Cooper, who joined the trading and fintech group in 2016, is said to have played a central role in its transformation from a regional trading firm into a globally recognised broker with clients across more than 100 countries.  During his tenure, he focused on driving commercial growth, operational efficiency and enhancing customer value, helping position Axi as one of the industry’s leading names. Chief Executive Officer Rajesh Yohannan praised Cooper’s contribution, saying: “Louis has played an integral role in building Axi into the global brand it is today. While we will miss him, we are immensely grateful for his contributions and pleased that he will remain connected to Axi as a shareholder and ongoing supporter of our mission.” Cooper stated: “It has been a privilege to be part of Axi’s remarkable journey. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. I leave knowing that Axi is in strong, capable hands, and I have absolute confidence in the Executive and Senior Management Team to take the company forward to even greater heights.” Axi confirmed that Cooper will continue as a shareholder after leaving his executive responsibilities. Details of his successor and further leadership updates will be announced in due course. The post Axi Chief Commercial Officer Louis Cooper to Retire After Nine Years appeared first on LeapRate.

The initiative is said to mark a significant step in the exchange’s expansion into the fixed income derivatives market. The products, listed on Euronext Derivatives Milan, cover the 10-year OAT, Bund, Bono, and BTP, as well as the first-ever 30-year BTP.  The firm said that each contract carries a notional size of €25,000 and is cash-settled, making them accessible to a wider pool of investors.  They added that the derivatives will be supported by Euronext Clearing, which provides robust risk management capabilities. Anthony Attia, Global Head of Derivatives and Post Trade at Euronext, said: “This initiative is central to our ‘Innovate for Growth 2027’ strategic plan, which aims to leverage Euronext’s unique presence across the trading value chain to develop truly innovative products that meet evolving market demand. The launch of this offering comes at a crucial time for the European fixed income ecosystem, which is currently experiencing high volatility levels.” The exchange said the mini-futures were designed with retail investors in mind but would also serve asset managers and institutional participants seeking precise tools for hedging or exposure to sovereign bonds.  By offering a smaller contract size, the products aim to provide greater flexibility and accessibility. Market makers have already committed to providing liquidity from launch, ensuring smooth trading conditions. The new offering builds on Euronext’s trading and clearing infrastructure and its existing bond markets, MTS and MOT, reinforcing its position in European financial markets. The post Euronext Unveils Mini-Futures on European Government Bonds appeared first on LeapRate.

Under the agreement, TMX Datalinx plans to introduce Beeks’ Exchange Cloud platform as TMX Elastic Market Access (TMX EMA), subject to regulatory approval.  The platform is designed to provide high-performance, low-latency cloud infrastructure for capital markets participants, enabling more efficient trading and data analytics. Michelle Tran, President of TMX Datalinx, said the collaboration was a direct response to client needs.  “Our goal is to make accessing Canada’s markets as seamless and efficient as possible, and our planned TMX Elastic Market Access service is a direct response to client demand for more flexible and scalable trading infrastructure,” stated Tran.  “By collaborating with Beeks and utilising their proven Exchange Cloud platform, we will be able to offer clients a scalable, proximity-based virtual colocation service that connects them to our markets quickly, significantly reducing their deployment time to market.” Beeks described the agreement as a revenue-sharing deal, with recognition expected to begin in early 2026, supporting the company’s financial guidance for FY26. The firm emphasised that the partnership would further strengthen its base of multi-year recurring revenue. Gordon McArthur, Chief Executive of Beeks, said: “TMX Datalinx’s adoption of our solution is a strong endorsement of our ability to meet the unique demands of global financial exchanges. It reflects the growing market appetite for flexible, cloud-based trading infrastructure.” The post Beeks Signs Cloud Partnership with TMX Datalinx appeared first on LeapRate.

The agreement, signed during the Global Investopia conference in Hong Kong, will see the exchanges explore cooperation in areas including Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), ESG-related products, cross listings and market promotion.  It builds on the addition of ADX to HKEX’s list of recognised stock exchanges last year. HKEX Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Y Chan said the partnership underscored the importance of deepening ties with the Middle East.  “This arrangement marks a significant step in enhancing cross-border market connectivity and facilitating capital flows between Hong Kong and the Middle East. By working closely with ADX, we aim to unlock new investment opportunities, strengthen market infrastructure, and meet the evolving needs of global issuers and investors,” Chan said. ADX Group Chief Executive Officer Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi added that the deal would help broaden access and deepen liquidity.  “By advancing cross-listings, developing innovative products such as ETFs and indices, and creating practical channels for multi-market access, we will broaden investment opportunities and deepen liquidity.  “This partnership strengthens ADX’s global footprint and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a dynamic financial centre committed to sustainable growth and shared prosperity,” he said. The MOU reflects HKEX’s wider strategy of fostering stronger links with Middle Eastern investors, who have increasingly acted as cornerstone backers in Hong Kong IPOs. The post HKEX and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Sign MOU to Boost Market Connectivity appeared first on LeapRate.

Between July 2016 and June 2023, ANZ inaccurately reported approximately 36,500 transactions to FINRA’s Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) without the required “No Remuneration” indicator, which signals when no commission, mark-up or mark-down is charged.  FINRA explained that in about 22,500 of those cases, the firm also omitted the “Non-Member Affiliate-Principal Transaction” indicator, resulting in trades being publicly disseminated when they should not have been. According to FINRA, the omissions stemmed from a misinterpretation of reporting rules and meant that around 80% of ANZ’s corporate debt trades were reported incorrectly.  “A failure to accurately report the NR Indicator affects the audit trail and can result in either false alerts or the inability to detect problematic transactions,” FINRA said. The regulator also found that ANZ’s supervisory system was not “reasonably designed” to ensure compliance, with no process in place to review the accuracy of transaction indicators.  As part of the settlement, ANZ must certify within 60 days that it has corrected the deficiencies and implemented a compliant supervisory framework. ANZ, which has been a FINRA member since 1995, consented to the sanctions without admitting or denying the findings. The firm agreed to remediate the issues after FINRA’s review and to cooperate fully with the regulator. The post ANZ Securities Fined $50,000 by FINRA for Trade Reporting Failures appeared first on LeapRate.

The acquisition, announced Friday, speeds up IG’s move into crypto markets in the Asia Pacific region.  Independent Reserve offers trading in 34 digital assets across multiple currencies and operates in both Australia and Singapore.  The exchange generated revenue of A$35.3 million (£17.7 million) in the year to 30 June 2025, up 88% on the prior year, with average monthly active customers rising 60%. Under the terms, IG will initially acquire a 70% stake for A$109.6 million (£53.4 million), with a potential earn-out of A$15 million (£7.3 million) tied to FY26 performance.  The remaining 30% will stay with Independent Reserve’s leadership and employees, who retain operational control and will continue to grow the brand under IG’s ownership.  A call option allows IG to purchase the balance based on FY27–28 performance. Completion, expected in early 2026, remains subject to regulatory approval from Singapore’s MAS and Australia’s FIRB. IG said the deal is expected to be earnings accretive by FY27. Matt Macklin, Managing Director of Asia Pacific & Middle East at IG, called the move “an important step in IG’s crypto strategy,” while Independent Reserve CEO Adrian Przelozny said IG’s backing would “accelerate growth and expand product and market reach.” The acquisition complements IG’s recent crypto rollouts in the UK and US. The post IG Group Buys Australian Crypto Exchange Independent Reserve for £86.8m appeared first on LeapRate.

The two groups, which first partnered in 2021 and extended their collaboration in 2023, will combine their wholesale Japanese equities and equity capital markets operations.  The joint venture, expected to launch in January 2027, will merge SMBC Nikko’s domestic strength and balance sheet with Jefferies’ global investor network and advanced trading technology.  The partners aim to become the leading provider in Japanese wholesale equities. Beyond Japan, the alliance will extend to Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), where the firms will jointly originate, underwrite and execute syndicated leveraged loans for large sponsors.  The groups will also broaden coverage of larger global sponsors, offering combined investment and corporate banking services. As part of the deal, SMBC intends to increase its economic stake in Jefferies from 15% to as much as 20% through open market purchases, although voting rights will remain below 5%.  In addition, SMBC will provide Jefferies with approximately $2.5 billion in new credit facilities to bolster collaboration in areas including EMEA leveraged lending, U.S. pre-IPO financing and securitisation. Toru Nakashima, SMFG’s chief executive, said the move aligned both groups to “offer our clients the best financing and advisory solutions to meet their needs around the world.”  Jefferies’ chief executive, Rich Handler, and president Brian Friedman added that the expanded alliance created “exceptional value” for clients globally. The post SMBC and Jefferies Deepen Alliance with Japan Joint Venture and $2.5bn Financing appeared first on LeapRate.

The bank will disgorge $1.96 million and contribute around $3.6 million to a victim compensation fund.  The resolution follows a criminal probe into schemes carried out between November 2014 and April 2020, when two traders on BofA’s U.S. Treasuries desk manipulated the secondary market.  One trader also entered more than 1,000 “spoof” orders in the U.S. Treasuries futures market. Spoofing involves placing orders without intent to execute, in order to distort prices. One of the traders, Tyler Forbes, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to manipulating Treasury prices. The Justice Department said it took into account BofA’s voluntary self-disclosure, cooperation, and remediation efforts.  These included terminating the trader involved, reviewing trading across its Treasuries desk, upgrading surveillance and compliance systems, and conducting external testing of internal controls. The report states that the claims settled remain allegations, with no finding of liability. The post BofA Securities Resolves U.S. Market Manipulation Probe Without Prosecution appeared first on LeapRate.

The collaboration will focus on creating seamless digital transactions across platforms and devices, with both companies committing to develop innovations that set a new benchmark for the commerce ecosystem. “PayPal is a leader in digital commerce, and we’re excited to expand our work together to make online transactions simpler and more secure,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.  He added that Google’s AI capabilities will be embedded into PayPal’s services to strengthen both performance and security. PayPal CEO Alex Chriss said the partnership would “redefine what’s possible at global scale,” adding: “Together with Google, we are leading the way for digital commerce, ensuring greater opportunities for merchants and users worldwide.” Key initiatives are said to include the development of agentic shopping experiences powered by Google AI, designed to personalise transactions and advance emerging standards in agent-driven commerce.  PayPal’s global payment infrastructure will be central to these offerings, complemented by identity verification and data-driven personalisation. PayPal’s branded checkout, Hyperwallet and Payouts services will also be more deeply integrated across Google’s platforms, including Google Ads, Play and Cloud.  In addition, PayPal Enterprise Payments will become one of the key card payment processors for Google’s core products. The companies also confirmed that PayPal will work with Google Cloud to reimagine its technology stack, supporting the evolution of its next-generation payments platform. The post Google and PayPal Announce Multiyear Partnership to Transform Digital Commerce appeared first on LeapRate.

The company revealed in a press release on Thursday that the transaction is expected to close on 30 September 2025. Acuity, which provides bespoke research, data management, analytics and AI solutions to the financial services sector, said the acquisition would strengthen its Data and Technology Services (DTS) division and broaden its reach into new industries, including reinsurance, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and retail. Robert King, Chief Executive Officer of Acuity, described the deal as “a transformative moment” for the company.  “By acquiring Ascent, we are taking our expertise and ability to offer our clients innovative AI-led solutions to another level. This acquisition also takes us into new sectors … I am really excited at the prospect of what we can achieve together.” Ascent employs 550 specialists across seven European jurisdictions and supports more than 170 global clients. Its integration into Acuity is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI-driven solutions while expanding the firm’s advisory services. Jon O’Donnell, Chief Operating Officer at Acuity, added that the move would build on progress following the recent launch of its Agentic AI platform, Agent Fleet. “The acquisition of Ascent will boost our capacity to provide best-in-class technology advisory services to our clients.” Ascent CEO Stewart Smythe welcomed the deal, noting the combined business would deliver “market-leading data and AI capability in Europe with Acuity’s industry-leading AI innovation.” The post Acuity Knowledge Partners Acquires Ascent to Boost AI and Technology Services appeared first on LeapRate.

The transaction, first disclosed in April, was finalised on 17 September and marks what the company described as a “pivotal milestone” on its path to profitability. The proceeds will be used to strengthen XTM’s balance sheet and reduce costs, with the company confirming that it has repaid its senior debt facility with 2Shores Capital in full. Security on the facility has now been released.  At completion, XTM received the net proceeds, subject to customary adjustments and a 90-day holdback for potential post-closing changes and debt settlement. The sale is expected to lower monthly operating expenses significantly and help the company achieve cash neutrality.  XTM will continue to use the QRails processing platform to support clients, avoiding the cost and complexity of running the infrastructure in-house. The firm retains full ownership of its proprietary AnyDay earned wage access platform, along with payroll and time and attendance integrations and key customer relationships.  Meanwhile, QRails’ core engineering team has moved to Pateno, ensuring continuity in service and innovation. XTM highlighted several benefits for shareholders, including improved payment economics, reduced cash burn, non-dilutive growth capital, and enhanced scalability. Management said the move positions the business to accelerate growth while focusing on core services. The post XTM Completes $3 Million Asset Sale to Pateno Payments, Strengthens Balance Sheet appeared first on LeapRate.

Based in Hong Kong, Laungani will lead the financial sponsors franchise through transaction origination, execution, and strategic coverage of key clients.  He will report to Avinash Thakur, Head of Investment Banking for Asia Pacific, and to Christian Oberle, Global Head of Financial Sponsors. Avinash Thakur welcomed the appointment, saying: “His appointment emphasises our commitment to growing our Investment Banking franchise and our ability to attract high quality talent from the industry. Neel will be instrumental in growing our Advisory and ECM activities with sponsor clients – one of our key priorities – by drawing on the full strength of Barclays.” Laungani brings nearly three decades of experience in investment banking, with expertise in financial sponsors and the technology, media and telecom (TMT) sectors.  He began his career at Lehman Brothers, where he spent 14 years, including as Head of TMT in Asia Pacific.  He later held senior leadership roles at Credit Suisse, Standard Chartered and Deutsche Bank. Most recently, he served as Managing Director and Head of Financial Sponsors Coverage for Asia Pacific at Credit Suisse, and as Vice-Chairman of TMT Coverage in the region. The post Barclays Names Neel Laungani as Head of Financial Sponsors for Asia Pacific appeared first on LeapRate.

The broker said the platform is being rolled out in partnership with an international banking group, which plans to be the first to market with the solution for its hedge fund clients. The offering allows the bank’s institutional clients to access IG Prime’s multi-asset global trading infrastructure under the bank’s own branding.  It is designed to enhance market access, strengthen client engagement and open new growth opportunities for both IG Prime and its partners. Key features include access to a wide range of derivative products across equities, indices, foreign exchange, commodities and fixed income, alongside integration with IG’s advanced, low-latency execution systems.  The solution also provides end-to-end platform integration, including trading, analytics and risk management, within a secure environment designed to meet stringent regulatory requirements. Babita Ittoo Devillers, Managing Director of IG Prime, described the launch as “a significant milestone” for the firm.  She said: “Our enhanced white label platform expands our institutional capabilities, delivering a highly sophisticated offering with broad market reach for our clients. We are proud to introduce this latest enhancement to our comprehensive suite of client solutions, underscoring IG Prime’s commitment to delivering tailored solutions to address institutional partner requirements.” IG Prime already provides trading and financing solutions to institutional funds, with global access available across desktop and mobile channels. The new platform aims to cement its role as a leading partner for institutional investors. The post IG Prime Unveils Institutional White Label Trading Solution appeared first on LeapRate.

The new fund, created through Waystone’s white-label ETF platform, allows Bellevue Asset Management to expand its suite of actively managed products available to investors.  Bellevue, itself listed on SIX, specialises in healthcare, entrepreneurial small- and mid-cap strategies, and multi-asset investments. The Bellevue Healthcare ETF combines active portfolio management with the advantages of exchange trading, including transparency, efficiency, and liquidity.  It joins a marketplace that continues to grow in diversity: SIX now hosts 32 ETF issuers and 2,090 ETFs. So far this year, 238 new ETFs have been listed, 83 of them actively managed – the highest number of new active listings in eight years. Paul Heffernan, CEO of Waystone ETFs, said: “The European ETF landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, with active strategies emerging as a key growth driver. Our platform is designed to enable partners like Bellevue to bring their expertise into the ETF space without the burden of building infrastructure from scratch.” David Smith, Head of ETF Sales at SIX, welcomed the addition of Waystone: “The steady arrival of new entrants emphasises that, even 25 years after launching our ETF segment, the market continues to grow in attractiveness.” Waystone ETFs operates as an institutional platform with more than two decades of experience in asset management, supported by sales teams across London, Dublin, Geneva and Frankfurt. The post Waystone Joins SIX Swiss Exchange as New ETF Issuer appeared first on LeapRate.

Porter, 67, spent more than four decades in financial services, holding senior roles across risk management, corporate banking and international markets.  As Scotiabank’s president and CEO, he oversaw revenues of nearly C$32.3 billion in his final year and steered the bank through a period of expansion that solidified its position as Canada’s third-largest lender by assets. Earlier in his career, Porter served as Group Head of International Banking, managing Scotiabank’s operations in more than 50 countries, and held leadership positions in risk, treasury and global banking.  He began his career at investment dealer McLeod Young Weir, which Scotiabank acquired in 1988. “We are very pleased to welcome Brian to our Board,” said Ron O’Hanley, chairman and chief executive officer of State Street. “He has extensive experience in global markets with a strong focus on clients and a track record of innovative leadership.” Sara Mathew, State Street’s independent lead director, added that Porter’s background in steering a major bank through growth and transformation would strengthen the board’s oversight. Porter also sits on the boards of Canadian utility Emera and insurer Fairfax Financial, and serves as chair of Huron University College and the Atlantic Salmon Federation.  He holds a commerce degree from Dalhousie University, which has also awarded him an honorary doctorate. The post State Street Elects Former Scotiabank CEO Brian Porter to Board appeared first on LeapRate.

The firm explained that its new contracts will cover SOL, Micro SOL, XRP, and Micro XRP futures, with expiries available daily, monthly, and quarterly, offering traders greater flexibility in managing exposure to the two digital assets. “The launch of these options contracts builds on the significant growth and increasing liquidity we have seen across our suite of Solana and XRP futures,” said Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group.  “Available in two different sizes, these contracts will offer a wide range of market participants – from institutions to sophisticated, active, individual traders – additional choice and greater flexibility.” Roman Makarov, Head of Cumberland Options Trading at DRW, welcomed the move, noting it “demonstrates continued demand from the market to have exposure to a broader set of products.”  Joshua Lim, Global Co-Head of Markets at FalconX, added that the growth of digital asset treasuries had “accelerated the need for institutional hedging tools on Solana and XRP.” Since launch, more than 540,000 Solana futures contracts ($22.3 billion notional) and 370,000 XRP futures contracts ($16.2 billion notional) have been traded. Both products recorded record monthly activity in August 2025, underlining their rapid adoption. CME Group remains the world’s largest derivatives marketplace, with cryptocurrency products among its fastest-growing offerings. The post CME Group to Launch Options on Solana and XRP Futures in October appeared first on LeapRate.

Solovis provides multi-asset class portfolio management, analytics, and reporting tools, helping institutional investors monitor performance, exposure, liquidity and risk in real time across public and private markets.  Under Insight Partners’ ownership, the platform is expected to focus on accelerating product development, improving service delivery, and broadening its suite of solutions. “At Insight Partners, we are attuned to the evolving needs of asset owners. Solovis’ world-class platform addresses their complex challenges, earning the trust of a remarkable customer base and making it an ideal platform for continued growth,” said Anika Agarwal, Managing Director at Insight Partners. Oliver Albers, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer of Capital Access Platforms at Nasdaq, said the move would allow Solovis to benefit from dedicated investment and strategic focus.  “This strategic move simultaneously enables us to concentrate our innovation and market development efforts on Nasdaq eVestment, where our established brand and solutions address the complex data and workflow needs of the global institutional market across public and private markets,” he added. Insight Partners said Solovis would also benefit from the support of its strategic growth division, Onsite, to expand reach and enhance capabilities. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The post Nasdaq to Sell Solovis to Insight Partners appeared first on LeapRate.

The Zurich-based firm, one of the world’s largest issuers of crypto ETPs, now manages more than $11 billion globally.  It said the milestone underlined its role as the issuer with the broadest suite of physically backed crypto ETPs available to European investors. AFET, listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Paris, provides liquid exposure to the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, a decentralised AI ecosystem formed through the merger of Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, Ocean Protocol and CUDOS.  The initiative aims to democratise artificial intelligence and offer an open alternative to dominant centralised providers. ARAY, listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, gives investors access to Raydium, a leading decentralised exchange protocol built on Solana.  Raydium is said to integrate deep liquidity, innovative tokenomics and multiple revenue streams, and is playing an expanding role in the tokenisation of real-world assets. “With these new launches, 21Shares now offers investors access to 50 physically backed crypto ETPs across Europe – the broadest product lineup in the industry,” said Duncan Moir, President of 21Shares.  “Reaching this milestone, while surpassing $11 billion in assets under management globally, reflects our commitment to making it simple for European investors to access the most innovative and fast-growing sectors of the crypto economy through simple, transparent, and institutional-grade products.” The post 21Shares Hits 50 Crypto ETPs in Europe with New Launches appeared first on LeapRate.

The Minneapolis-headquartered lender, the fifth-largest bank in the United States, is the third institution to join this year. CLSSettlement is widely regarded as the global benchmark for foreign exchange settlement risk mitigation, covering 18 of the world’s most traded currencies. In the first half of 2025, the service settled an average daily value of $7.9 trillion, up 12% on the previous year. The addition of U.S. Bank is said to reflect the growing emphasis on robust risk management within the FX market.  Payment-versus-payment (PvP) settlement, the model employed by CLSSettlement, is endorsed under Principle 35 of the FX Global Code as best practice for mitigating settlement risk. Lisa Danino-Lewis, Chief Growth Officer at CLS, said: “We are delighted that U.S. Bank has joined the growing CLSSettlement community. Having one of the US’s largest banks by assets under management join our network is a testament to the benefits CLSSettlement provides to FX market participants.” Danino-Lewis added that the service offers funding and liquidity efficiencies through multilateral netting and “also mitigates settlement risk through PvP settlement.” Chris Braun, Global Head of FX at U.S. Bank, added: “Joining CLSSettlement is another step forward in our progress in delivering comprehensive, best-in-class FX services to our clients.” The post CLS Adds U.S. Bank as 76th Settlement Member appeared first on LeapRate.

The licence extension, granted to BitGo Europe GmbH, allows institutional investors in the EU to access the company’s over-the-counter trading desk and electronic platform for spot trading in thousands of digital assets and stablecoins.  The firm said investors will benefit from aggregated access to liquidity from market makers and exchanges, designed to deliver competitive pricing and efficient execution. The move builds on BitGo’s earlier approval under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) regime, first granted by BaFin in May 2025.  With the extension, BitGo Europe now offers custody, staking, transfer and trading services under one regulated platform. “We are thrilled to bolster our European platform and enable our clients to trade seamlessly, competitively, and confidently,” commented Brett Reeves, Head of European Sales and Go Network at BitGo.  “By combining our institutional-grade custody solution with seamless, high-performance execution, clients will now be able to access deep liquidity with the peace of mind that their assets will remain in cold storage under MiCA-compliant, regulated custody. This is a game-changer for any institution looking to operate safely and efficiently in the digital assets markets.” With the launch, BitGo becomes one of the few regulated custodians in Europe to offer a full suite of digital asset services, aiming to support institutions as the region’s crypto ecosystem matures. The post BitGo Expands in Europe with Regulated Crypto Trading Services appeared first on LeapRate.