Following its recent launch in Argentina and Peru, the company said ADA is now operational across all regions where BBVA operates, except Turkey, creating a single, cloud-native data infrastructure built on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The system, which processes more than 100,000 tasks daily and stores 8.4 petabytes of data, enables real-time insights and a 40% improvement in operational efficiency compared with traditional systems.  “The platform has achieved a 40 percent improvement in operational efficiency compared to traditional solutions,” said Marta Sanz, BBVA’s Global Head of Data Engineering.  She added that ADA enhances analytical capabilities through Amazon SageMaker AI, QuickSight, and AWS Bedrock, paving the way for secure generative AI use cases. The rollout represents a milestone in BBVA’s multi-year transformation strategy, enabling faster decision-making, improved risk management and personalised services. The initiative has also been accompanied by a global training programme to promote a stronger data culture within the bank. With ADA now fully deployed, BBVA said it can operate more efficiently and scale innovation across its global network. The post BBVA Completes Global Rollout of Cloud-Based Data Platform appeared first on LeapRate.

The move marks Alpaca’s first live deployment beyond Ethereum and expands its multi-chain infrastructure for crypto trading and settlement. “This is a major update for Alpaca as we continue to invest in multi-chain compatibility,” said Arush Sehgal, Head of Crypto at Alpaca.  “By integrating USDG on Solana through the Global Dollar Network, we are excited to support new stablecoin issuers and promote innovation across the ecosystem.” USDG, issued by Paxos Digital Singapore under the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and by Paxos Issuance Europe under MiCA compliance, is a fully backed and transparent digital dollar designed to meet global regulatory standards. According to Nick Ducoff, Head of Institutional Growth at the Solana Foundation, Alpaca’s integration “unlocks faster, more cost-effective access to stablecoins” for developers, institutions, and end users. Through this partnership, Alpaca’s customers are said to gain access to fast, compliant, and cost-efficient stablecoin settlements, strengthening its position as a key enabler of global crypto infrastructure and interoperability. The post Alpaca Expands Crypto Reach with USDG Integration on Solana appeared first on LeapRate.

“We are excited to bring one of eToro’s most recognised features to the world’s largest retail investing market,” said Yoni Assia, eToro’s Co-Founder and CEO. “CopyTrader enables you to leverage other investors’ expertise at the click of a button with no management fees or hidden costs.” The tool allows users to mirror selected investors’ trades instantly, with portfolios updating automatically whenever the copied trader makes changes.  Users can view performance history and copy up to 100 investors simultaneously, with full flexibility to adjust or stop at any time. Andrew McCormick, Head of eToro U.S., said the feature has empowered millions worldwide for over 15 years and now brings “the power of shared knowledge” to American investors. CopyTrader is launching in phases, initially to a select group of users. eToro also unveiled its public APIs, providing free access to market data and portfolio analytics, and announced plans for an eToro App Store that will allow developers to share applications with millions of users globally. The post eToro Launches CopyTrader in the U.S. appeared first on LeapRate.

A key initiative under the partnership is the creation of the Saudi Collateral Management Service (SCMS), a centralised triparty system designed to automate and optimise collateral and financing activities.  The service will aim to enhance liquidity and efficiency in the Saudi market while linking it more closely to international investors. Edaa CEO Hanan Alshehri said the collaboration “marks a vital step in our endeavours to enhance the overall efficiency and liquidity of the Saudi capital market,” aligning with international best practices. Sam Riley, CEO of Clearstream Securities Services, described the initiative as “a key part of our commitment to connecting global investors with emerging and dynamic markets,” adding that it would “advance the local post-trade infrastructure” and “boost market liquidity and efficiency.” The partnership builds on Clearstream’s 2021 move to give clients access to the Saudi market via Edaa and represents another milestone in developing the Kingdom’s capital markets under Vision 2030. The post Edaa and Clearstream Partner to Boost Saudi Market Infrastructure appeared first on LeapRate.

Triance joined ASX in 2023 and has reportedly been a key figure in overseeing CHESS Release 1, a cornerstone of the exchange’s market infrastructure upgrade. ASX CEO Helen Lofthouse said Triance “has played a critical role in driving our strategy, including leading the CHESS project,” adding that his leadership ensured “quality delivery for participants.” The exchange confirmed that the go-live of CHESS Release 1 remains on track for the fourth quarter of FY26, with work on Release 2 continuing in parallel.  “I’m so pleased that Clive will remain with us through this important phase,” Lofthouse said. “His continued focus and drive ensures a smooth and orderly transition of responsibilities in the coming months.” ASX will begin an internal and external search for Triance’s successor in the coming months. The post ASX Executive Clive Triance to Retire After CHESS Launch appeared first on LeapRate.

The new platform, based on Aquis’ Equinox matching engine, will deliver “a unified experience for clients” with a “one plug, multiple trading venues” connection, offering easier access and greater liquidity.  The system is expected to go live in 2027 and will later extend to additional asset classes. According to Tomas Kindler, global head of exchanges at SIX, “Harmonising all our platforms through Aquis’ cutting-edge, regulatory grade technology represents a major technological milestone for SIX.”  He said the initiative would “significantly reduce operational complexity and provide our participants with the best possible trading experience.” David Stevens, CEO of Aquis, said SIX’s decision “reinforces the strength and capability of the Aquis matching engine,” adding that the companies will continue expanding their collaboration and client base in the years ahead. The announcement follows a multi-stage vendor selection process and marks a major step in SIX’s ambition to create a next-generation pan-European platform. SIX said it is working with regulators to secure the necessary approvals. The post SIX to Launch Unified Trading Platform Powered by Aquis Technologies appeared first on LeapRate.

Through the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), PayPal’s tens of millions of merchants will become discoverable within ChatGPT, allowing users to browse, select and purchase goods without leaving the app.  The system will support payments via PayPal wallets, bank accounts, cards, and balances, and include buyer and seller protections, order tracking and dispute resolution. “By partnering with OpenAI and adopting the Agentic Commerce Protocol, PayPal will power payments and commerce experiences that help people go from chat to checkout in just a few taps,” said Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal. For merchants, the collaboration means product catalogues will be automatically connected to ChatGPT through PayPal’s ACP server, with no additional integration required.  PayPal will handle payment validation, routing and orchestration, enabling purchases across categories including fashion, beauty, electronics, and home improvement. The initiative also extends PayPal’s use of AI: the company will expand ChatGPT Enterprise access for its 24,000 employees and adopt OpenAI’s Codex to accelerate product development. The partnership is expected to roll out in 2026, giving ChatGPT users global access to millions of products through PayPal’s vast merchant network. The post PayPal and OpenAI Partner to Enable Instant ChatGPT Checkout appeared first on LeapRate.

In a settlement accepted without admission of guilt, FINRA said BofA Securities violated multiple provisions of Regulation National Market System (NMS), including Exchange Act Rules 611(a)(1), (a)(2), and (c), as well as FINRA Rules 6380A and 2010.  The failings occurred between September 2014 and July 2023, according to FINRA’s findings. The regulator stated that the bank did not have written policies “reasonably designed to prevent trade-throughs” or ensure its intermarket sweep orders (ISOs) complied with NMS rules. It is also said to have failed to maintain an adequate supervisory system under NASD Rule 3010 and FINRA Rule 3110. This is not the first time BofA Securities has faced regulatory penalties over similar issues. In 2018, FINRA fined the firm $115,000 for NMS violations, while the Cboe BYX and BZX exchanges imposed a combined $135,000 fine that same year. As part of the current settlement, FINRA said no further actions will be taken based on the same findings. The firm employs around 5,300 registered individuals across 130 offices worldwide. The post BofA Securities Fined $155,000 by FINRA Over Trade-Through Failures appeared first on LeapRate.

The partnership makes WisdomTree BNY’s first retail digital assets BaaS client. The collaboration will allow users of WisdomTree Prime to invest in tokenised real-world assets (RWA) and conduct onchain transfers across tokenised funds and select stablecoins such as USDC and PYUSD.  Through BNY’s infrastructure, the platform will offer smooth on- and off-ramp capabilities between the traditional banking system and the blockchain. “As digital assets continue to converge with traditional finance, BNY is committed to serving as the bridge that supports this transformation,” said Jennifer Barker, Global Head of Treasury Services and Depositary Receipts at BNY. Will Peck, Head of Digital Assets at WisdomTree, said: “Stablecoins and tokenized assets are unlocking new user experiences across a range of use cases in financial services.BNY is a leader for banks working with stablecoin issuers and brings unmatched trust and reliability as we grow our platform.”  The move expands WisdomTree’s longstanding partnership with BNY, which already acts as custodian and sub-adviser for select WisdomTree funds and its USDW stablecoin.  The initiative will also extend access to institutional users through WisdomTree Connect, enabling firms to use existing payment rails for treasury and reserve management. The post WisdomTree Appoints BNY Mellon as Infrastructure Provider for Digital Assets Platform appeared first on LeapRate.

Traders are preparing for the publication of the US interest rate on Wednesday, October 29th, and the press-conference of Jerome Powell. Usually, he provides a softening effect on markets with a positive sentiment, so given the overall dovish expectations from the FED and a moderately bullish sentiment, we can expect markets to resume the pullback ahead of the FED’s meeting and beyond. The Nasdaq and overall tech sector gets overbought against the financial sector, so one possible scenario for the week is a rotation between techs and financials (in favor of financial stocks): some of this dynamics was already displayed last week, and it may extend to the week ahead. Crude oil had returned back to $60 and above, reacting to sanctions imposed by Donald Trump to largest Russian oil producers. That creates uncertainty in the energy markets, as around 500 to 600 thousand barrels per day is expected to be eliminated from the oil market, according to Bloomberg. So, the global record surplus pressure might be compensated by the effects of sanctions. At the same time, Kuwait’s prime minister said that OPEC is prepared to increase production if demand requires it. So, current upward pressure for Crude oil futures might be amplified by short coverage, though the overall bearish trend remains intact. Let’s dive into the charts of Crude oil and Gold and try to highlight major scenarios for the week ahead. USOIL Crude oil had reached the 50-day moving average, driven by sanctions for Russia, and creating some bullish flow amid some short coverage, as open interest for crude oil futures has been declining steadily since October 15. The effect seems temporary, as the global record surplus expectations skew expectations for lower price levels. Thus, we may expect some rotation around the achieved level with some volatility around it. One should be careful with upside breakouts, as they have greater odds to be false, unless any game changing news will reach the market. XAUUSD Gold is consolidating after the large sell-off, which also was the biggest daily decline for more than a 10-year period. As the asset was deleveraged, it’s not expected to continue quickly moving up, though in case it generates the upside breakout, it may turn down as shown at the chart, as the bullish price action might be vulnerable now after the liquidation. Though, everything will depend on the geopolitical situation, as Gold acts as a protection against political statements and current market volatility. If there would be no drivers behind the bullish action, it would probably slide down further in case the retest of the upper border of the chart formation would be false. The post Markets lay low ahead of the FED appeared first on LeapRate.

The company explained that the new service uses artificial intelligence to analyse data from billions of transactions processed by Worldpay.  It is said to determine in real time whether to apply 3D Secure (3DS) authentication, a fraud prevention step required in some markets, or proceed directly to authorisation, based on factors such as risk and issuer preferences. “With the Authentication Optimisation Service, we’re using AI and deep transaction insights to help merchants capture more revenue and deliver seamless payments,” said Cindy Turner, Chief Product Officer at Worldpay. “Our scale, data and technology turn declines into approvals helping clients win back missed revenue, while reducing the kind of friction at checkout that can lead to abandoned carts.” A two-month pilot with a leading cruise line company using 3DS for all transactions reportedly showed an average 5.5% improvement in authorisation rates, with double-digit gains in non-3DS regulated markets.  The company added that fraud remained minimal, with just one chargeback reported where authentication was bypassed. James Mirfin, Head of Risk and Identity Solutions at Visa, said the service “helps bridge the gap between merchant needs and issuer risk management,” ensuring secure yet efficient transactions. The company concluded that the the service is available to merchants already using Worldpay’s 3DS Flex, the tool requires no additional integration and continually adapts to issuer behaviour. The post Worldpay Launches AI-Powered 3D Secure Optimisation Tool to Boost Payment Approvals appeared first on LeapRate.

The approval allows CAB’s new Middle Eastern subsidiary, CAB Global Markets, to accelerate its growth in the region and strengthen relationships with government institutions, central banks, and key financial stakeholders. The company also announced the appointment of Arif Khan as Senior Executive Officer to lead operations in the Middle East.  Khan is said to brings expertise in cross-border transactions, credit and risk, and has advised sovereigns, multinationals, and development finance institutions across emerging markets. “Securing this IPA is a pivotal step in our global roadmap and a strong endorsement of our strategic focus on the region,” said Neeraj Kapur, CEO of CAB.  He added that the bank is committed to contributing to the UAE’s vision of becoming a leading global financial centre by bringing “sophisticated, institutional-grade transactional solutions” to the market. The expansion reflects CAB’s confidence in Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a financial hub, underpinned by strong regulation and economic diversification.  The new licence builds on CAB’s existing regulated footprint in the U.K., Netherlands and the U.S., aligning with its mission to foster financial inclusion and prosperity across emerging markets. The post CAB Global Markets Secures Key Licence to Expand Middle East Presence appeared first on LeapRate.

Through the collaboration, LSEG will grant Claude customers access to licensed data from products such as Workspace and Financial Analytics, allowing them to automate analysis and integrate AI directly into their workflows.  The rollout is said to begin with Financial Analytics, with additional data sets to follow. “With Claude for Financial Services, our customers can now access LSEG’s unmatched financial data and insights to power and scale agentic AI directly within their workflows,” said Ron Lefferts, Co-Head of Data & Analytics at LSEG. Nicholas Lin, Head of Product for Financial Services at Anthropic, said the combination of Claude’s intelligence and LSEG’s data “offers real value,” enabling AI tools to summarise earnings calls, scan diligence materials and surface market signals with enterprise-grade controls. The partnership builds on LSEG’s broader AI strategy, “LSEG Everywhere,” which integrates its data with platforms such as Microsoft, Databricks, Snowflake and Rogo.  The initiative is underpinned by Model Context Protocol (MCP), ensuring secure interoperability between LSEG’s data and AI systems used by enterprise customers. The post LSEG and Anthropic Join Forces to Expand AI Access to Financial Data appeared first on LeapRate.

The partnership will initially focus on fiat pay-ins, pay-outs and payments orchestration, enhancing Coinbase’s on/off ramps, the systems that connect fiat money and digital assets.  Citi said additional initiatives, including the creation of alternative fiat-to-stablecoin payout methods, will be revealed in the coming months. “The financial landscape is changing fast, and we’re thrilled to join Coinbase to explore new and innovative payment options for our global clients,” said Debopama Sen, Citi’s Head of Payments and Services.  She said the collaboration aligns with Citi’s “network of networks” approach across its 300 payment clearing networks in 94 markets. Brian Foster, Global Head of Crypto as a Service at Coinbase, said Citi’s global reach makes it an “ideal partner” as both firms work to simplify access to digital asset payments. The move builds on Citi’s Citi Token Services and 24/7 USD Clearing, which provide around-the-clock digital money infrastructure for institutional clients.  Citi already banks 90% of the world’s top e-commerce companies and 15 of the 20 largest fintech firms. The post Citi and Coinbase Partner to Advance Digital Asset Payment Capabilities appeared first on LeapRate.

The company said in a press release on Monday that these products include contracts on the S&P 500, oil, gold, and foreign exchange.  They can be accessed directly through the platform’s mobile app and advanced desktop platform, Robinhood Legend. The new offering will roll out to eligible users in the coming weeks, with a $0.75 contract fee and real-time market data at no additional cost.  Futures trading, viewed as the preserve of institutional investors, allows traders to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date. “In the UK, futures trading has traditionally been seen as the preserve of institutional investors,” said Jordan Sinclair, President of Robinhood UK. “Today, we start changing that.”  Sinclair said the launch offers retail traders “an intuitive mobile experience, smarter tools, education and some of the lowest fees in the industry.” Julie Winkler, Chief Commercial Officer at CME Group, added that the partnership will “educate and empower” retail investors to access some of the world’s most liquid markets. The move marks another step in Robinhood’s strategy to become the leading platform for active traders worldwide, following the addition of options trading and the rollout of Robinhood Legend in the UK.  Customers will need approval to trade futures, with educational tools, including a dedicated “Futures Fundamentals” section, available within the app. The post Robinhood Brings Futures Trading to UK Retail Investors appeared first on LeapRate.

The French AI-powered Order-to-Cash leader said the deal, first announced on 13 October, values ezyCollect at €37.3 million (A$66.5 million), including €34.7 million (A$61.9 million) paid in cash and €2.6 million (A$4.6 million) in Sidetrade shares issued to retain the company’s founders and key staff for at least three years.  An additional earn-out of up to €5.6 million (A$10 million) may be paid depending on revenue growth through 2028. Sidetrade said the acquisition provides a new growth engine in a “highly dynamic, fast-growing market” and aligns with its goal of expanding beyond its strongholds in Europe and North America.  The company’s Aimie AI platform will now be deployed across mid-market and large enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region, furthering its mission to improve financial performance through automation. The purchase was financed through Sidetrade’s cash reserves and a €25 million long-term credit facility at an interest rate of roughly 3.1%, which is fully hedged to preserve liquidity and maintain flexibility for future acquisitions. The transaction, consolidated retroactively as of 1 October 2025, underscores Sidetrade’s broader international ambitions. The firm was advised by King & Spalding LLP, while ezyCollect was represented by AGC Partners and Thomson Geer. The post Sidetrade Expands into Asia-Pacific with Completion of ezyCollect Acquisition appeared first on LeapRate.

She has clearly expressed opposition to interest rate hikes, a stance that fundamentally puts pressure on the Japanese Yen. The market’s initial reaction was direct and intense. The Yen immediately weakened, USD/JPY quickly climbed from below, while the Japanese stock market (Nikkei) rose, and Japanese government bonds (JGBs) faced selling pressure. This price action reflects the market’s immediate expectations for the new policy mix: fiscal expansion will increase government spending, and pressure on the central bank may delay or prevent interest rate hikes, thereby maintaining or even widening the interest rate differential between Japan and major economies like the United States, weakening the appeal of the Yen. However, the rapid depreciation of the Yen has caused official unease. Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato recently stated that the government is “closely monitoring the Yen’s recent rapid weakening” and expressed concern about “unilateral and sudden” exchange rate fluctuations. This is typical “verbal intervention” rhetoric, aiming to warn market speculators that the government has a tolerance limit for excessive exchange rate volatility. A deeper analysis reveals the potential fragility of the “Takaichi trade” itself. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Takaichi has formed a coalition government with Ishin. The reality of this political alliance means that any major policy requires negotiation and compromise. Analysts point out that Ishin’s inclusion may act as a check on Takaichi’s most aggressive reflationary policies, prompting the government to adopt a more balanced economic approach. Therefore, the market’s initial interpretation of the “Takaichi trade” may be overly simplistic. The inherent constraints of a coalition government mean that the final fiscal stimulus package may be smaller than market expectations or come with more considerations for fiscal discipline. This potential gap between expectations and reality sets the stage for a reversal of the “Takaichi trade.” Once subsequent policy falls short of expectations, the current USD/JPY exchange rate, inflated by political premiums, may face the risk of a rapid pullback. Furthermore, this also exposes potential internal divisions within the Japanese government on exchange rate issues. The PM office may prefer a weaker Yen to boost export corporate profits and overall economic growth, which can garner business support politically. However, the Ministry of Finance(MoF) is more concerned with exchange rate stability and import costs.  A weaker Yen pushes up the prices of imported energy and food, exacerbating inflationary pressures, which is highly unpopular with the general public, especially with current inflation already above the central bank’s target. The Ministry of Finance’s verbal intervention is a manifestation of this internal tension, setting a “soft top” for USD/JPY’s upside, backed by the threat of actual foreign exchange intervention.    Internal Divisions within the Bank of Japan Amidst changes in the political landscape, policy debates within the Bank of Japan are also becoming more public. Divisions among members regarding the future path of monetary policy are increasingly apparent. At the core of this debate is how to interpret current inflation data and when is the appropriate time for policy normalization. A key figure in the hawkish camp is council member Hajime Takata. On 20 October, he once again publicly called for an interest rate hike, arguing that “now is an excellent opportunity to raise policy rates,” and emphasized that Japan is nearing its price stability target. This clear hawkish stance directly challenges the new government’s dovish tendencies and reflects the concerns of some policymakers within the central bank about sustained inflation. In contrast, the cautious faction, led by Governor Kazuo Ueda, advocates for a more prudent approach. Governor Ueda has repeatedly emphasized that any interest rate hike in October will depend entirely on future economic data and whether his confidence in achieving inflation and growth forecasts strengthens.  Deputy Governor Seiichi Shimizu expressed similar views, pointing out that given Japan’s long history of low or even zero interest rates, there is great “uncertainty” about the potential reactions to interest rate normalization. Therefore, the central bank must “be very careful” in evaluating the consequences of policy actions. The internal debate within the Bank of Japan is actually taking place in a more incomplete information environment. This makes the position of the cautious faction (such as Governor Kazuo Ueda), who advocate for “continuing to observe data,” more persuasive. They are fully justified in pointing out that any policy adjustment made before the release of key inflation data would be premature. From a technical analysis perspective, USDJPY has broken through the downtrend line and formed a higher high structure. The price is above both moving averages, indicating that momentum has shifted to bullish. If it breaks above 152.50, the price may move up to test the next resistance level at 153.20. Conversely, if it closes below 152.50, the pair may fall back to the support level at 150.90. Based on the above analysis, the market expects Japan to restart an active fiscal stimulus plan, which may delay the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy normalization and widen the policy divergence with the Federal Reserve.  Expectations of fiscal expansion may further increase downward pressure on the Japanese Yen. US Side: Economic Resilience and the Data-Deficient Fed Initial jobless claims have continued to be lower than market expectations in recent weeks. For example, in the third week of September, initial jobless claims were 218,000, significantly lower than the market consensus of 235,000, reaching a two-month low. This series of data indicates that despite economic challenges, corporate layoff rates remain low, which allays market concerns about a sharp deterioration in the labor market. Secondly, recent remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Powell have also reinforced market expectations. He emphasized that a strong economy and labor market give the Federal Reserve the “ability to proceed cautiously” when deciding the future path of interest rates. This means that until clear and sustained signs of economic weakening emerge, the Federal Reserve is not in a hurry to begin an interest rate cut cycle. Ironically, the current US government shutdown has actually become a short-term positive factor for the US dollar. Due to the shutdown, important economic indicators, including the September jobs report and key inflation data, have been postponed. Chairman Powell has publicly acknowledged that if the shutdown continues, the Federal Reserve will “start missing data,” which will make policy decisions “more challenging.” This creates a “shutdown paradox”: the market expects to see weak economic data to prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates sooner, thereby narrowing the US-Japan interest rate differential and weakening the dollar. However, the government shutdown precisely prevents the release of these most critical data. In a state of “flying blind without data,” no prudent central bank would easily adopt an easing policy. Therefore, the Federal Reserve’s most likely option is to remain patient and wait for data to resume. This “forced inertia” in policy maintains the huge interest rate gap between the US and Japan, providing solid macro fundamental support for the USD/JPY exchange rate and acting as a resistance to any rebound in the yen. The Bank of Japan’s monetary policy meeting, scheduled for October 29-30, will undoubtedly be the most critical event determining the short-term direction. The market is currently in a fragile balance, and every signal conveyed by Governor Kazuo Ueda at the post-meeting press conference – whether it’s his assessment of the inflation outlook, his views on the new government’s fiscal policy, or his responses to internal policy disagreements – could become a catalyst to break this balance.   The post Yen caught between politics and central bank policy appeared first on LeapRate.

The investment will inject new capital into BMLL to fund its next phase of growth and expand its global coverage. Founded in 2014, BMLL provides Level 3, 2 and 1 order book data and analytics across equities, ETFs, futures and U.S. options, standardising raw data from over 120 trading venues into a consistent, analytics-ready format.  Delivered through a cloud-native platform, the data enables banks, hedge funds and asset managers to perform advanced research and trading analysis without in-house engineering. “We’ve spent the past decade investing in our award-winning data engineering capabilities and building the industry’s foundational layer of harmonised order book data,” said Paul Humphrey, BMLL’s Chief Executive Officer. “With Nordic Capital by our side, along with Optiver, we are excited about BMLL’s future, and the impact we will have on participants’ ability to navigate complex market dynamics globally.” David Samuelson, Partner at Nordic Capital Advisors, said: “BMLL stands out for the precision, transparency and insight it brings to market participants. Nordic Capital sees a clear opportunity to invest in content, analytics and partnerships that extend BMLL’s reach globally, helping more firms harness the power of harmonised, high-quality data.” Nordic Capital will help BMLL deepen its exchange and technology partnerships while accelerating innovation and scaling distribution. Financial terms were not disclosed. The post Nordic Capital to Acquire Historical Data Specialist BMLL appeared first on LeapRate.

The move extends Gotrade’s goal of making global investing accessible through an intuitive, mobile-first experience. “Options trading is a natural evolution for our users, and we’re changing the landscape by making a tool previously reserved for institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals available to everyone,” said Norman Wanto, Chief Executive Officer of Gotrade. Retail participation in Southeast Asia’s capital markets has surged in recent years, but investors have traditionally faced high fees and barriers to entry.  Gotrade first gained traction by allowing users to invest in U.S. stocks from as little as $1.  The new product now offers retail investors access to leverage and risk management through long call and long put strategies, with covered calls and cash-secured puts to follow. The service is powered by Alpaca’s Broker API, which provides scalable infrastructure for order execution and trade processing. “Partnering with Alpaca gives us the freedom to innovate and scale quickly,” Wanto said.  Yoshi Yokokawa, Alpaca’s Co-Founder and CEO, added: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership by providing the infrastructure Gotrade needs to launch innovative products quickly.” The post Gotrade Launches U.S. Options Trading in Southeast Asia with Alpaca appeared first on LeapRate.

They are the second bank to announce an expansion in Saudi Arabia today, with Barclays revealing it has received a provisional CMA licence, secured premises in the Financial District, and will open its Riyadh office in 2026, growing its presence in Riyadh as part of its broader Middle East growth strategy. Meanwhile, U.S. financial services firm State Street, which manages $127 billion in assets under custody and administration and $60 billion in assets under management for Saudi clients, received approval from the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia (MISA), to establish its regional hub. “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is reshaping the Kingdom’s financial ecosystem, and we are proud to contribute to this transformation,” said Oliver Berger, Head of Strategic Growth Markets at State Street. “Establishing our RHQ in Riyadh reflects our long-term commitment to the Kingdom.” The Riyadh-based office will direct State Street’s strategy and operations across the MENA region, housing senior leadership and corporate functions.  It is also expected to act as a centre for innovation and collaboration, aligning with the Kingdom’s financial sector development goals. Emmanuel Laurina, Head of Middle East, Africa & Official Institutions at State Street Investment Management, said: “We have seen keen interest from clients and prospects in the Kingdom, while global investors are excited about the opportunities the region presents.” State Street has been active in the Middle East for more than 30 years, working with sovereign wealth funds, pension schemes and central banks. The post State Street Launches MENA Headquarters in Riyadh appeared first on LeapRate.