, clients can build more diversified portfolios tailored to an investment amount that suits them, all while continuing to benefit from commission-free investing. The move is said to reflect CMC Markets’ ongoing investment in its wealth proposition, aiming to broaden access to investing through a simpler and more flexible experience that gives retail investors greater choice and control over how they manage their money. Lachlan Rourke-Davies, Senior Product Manager at CMC Markets, commented on the launch, saying that investing should be defined by an investor’s goals rather than the price of a single share. He added that fractional investing gives clients greater flexibility to build diversified portfolios in a way that works for them, helping them invest with more confidence, while reinforcing the company’s continued focus on making investing more accessible to everyone. The launch of fractional shares comes as part of a broader push by CMC Markets to strengthen its position in the wealth management space, as the company continues to roll out features designed to lower barriers to entry for everyday investors across the UK.The post CMC Markets Launches Fractional Investing on CMC Invest Platform first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Marex Group Limited (NASDAQ:MRX), the diversified global financial services platform, announced on July 9 that it has agreed to acquire Bright Point International (BPI), an Asian focused clearing business, in a move designed to strengthen its presence across Asia Pacific and open up access to Chinese markets. BPI, based in Singapore, is a multi-asset clearing business with established relationships across the Asia Pacific region and China. The company gives clients access to commodities and financial products, including FX, index futures and options, and digital asset derivatives. Through the acquisition, Marex will gain around $800 million in client balances and more than 70 employees based in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Norway and the United Kingdom. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval, with completion expected by late 2026 or early 2027. Thomas Texier, Group Head of Clearing at Marex, said the deal would bring in an experienced team while driving additional revenue through new clients and increased balances. He added that the acquisition should also deliver synergies from internalizing certain clearing activities and would improve Marex’s ability to serve clients throughout Asia while offering better access to Chinese markets. Kenny Mah, Group CEO of BPI, described the announcement as the start of a new chapter for the business, saying the move to Marex would accelerate growth and widen the range of solutions available to clients, while giving staff access to a larger global platform. Marex operates in more than 50 offices worldwide and serves over 3,400 active clients across commodity and financial markets.The post Marex Group Agrees to Acquire Bright Point International, Expanding Asia Pacific Clearing Business first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Exness, one of the world’s largest multi-asset brokers, proudly welcomes Arab trader, educator, and author Hussain Almatrouk to Exness Team Pro, the global network of elite traders and mentors who embody trading excellence and a strong sense of integrity. A veteran trader, active since 2009, Hussain Almatrouk brings a distinctive perspective shaped by years of market experience, a career in educational technology, as well as a strong commitment to trader education. As a published novelist and community leader, he combines analytical thinking with emotional intelligence, helping traders build structured routines and manage risk more deliberately while developing the emotional discipline needed to avoid impulsive decisions. Exness Team Pro brings together respected traders from around the world who share their expertise, mentor trading communities, and promote a culture of transparency grounded in discipline and continuous learning. Hussain’s addition strengthens the team’s presence in the wider GCC, where his rational approach to trading has earned him a following of over 45,000 on Instagram and nearly 12,000 on YouTube, making him a trusted voice within the trading community. Hussain’s trading philosophy is built around one central belief: managing losses is more important than chasing profits. He emphasizes emotional control and strict risk management while actively avoiding revenge trading and encouraging traders to respect the market and remain disciplined under pressure. This mindset also guides his community work, including gatherings inspired by ‘diwaniya’ culture, where discussion, learning, and shared experience play an important role. Dildora Djalolova, Exness Head of Social Media, commented, “Hussain embodies the qualities we value in an Exness Team Pro member: discipline, transparency, and a genuine commitment to trader education. The way he approaches trader development, with a strong focus on emotional discipline, reflects exactly what we look for in the Team Pro, someone who helps others trade better. The diwaniya-inspired community he has built in MENA is a great example of this, and it represents the kind of authentic, grassroots influence that is difficult to manufacture. We are proud to have him represent Exness in the region.” Speaking about joining Exness Team Pro, Hussain said, “Joining Exness Team Pro comes with real responsibility. When traders follow your work, the broker you associate with reflects on your credibility. I chose Exness because of its transparency, reliability, and trading conditions, from instant withdrawals1 to stable spreads2 and execution3 I can trust. That’s what lets me focus on what I actually care about, helping traders build discipline, plan properly, and grow sustainably.” Hussain’s appointment reinforces Exness’s commitment to empowering traders through world-class trading conditions, regional expertise, and trusted voices who help promote a more disciplined, informed, and responsible trading culture. About Exness: Founded in 2008, Exness is a global multi-asset broker committed to offering traders better-than-market conditions. Today, Exness is trusted by a global network of active traders. With a focus on transparency, innovation, and long-term partnerships, Exness delivers stability, precise execution,3 and instant withdrawal processing,1 setting the benchmark for reliability in the online trading industry.The post Exness welcomes Arab trader Hussain Almatrouk to Exness Team Pro first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Bloomberg has launched a multi-asset pre-trade transaction cost analysis API, enabling buy-side and sell-side firms to embed execution intelligence directly into their proprietary trading systems for the first time. The company explained in a press release on Wednesday that Pre-Trade TCA API covers fixed income and equities and allows firms to programmatically access its pre-trade analytics at scale, extending execution insights across a broader range of order flow than has previously been practical.  Bloomberg said the product addresses a gap between the analytics available to traders and those that can realistically be incorporated into daily execution decisions, given operational constraints. “By making these insights available through API, we’re enabling firms to bring execution intelligence directly into the trader’s cockpit to enhance execution outcomes with speed and consistency,” said Vlad Rashkovich, Global Head of Quantitative Trading Research and Analytics at Bloomberg. Bloomberg said the API is built on 15 years of execution research and collaboration with hundreds of firms globally, and forms part of an expanding suite of trading and analytics APIs.The post Bloomberg Launches Pre-Trade TCA API to Bring Execution Analytics into Trading Workflows at Scale first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

On Wednesday, IG Group Holdings (LON: IGG) proposed establishing a new holding company incorporated in Jersey and announced a streamlined organisational structure, alongside a strong first-half trading update showing revenue is expected to be up 18% year-on-year. The proposed new holding company, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, is designed to give the group “greater financial and strategic flexibility” and better reflect its international footprint, with around two-thirds of revenue now generated outside the UK.  The group’s London Stock Exchange listing, UK tax residency and London operations will all remain unchanged. The scheme of arrangement is expected to become effective in the fourth quarter of 2026, with a shareholder circular due in the third quarter. Alongside the structural change, IG is combining three regional commercial divisions, UK & Ireland, Europe, and APAC & Middle East, into a single commercial business unit to be led by Michael Healy as Chief Executive, IG Consumer. North America and Institutional will continue as separate units. For the half year ended 30 June 2026, IG expects total revenue of approximately £643 million, up around 18% on the prior year, with organic revenue of approximately £624 million, up around 16%.  First trades increased approximately 107% on a reported basis and active customers rose approximately 66%. The board reiterated its full-year 2026 guidance for organic revenue growth of 10-15% on the 2025 base, with EBITDA margins in the mid-40s per cent range. A full strategy update is expected in autumn 2026.The post IG Group Proposes Jersey Holding Company, Reorganises Commercial Divisions After Revenue Surge first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Clear Street, the cloud native financial infrastructure technology firm, has appointed Puneet Pardasani as Global Head of Institutional Sales and Sales Trading, the company announced Wednesday. Pardasani will lead Clear Street’s institutional sales and sales trading functions and expand the firm’s distribution strategy across its institutional client base. He will report to John DiBacco, Head of Markets. As part of the move, Clear Street is realigning several Markets teams, including Securities Financing, Derivatives, Swaps, High Touch Execution, Low Touch Execution, Crypto, Research, Corporate Access, Events and Special Situations, to report directly or on a dotted line to Pardasani. DiBacco said Pardasani has spent his career building distribution engines that connect sophisticated investors to global markets, adding that his arrival unifies institutional sales, sales trading and distribution under one system. Pardasani brings more than two decades of experience in cross asset distribution. He joins from Bank of America, where he was Global Head of OneTouch, Cross Asset Distribution. He previously spent nine years at Goldman Sachs. Clear Street also announced additional senior hires. Allan Amitay joins as Managing Director, Multi Asset Sales, after 15 years at Goldman Sachs. Scott Block joins as Managing Director, Sales Trader, arriving from Bank of America. The firm also recently added clearing veterans Vito Laurenzano and Lou Caramanica as Managing Directors under Chris Tufano, Head of Clearing, supporting the company’s broker dealer clearing expansion. The appointments underscore Clear Street’s continued investment in its institutional platform amid growing demand for modern market infrastructure.The post Clear Street Names Puneet Pardasani Global Head of Institutional Sales and Sales Trading first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Frankfurt International Bank AG (FIB), a newly licensed German bank, has selected FIS Treasury & Risk Manager, Quantum Cloud Edition, as its core treasury and risk management platform, positioning the institution to build on modern infrastructure from its inception rather than adapting legacy on-premise systems. The partnership reflects a growing trend among next-generation banks that are opting for cloud-native SaaS platforms as their foundational architecture. FIB is already live with the solution, having completed implementation within just 10 weeks with support from ALM Partners. FIS Treasury & Risk Manager, Quantum Cloud Edition, delivers fully integrated front-to-back treasury coverage, giving FIB institutional-grade capabilities including automation, governance controls, and cloud-based scalability from day one. Andrés Choussy, President of Capital Markets at FIS, said the partnership allows FIB to start with infrastructure built for where banking is heading rather than where it has been. Florian Pointner, Head of Treasury at FIB, said the platform provides the front-to-back coverage and operational resilience required for a bank focused on export finance and cross-border transactions. Peter Woeste Christensen of Magpie, FIB’s external consultant, called the rapid implementation a benchmark for how next-generation banks can deploy institutional-grade treasury systems quickly. Teemu Huotari of ALM Partners praised the collaborative effort that ensured a timely launch despite the ambitious timeline. FIB, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, specializes in export finance and banking solutions for internationally active clients, with a focus on underserved markets and efficient digital delivery.The post FIS to Power Frankfurt International Bank’s Treasury Operations with Cloud-Native Platform first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

GoCharting, the web-native multi-asset orderflow charting platform used by more than 3 million traders worldwide, has announced a growth investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners, a New York-based private investment firm specializing in financial and business technology. Alongside the funding, GoCharting revealed two major leadership additions. Oleg Mukhanov, former CEO of TradingView, has joined as President and Chief Operating Officer, while Salomon Sredni, former President and CEO of TradeStation Group, has been named Chairman. The fresh capital will support GoCharting’s expansion across the United States and internationally, further build out its professional trading tools, and fund development of AI-driven trading features. Founded by Sushanta Deb and Ragunath Ramaswamy, who connected on GitHub in 2020, GoCharting delivers institutional-level analytics directly through a browser, including footprint and cluster charts, market and volume profile, depth-of-market trading, and one-click execution, with no software downloads required. The platform provides real-time futures data from major exchanges including CME, COMEX, NYMEX, and CBOT. “GoCharting started as a set of open-source tools I built because the analytics used by institutional traders simply didn’t exist on the web,” said Deb, CEO and Co-Founder. Jason Melton, Partner at Long Ridge, said the firm identified strong potential in GoCharting’s product and community, comparing it to previous successful investments in retail trading platforms. Mukhanov previously led TradingView to record revenue and user growth, while Sredni brings extensive trading technology experience, including board work with NinjaTrader, positioning GoCharting for its next growth phase.The post GoCharting Secures Growth Investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners, Adds Industry Veterans to Leadership first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has issued a fresh warning to the public, flagging a batch of websites offering crypto-asset services without proper authorization in the country. According to the regulator, 38 names have been added to its blacklist since the start of 2026, with the latest update naming 16 newly identified unauthorized platforms. Among the entities cited are aurum.foundation, aurum-foundation.com, capstellar.fr, cryptover.org, darsvint.fr, gaveltrdltd.com, investproai.fr, ligne-stable.com/trade-gpt4, lyveroscentrix.com, mon-vaul.com, opti-nova.net, ouinex.com, pioneersxs.com, tiercefortange.com, vision-lonox-hex.net, and webtrader.aptos-ai.net. The AMF emphasized that this list, while updated regularly, is not exhaustive, as new unauthorized actors continue to emerge in the crypto-asset space. The full blacklist can be accessed on the AMF’s website under the Warnings section, as well as through Assurance Banque Épargne Infoservice (ABEIS), a French consumer protection resource, under its scam prevention listings. To help investors verify legitimacy, the AMF also maintains a “white list” of authorized crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) operating within France. Consumers are encouraged to check this list before engaging with any platform offering crypto-related products or services. The move reflects continued regulatory vigilance in France as authorities work to protect retail investors from unlicensed and potentially fraudulent crypto operators amid the sector’s ongoing growth.The post AMF Adds 16 New Websites to Crypto-Asset Blacklist Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Unauthorized Operators first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

The Dow Jones (US30) has extended its rally to record highs, but the next phase of the move could prove more volatile as investors reassess the outlook for US monetary policy and corporate earnings. Softer-than-expected Jun employment data reinforced expectations that the Fed is less likely to tighten policy in the near term, supporting equities while also raising questions about the pace of economic growth. Shifting interest-rate expectations remain one of the market’s main drivers. Cooling payroll growth and downward revisions to previous months’ employment figures have encouraged investors to scale back expectations of further Fed tightening. While a more accommodative policy outlook has supported equity valuations, markets are increasingly balancing that optimism against signs that the US economy may be entering a slower phase of growth. Attention is also turning to the 2Q earnings season, which is likely to become the next major catalyst for the index. After the index’s strong advance, expectations for industrial, financial, and consumer companies remain elevated, leaving less room for disappointment if corporate guidance weakens or profit growth begins to slow. Recent market performance also suggests the rally has become increasingly selective. While the index continues to outperform, strength has not been evenly distributed across US equities, with sector rotation and stock-specific performance playing a greater role than broad market participation. That could leave the index more sensitive to earnings surprises and shifts in macroeconomic sentiment. “The index continues to benefit from expectations that the Fed will remain patient, but markets are entering a phase where earnings and macroeconomic data are likely to become more influential than monetary policy alone. If corporate results continue to support current valuations, the rally could extend further. However, weaker guidance or renewed inflation concerns could lead to higher volatility as investors reassess risk,” says Inki Cho, Senior Market Strategist at Exness. For traders, attention now turns to 2Q earnings, Treasury yields, and upcoming US inflation data. Developments in global trade policy and energy markets will also remain important, as they could quickly reshape expectations for inflation, corporate margins, and the broader economic outlook.The post Dow Jones (US30) Hits Record High Ahead of a Critical Earnings Season first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Euroclear revealed on Tuesday that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Uptevia, a leading French corporate trust services provider currently jointly owned by BNP Paribas and CACEIS, the wholly owned subsidiary of Crédit Agricole S.A. The proposed acquisition is expected to strengthen Euroclear’s issuer services capabilities in France and forms part of a broader ambition to build a pan-European issuer services proposition.  Uptevia provides a range of specialist services including register management, general meetings, employee share plans and complex corporate action support. “Uptevia is a highly respected issuer services provider with deep expertise, strong client relationships and a proven platform in France,” said Valérie Urbain, Chief Executive of Euroclear. “ The proposed acquisition supports our ambition to develop a broader pan-European issuer services proposition, aligned with the Savings and Investments Union objectives.” The deal would complement Euroclear’s existing market infrastructure and post-trade services presence across key European markets, including Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the Nordics and the United Kingdom.  Euroclear believes the acquisition aligns with its strategy to support companies throughout their capital markets journey across both equity and debt markets. Service continuity for Uptevia’s existing clients will remain a priority throughout the process, with Uptevia continuing to serve clients as it does today while benefiting from Euroclear’s long-term commitment as a prospective shareholder.The post Euroclear Enters Exclusive Talks to Acquire French Corporate Trust Services Provider Uptevia first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

HSBC said Tuesday that it has launched a strategic review of its retail banking and domestically focused corporate banking operations in Türkiye, as the bank moves to sharpen its focus on clients with international and cross-border banking needs in the country. The review will consider all options for the retail banking business of HSBC Bank A.Ş. and its portfolio of smaller and medium-sized companies with primarily domestic banking requirements.  The bank said no decisions have yet been made. The review does not affect HSBC’s wholesale banking activities in Türkiye, where it said it will continue to support international clients and local corporates with cross-border needs.  HSBC stated that it “recognises the importance of Türkiye to its global network” and will maintain a strong presence in the country, supporting international companies investing in Türkiye and Turkish companies expanding overseas. The announcement is the latest step in HSBC Group’s ongoing global simplification programme, which has seen the bank exit or restructure a number of retail and smaller corporate banking operations across various markets in recent years.  The bank’s stated strategy is to increase leadership and market share in areas where it holds a clear competitive advantage and the greatest opportunity to grow. HSBC Türkiye operates across both retail and wholesale banking segments, with the wholesale corporate and institutional banking business remaining outside the scope of the review. The post HSBC Launches Strategic Review of Turkish Retail and Domestic Corporate Banking Operations first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (IBA), a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), has officially taken over operation of the London Bullion Market Association’s (LBMA) Platinum and Palladium Prices and the daily auctions that determine these benchmark rates. This expansion adds to IBA’s existing role as administrator of the LBMA Gold and Silver Prices, giving the firm oversight of all four major LBMA precious metals benchmarks. The LBMA first signaled its intention to appoint IBA to this expanded role in January 2026. The new auctions launched on July 1, 2026, running twice daily at 9:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. London time. Under the new structure, the platinum auction takes place first, with the palladium auction following once the platinum price has been published. Clive de Ruig, President of ICE Benchmark Administration, said the firm’s track record over more than a decade demonstrates its ability to provide the governance and market expertise required by global benchmark users, noting that the auctions form the foundational infrastructure for precious metals price formation worldwide. LBMA CEO Ruth Crowell welcomed the transition, citing IBA’s successful administration of the Gold and Silver Prices since 2015 and 2017, respectively. She expressed confidence that the shift would support continued efficient operation of the benchmarks. IBA is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and recognized by ESMA. Licensing for the benchmark data is available through IBA’s licensing team.The post ICE Benchmark Administration Expands Precious Metals Role with Platinum and Palladium first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) announced that its Distributed Ledger Repo (DLR) platform processed $7.5 trillion in repo transactions during June 2026, averaging $357 billion in daily volume. The figure marks a 68% year-over-year increase in daily averages, underscoring the accelerating adoption of distributed ledger technology within institutional funding and collateral markets. Horacio Barakat, Global Head of Digital Innovation at Broadridge, said the numbers reflect a shift in how institutions view tokenized finance. “Institutions are moving beyond evaluating distributed ledger technology. They’re incorporating it into their day-to-day market activity,” he said, adding that this signals growing confidence in tokenized settlement’s ability to meet the scale and performance demands of modern capital markets. DLR allows firms to settle repo transactions on distributed ledger technology while remaining integrated with existing trading and post-trade systems. The platform is designed to improve capital efficiency, enhance funding flexibility, and simplify collateral management for market participants. In a related development, Broadridge is now offering aggregated DLR market data to Bloomberg Terminal subscribers through a partnership with Kaiko. The dataset includes repo par value, turnover, and trade counts, giving users deeper insight into institutional onchain repo activity alongside traditional fixed income data. DLR remains central to Broadridge’s broader tokenization strategy, which spans issuance, trading, financing, settlement, and servicing of tokenized securities across multiple asset classes. The company describes DLR as the world’s largest institutional platform for settling tokenized real assets, reinforcing its position as a key infrastructure provider bridging traditional and digital markets.The post Broadridge’s Distributed Ledger Repo Hits $7.5 Trillion in June as Tokenized Finance Matures first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Graubündner Kantonalbank (GKB), a major Swiss cantonal bank, has adopted a broader suite of Bloomberg’s Buy-Side Solutions to strengthen its investment operations, quantitative research and sustainability reporting capabilities. The bank, a long-time user of the Bloomberg Terminal and Bloomberg Indices, will now implement Bloomberg AIM, an order and investment management platform, to streamline front-office workflows including trade execution, order generation and portfolio monitoring. GKB is also expanding its use of PORT Enterprise, giving investment teams access to portfolio and risk analytics integrated directly into daily processes. Additionally, GKB is adopting Bloomberg’s BQuant Enterprise, a cloud-based analytics platform, to advance its quantitative investment capabilities. The bank is transitioning from Matlab and Excel to the Python-based system, which will support multi-factor investment models with real-time analytics, interactive scoring and backtesting through customized dashboards. Gian Raffainer, Head Investment Center at GKB, said the expanded partnership strengthens connectivity across investment workflows while supporting quantitative research and sustainability reporting development. He noted the tools allow the bank to manage investment solutions professionally and in its clients’ best interests. Jose Ribas, Global Head of Buy Side Solutions at Bloomberg, said the combination of BQuant Enterprise, AIM and PORT Enterprise creates a unified workflow for research, monitoring and reporting, helping GKB scale innovation across its investment functions. Bloomberg’s Buy-Side Solutions offer multi-asset capabilities spanning the investment lifecycle, including research management, execution, portfolio analytics and compliance tools, all integrated with the Bloomberg Terminal. As of December 2025, GKB manages roughly USD 18 billion in assets across its investment solutions.The post Bloomberg Expands Partnership with Graubündner Kantonalbank to Modernize Investment and Sustainability Reporting first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) has appointed cybersecurity veteran Michael Sikorski as its new Chief Information Security Officer, it was announced on Tuesday. Sikorski arrives at Coinbase from Unit 42, a threat intelligence and incident response firm owned by Palo Alto Networks, where he spent four years serving as Chief Technology Officer. His background in cybersecurity also includes stints at Mandiant, FireEye, and the US National Security Agency, giving him deep experience across both private-sector defense and government-level threat analysis. He additionally holds a teaching post as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University. Announcing the move on LinkedIn, Sikorski said his career has centered on guiding security teams through emerging threats, developing security products, and leading incident response efforts during major breaches. He noted that the shift toward decentralized systems and AI-driven attackers pushed him to move from an advisory role into a hands-on leadership position. Sikorski said he was looking forward to working alongside Jeff Lunglhofer and Coinbase’s security team, with plans to strengthen the company’s defenses, counter threat actors, and expand what he described as a resilient, world-class security setup. The hire comes as Coinbase continues to navigate a shifting regulatory and threat environment for digital asset platforms. Strengthening its security leadership signals the company’s effort to safeguard its infrastructure as it scales operations across an increasingly complex crypto landscape.The post Coinbase Names Michael Sikorski as New Chief Information Security Officer first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.