The bank plans to open its Riyadh office in 2026 as part of a broader Middle East growth strategy. “Saudi Arabia is central to our Middle East growth strategy and we are very excited to support the Kingdom’s growth ambitions under its Vision 2030,” said C.S. Venkatakrishnan, Group Chief Executive of Barclays. “Expanding our capabilities in the Kingdom is a significant milestone for us.” Barclays has also appointed Mohammed Al-Sarhan as Independent Non-Executive Chairman for its Saudi Arabia franchise. Al-Sarhan previously held senior roles at Al Safi Danone, Al Faisaliah Group, and Bahri. “I am truly excited to join Barclays at this pivotal moment for the bank’s growth in the Kingdom,” Al-Sarhan said. “Together I am confident that we will make a meaningful impact for our clients and support the Kingdom’s ambitious transformation.” The expansion follows Barclays’ receipt of a Regional Headquarters licence earlier this year. Its Riyadh office will serve corporate, institutional and sovereign wealth fund clients, complementing existing operations in the UAE and Qatar. Barclays said its move reflects its long-term commitment to the Gulf region and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global investment hub. The post Barclays Expands in Saudi Arabia with New Riyadh Office appeared first on LeapRate.

The company said in a press release on Friday that the partnership aims to streamline fund access, automate processes and enhance the investment experience for U.K. financial advisers and their clients. The deal will give Aegon UK access to Euroclear’s global funds network, which connects more than 3,000 distributors and 2,500 asset managers and provides entry to over 250,000 funds across mutual, alternative and exchange-traded categories. Under the agreement, Aegon UK will gain a single, integrated platform covering fund distribution, order routing, settlement, asset servicing and data management, reducing operational complexity and increasing efficiency. “We are delighted to partner with Aegon UK, one of the largest adviser platforms in the United Kingdom,” said Sebastien Danloy, Chief Business Officer at Euroclear. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to operational excellence, innovation and open market access.” Ronnie Taylor, Chief Distribution Officer at Aegon UK, added: “As we continue to transform and automate our business, working with Euroclear is the next – and exciting – step in supporting advisers in making key investment choices for their clients.” The post Euroclear and Aegon UK Partner to Simplify Fund Distribution appeared first on LeapRate.

The transaction includes a minority investment from Silversmith Capital Partners, aimed at accelerating innovation and growth. Following the deal’s completion, MeridianLink, a provider of cloud-based software for financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies, has delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. “MeridianLink has grown from a pioneer in digital lending to a market leader helping credit unions and community banks build lasting relationships with consumers,” said Larry Katz, President and CEO of MeridianLink. “Together we will unlock the potential of our trusted, mission-critical, and scalable platform by accelerating automation, harnessing the power of AI and data, and improving customer experiences.” Centerbridge’s Senior Managing Director Jared Hendricks and Managing Director Ben Jaffe said MeridianLink’s technology was “uniquely positioned” to meet the evolving needs of banks and credit unions. Todd MacLean, Managing Partner of Silversmith Capital Partners, added: “What excites us most about MeridianLink is the opportunity to partner with Centerbridge in backing Larry and his team as they capitalise on their market leadership and drive continued innovation.” The acquisition gives MeridianLink the backing to expand its digital lending capabilities and strengthen its role in modernising the banking technology ecosystem. The post Centerbridge Partners Completes Takeover of MeridianLink appeared first on LeapRate.

Internal risks with the Eurozone, from France’s fiscal challenges to Germany’s deepening slowdown, add another layer of fragility. Externally, rising geopolitical tensions, particularly the renewed US-China trade dispute, further darket the outlook.  Market sentiment, meanwhile, remains cautiously optimistic. Speculative positioning suggests a bullish stance of the Euro, indicating that much of the positive narrative, including policy divergence, may already be priced in. That makes the single currency increasingly vulnerable to negative surprises in economic data.    Snapshot of Key Macroeconomic Indicators (as of October 21, 2025)   Indicator Region Latest Reading Previous Value Impact on EUR Overall HICP (YoY) Eurozone 2.2% (Sep) 2.0% Hawkish: Supports ECB maintaining high interest rates for longer. Core HICP (YoY) Eurozone 2.4% (Sep) 2.3% Very Hawkish: Indicates persistent and non-transitory underlying price pressures, tying the ECB’s hands. German ZEW Economic Sentiment Index Germany 39.3 (Oct) 37.3 Moderately Positive: Forward-looking optimism remains, but misses expectations, hinting at a fragile outlook. German ZEW Current Conditions Index Germany -80.0 (Oct) -76.4 Negative: A stark warning of severe weakness in the Eurozone’s economic engine. Fed Policy Outlook US Dovish Neutral Positive: A weaker USD outlook provides a direct tailwind for the EUR/USD pair. The stickiness of core inflation is almost entirely driven by the services sector, where inflation edged up from 3.1% to 3.2%. Services inflation is a closely watched indicator by the ECB. It is closely linked to domestic demand and wage growth, is less susceptible to global factors, and is harder to control through monetary policy. In contrast, non-energy industrial goods inflation remains subdued, holding steady at 0.8% 2, indicating continued weak demand in the manufacturing sector. This internal structural divergence – hot services and cold industrial goods – makes the ECB’s policy decisions exceptionally complex. Inflation trends in the Eurozone vary considerably across its member states. Germany, as the largest economy in the Eurozone, saw its inflation rate unexpectedly rise to 2.4%, mainly driven by strong services CPI. Meanwhile, France’s inflation was much milder, at only 1.1%. This divergence poses a significant challenge to the ECB “one-size-fits-all” monetary policy. Tightening policies to curb inflation in Germany could cause unnecessary harm to lower-inflation economies like France. The combination of above-target headline inflation and accelerating core inflation has effectively closed the door to another ECB rate cut in 2025. The central bank is now locked into a data-dependent decision-making mode, and current data clearly indicates that “inflation has not yet been defeated.”  This solidifies its hawkish policy stance, which alone is beneficial for the Euro. Recent remarks by ECB President Christine Lagarde have also repeatedly emphasized the determination to bring inflation back to target, further reinforcing this message. The latest German ZEW survey shows that the economic current situation index has fallen to a deep abyss of -80.0, indicating that the economy is under immense pressure. ECB is forced to prioritize fighting stubborn service sector inflation, even if it means bringing more pain to Germany and the entire Eurozone economy. This creates a dangerous divergence between policy and the economy: monetary policy is tightening (or remaining tight), while the economy is crying out for stimulus. This “trap” means that the risk of policy missteps is sharply rising, and the likelihood of a “hard landing” for the Eurozone economy is also increasing. In the long run, regardless of interest rate differentials, an economy in recession will ultimately have a negative impact on the Euro. Widening Policy Gap Between the US and Europe This widening divergence in monetary policy paths is becoming the primary driver of the EUR/USD strength. In a key speech on October 14th, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell explicitly pointed to “rising downside risks to employment” and “a sharp slowdown in hiring activity.” This was a significant shift in tone. He noted that despite the ongoing US government shutdown leading to a lack of official economic data, existing private sector data indicated a weakening labor market. This statement was an almost direct confirmation of market expectations that the Fed would soon cut interest rates. Powell’s remarks significantly reinforced market expectations for further Fed rate cuts, likely at the October and December meetings. He was effectively signaling that the Fed’s focus was shifting from solely combating inflation to a more balanced strategy, with increasing attention on its employment mandate. The immediate market reaction was a corresponding decline in the Dollar Index (DXY). A seemingly contradictory phenomenon is that the US government shutdown has actually intensified the Fed’s dovish stance, indirectly supporting the Euro. Due to the government shutdown, the Fed is unable to obtain official data on employment and inflation, leaving its decision-making like “flying blind.” In uncertain environments, central banks typically choose to act cautiously. For a Fed already concerned about a slowing labor market, this uncertainty increases its motivation for “precautionary” rate cuts to guard against an unexpectedly sharp economic downturn. Powell’s speech confirmed this, as he relied on “existing evidence” and “private sector data” to justify his dovish stance. Therefore, the longer the government shutdown persists, the more entrenched the Fed’s cautious/dovish stance becomes, putting pressure on the Dollar. This creates a direct but counter-intuitive positive external effect for the Euro, as the EUR/USD currency pair is primarily driven by relative policy stances. US political dysfunction is, in the short term, becoming a bullish factor for the Euro. External Pressures and Internal Tensions Beyond monetary policy, the Euro also faces non-monetary risks. Internal political divisions and external geopolitical threats together constitute headwinds that could undermine the Euro’s stability. French Fiscal Concerns: A key indicator measuring internal pressure is the spread between French 10-year government bonds (OATs) and German Bunds. This spread has recently widened to approximately 80 basis points, up from 65 basis points in the summer. The widening spread reflects market concerns about France’s fiscal situation, indicating a rising “political risk premium.” France’s budget deficit is 5.8% of GDP, almost double the EU’s 3% limit. While recent political maneuvering may have temporarily eased market panic, underlying fiscal vulnerability remains a weak point for the Euro. Escalating US-China Trade War: The global environment is becoming more hostile. The Trump administration is escalating its trade conflict with China ahead of an upcoming meeting with Chinese leaders during the APEC summit. US President Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 155% if no deal is reached. Ripple Effects on Europe: A full-blown trade war would bring tremendous uncertainty to the global economy. In such a “risk-off” environment, capital typically flows to assets perceived as safe havens, primarily the US dollar. The Euro, often used as a funding currency in carry trades, tends to underperform in this scenario. Furthermore, the highly export-dependent Eurozone economy (especially Germany) would be directly impacted by a global trade slowdown, which would exacerbate its existing economic weakness. On technical perspective, after reaching the Double Bottom pattern target, EURUSD retreated toward both EMAs. The price still sustains its uptrend without breaking the structure, showing potential bullish extension. If EURUSD returns above both EMAs, the price may retest the resistance at 1.1700. On the contrary, staying below both EMAs may lead to a retest of the support at 1.1600. Building on the analysis above, a multi-layered outlook can be outlined.  The future path of the Euro is not a straight line, but a struggle between a clear and favorable monetary policy divergence and a deeply troubled domestic economic and political landscape. Reasons for a bullish Euro: Continued dovish Fed: Persistently weak US labor and inflation data forces the Fed to deliver on its rate cut expectations, thereby weighing on the dollar. Resilient core inflation: Stubbornly high Eurozone services inflation forces the ECB to maintain its hawkish rhetoric and high interest rates, thereby widening the favorable interest rate differential. Political risks contained: France’s fiscal issues are well-managed, avoiding an uncontrolled OAT-Bund spread and preventing the outbreak of a fragmentation crisis. Reasons for a bearish Euro: German economic collapse: Dire ZEW current conditions readings translate into a sharp contraction in German GDP, forcing the market to price in an eventual ECB policy reversal. Rising global risk aversion: An escalating US-China trade war triggers a flight to safety towards the dollar and harms the export-dependent Eurozone economy. Overcrowded positioning: There is a large net long speculative position in the current Euro futures market, meaning that if any bullish factors fail to materialize, the Euro will be vulnerable to a sharp sell-off, triggering a chain reaction of long liquidations.   The post Europe’s Policy Trap: When Fighting Inflation Risks Breaking the Economy appeared first on LeapRate.

Operating expenses rose modestly by 3% to €1.02 billion, while cost-control measures helped offset inflationary pressures.  Adjusted net profit remained stable at €878 million, with an improved operating margin of 27.4%, up 3.4 percentage points from the prior year. “Our performance demonstrates the continued strength and resilience of our business,” said Valérie Urbain, Chief Executive Officer of Euroclear. “In the nine first months of 2025, our systems seamlessly processed 267 million transactions worth over €1 quadrillion. This represents a year-on-year increase of 20% and a new record confirming Euroclear’s systemic role at the heart of the global capital markets.” Euroclear’s assets under custody surpassed €42 trillion for the first time, while turnover rose nearly 20% from Q3 2024 to over €1 quadrillion by the end of September 2025.  This was reportedly driven by solid growth in most European fixed income markets and Eurobonds, as well as increased settlement activity amid heightened market volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty. The firm’s Collateral Highway maintained near-peak daily average balances of around €2 trillion. Urbain reaffirmed Euroclear’s commitment to supporting Europe’s “Savings and Investments Union,” emphasising innovation, interoperability, and liquidity across asset classes. The company’s capital position remains robust, with a CET1 ratio of about 61%, comfortably above regulatory requirements. The post Euroclear Sees Strong Momentum in Q3, Highlights Record Deposit Levels appeared first on LeapRate.

According to FINRA’s Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, published earlier this week, Barclays acted as an underwriter for an IPO that raised roughly $700 million but failed to appoint a qualified independent underwriter (QIU) as required under FINRA Rule 5121. The regulator said a Barclays affiliate received about $150 million from the offering proceeds, which were used to repay outstanding debt, representing roughly 20% of the total raised and creating a conflict of interest.  Barclays neither admitted nor denied the findings but accepted the sanctions. Rule 5121 mandates that firms with conflicts must either disclose the issue prominently and meet specific conditions or appoint a QIU to oversee due diligence. FINRA said Barclays met neither requirement. “A violation of FINRA Rule 5121 is also a violation of Rule 2010, which requires member firms to observe high standards of commercial honour,” the order stated. The firm has agreed to pay the fine and waived its right to appeal or contest the decision.  Barclays, which has been a FINRA member since 1987, has approximately 2,950 registered representatives across 17 U.S. branches. The post Barclays Fined by FINRA for Conflict of Interest in IPO Underwriting appeared first on LeapRate.

The collaboration will enable merchants using Worldpay’s embedded payments platform to offer Affirm as a checkout option, providing consumers with the ability to split purchases into biweekly or monthly instalments.  Affirm said eligible customers can access repayment plans of up to 60 months, with rates starting at 0% APR and no late or hidden fees. “Together with Worldpay, we’re making it easier than ever for businesses to offer flexible, transparent payment options at checkout,” said Wayne Pommen, Affirm’s Chief Revenue Officer.  “Through this expanded partnership, we can deliver Affirm to more platforms, more merchants, and ultimately more consumers — while removing friction every step of the way.” Worldpay for Platforms serves over 1,000 software companies and processed more than $400 billion in payment volume over the past year.  Matt Downs, President of Worldpay for Platforms, said: “Our focus is on giving software platforms and their merchants the very best tools to grow. Affirm’s proven ability to deliver results for businesses and great experiences for consumers makes them an ideal BNPL partner.” The post Affirm Expands Partnership with Worldpay appeared first on LeapRate.

He will not stand for re-election at the April 2026 Annual General Meeting. Gähwiler joined UBS in 2010 and has held several senior roles, including President of UBS Switzerland and later Chairman of UBS Switzerland AG.  In 2022, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the UBS Group AG Board. He also served as the final Chairman of Credit Suisse AG, overseeing its integration into UBS following the historic merger. UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher praised Gähwiler as “one of the most respected bankers in Switzerland” and “a key driving force behind the success of UBS,” adding that his “expertise, integrity and work ethics set him apart.” Group CEO Sergio P. Ermotti said Gähwiler had “fundamentally repositioned and strengthened UBS in Switzerland” and played an essential role in the Credit Suisse transition. Gähwiler is expected to be succeeded by Markus Ronner, UBS’s Group Chief Compliance and Governance Officer, who has been with the bank since 1981. Ronner will be nominated as Vice Chairman at the 2026 AGM. Kelleher said Ronner’s “extensive and unique experience” in regulation and risk control would be invaluable to the board as UBS continues integrating Credit Suisse and refining its governance framework. The post UBS Vice Chairman Lukas Gähwiler to Retire From Role appeared first on LeapRate.

Announced on Thursday, the move is said to give aspiring traders access to the same professional-grade tools used by institutional firms. The partnership integrates Raen Trading’s initiative, designed to identify and develop emerging trading talent worldwide, with TT’s advanced futures trading platform.  Participants will use TT to compete in open tryouts for a chance to join the proprietary trading firm. “TT sets the standard for professional trading infrastructure,” said Ryan Wright, CEO of Raen Trading. “If we’re serious about developing world-class traders, they need access to the same institutional platform our team uses.” Alun Green, EVP at TT, said the partnership highlights how the company’s technology can help “identify and develop the next generation of trading talent” while showcasing its platform to new audiences. Handling more than 2.8 billion transactions in 2024, TT offers order management, risk control, and analytics tools to leading trading firms globally. Its infrastructure provides high-speed access to over 100 markets. For Raen, the collaboration marks an expansion of its recruitment and training model. “This partnership ensures our participants are training in a genuinely professional environment from day one,” Wright added. The initiative reflects growing demand for accessible professional pathways in trading, combining education, technology, and recruitment to cultivate the next wave of proprietary traders. The post Raen Trading Partners with Trading Technologies appeared first on LeapRate.

The company said it has been a long-requested feature and is designed to make trade signals more accurate without requiring code. The new functionality enables traders to combine up to five conditions, such as price moves, indicator readings, and chart drawings, into a single alert. It triggers only when all selected parameters align, helping traders act on stronger, confirmed signals. “This feature allows you to combine up to five different conditions, including price, drawings, and indicators, into a single powerful alert,” TradingView said in a press release. “This alert will only trigger when all conditions are met simultaneously.” The multi-condition tool supports different timeframes and applies to the same trading symbol.  TradingView said the feature is available from its Plus plan and counts as one technical alert.  It cannot yet be used in watchlists or Pine scripts that include the alert() function. “We hope this update will make your analysis even more efficient,” the company said, encouraging users to provide feedback for future developments. The post TradingView Adds Multi-Condition Alerts to Platform appeared first on LeapRate.

The certification means i2c’s clients, including banks and fintechs, can deploy Visa’s Click to Pay service across multiple regions through a single integration, improving security and reducing checkout friction. Visa’s Click to Pay system replaces card details with network tokenisation, which the companies say can cut fraud by 31% and lift authorisation rates by 4.3% compared with traditional card entry methods. “As digital commerce continues to evolve, consumers now expect speed, simplicity, and security in every transaction,” said Seth Perlman, Global Head of Product at i2c. “Achieving certification as the first issuer processor to enable Visa Click to Pay globally is a proud moment for us.” Industry analysts at Datos Insights said Click to Pay could significantly reduce cart abandonment, with 89% of consumers rating it as good as or better than other payment methods. Thad Peterson, Strategic Advisor at Datos, said: “Any tool that can reduce the friction around payments will help increase transaction volume.”  “Click to Pay simplifies the transaction process for customers, reducing cart abandonment and increasing sales. Beyond simplifying the purchase process, fraud goes down and authorizations increase with Click to Pay, making it a trifecta for issuers on the i2c platform.” The post i2c Becomes First Global Processor Certified for Visa Click to Pay appeared first on LeapRate.

The transaction, FalconX’s third strategic acquisition in 2025, unites its institutional-grade trading infrastructure with 21Shares’ global ETP platform, which manages $11 billion in assets across 55 listed products.  FalconX CEO Raghu Yarlagadda said: “We’re witnessing a powerful convergence between digital assets and traditional financial markets, as crypto ETPs open new channels for investor participation through regulated, familiar structures.” Founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder, 21Shares will continue operating independently under FalconX, with Russell Barlow remaining as CEO.  The company has been pivotal in bringing regulated crypto investment products to mainstream markets across Europe and the U.S. Yarlagadda said the deal will allow FalconX to extend its prime brokerage and risk management capabilities into listed markets.  Rashwan and Snyder added that FalconX’s resources would help “build on this strong foundation for the next chapter of 21Shares’ development.” The acquisition follows FalconX’s earlier purchases of Arbelos Markets and a majority stake in Monarq Asset Management.  The post FalconX to Acquire 21Shares appeared first on LeapRate.

The new board brings together senior figures from finance, law and investment, including Diwa Cody of Jane Street, Jessica D’Alton of UBS, Howard Kramer, a former SEC attorney, Daniel Lawrence, President & Chief Operating Officer of Investments at Red Apple Group, Ron Levi, Non-Executive Chairman, Firefly Capital and Ruleguard, and Jose Marques, CEO of Intech Investment Management. Founder and CEO Dmitri Galinov said the board’s formation marked “a key milestone” in the exchange’s development.  “This is a group of very accomplished leaders in their respective fields, and I am confident their collective strategic insight and experience will prove invaluable as we work to make 23-hour weekday trading a reality for U.S. equities worldwide,” he said. The exchange began extended-hours trading on 14 October, operating from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on weekdays.  Pending further regulatory and market infrastructure approvals, 23/5 trading, from Sunday 8 p.m. to Friday 8 p.m. ET, is expected to go live in the second half of 2026. 24X National Exchange secured SEC approval in late 2024, becoming the first to receive authorisation for near-continuous trading under full regulatory oversight.  The company says its mission is to expand market access globally by aligning equity trading with the round-the-clock rhythm of modern finance. The post 24X National Exchange Names Inaugural Board appeared first on LeapRate.

Valcourt specialises in high-yield, emerging market and sustainable debt, serving more than 700 clients, including banks, wealth managers and asset management firms.  The acquisition, announced Wednesday, will deepen Marex’s reach in Switzerland’s fixed income sector and diversify its earnings across its capital markets platform. “This acquisition brings us deep local knowledge and strong client relationships, particularly with Swiss institutions,” said Paolo Tonucci, Marex’s Chief Strategist and CEO of Capital Markets. “We see great potential to deepen these relationships by offering access to our broader range of products.” Valcourt CEO Mike Conway said joining Marex represented a “fantastic opportunity” for clients to benefit from the group’s global distribution network and expertise. The deal remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the first half of 2026. By integrating Valcourt, Marex expects to enhance its fixed income offering and strengthen its footprint in Europe’s private and institutional debt markets. The post Marex to Acquire Swiss Bond Market Maker Valcourt appeared first on LeapRate.

Located on the 19th floor of Nouf Tower B on Jaber Al-Mubarak Street, the new office will act as a hub for local support and tailored trading solutions, serving Kuwait’s growing community of traders and investors. “The opening of our new office in Kuwait represents an exciting milestone in Tickmill’s regional growth strategy,” said Joseph Dahrieh, Managing Principal at Tickmill.  “We are proud to bring our world-class trading services closer to clients in Kuwait, offering them not only direct access to global markets but also the local support and expertise they deserve.” Founded in 2014, Tickmill operates under multiple international regulators, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles. It is also recognised by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The Kuwait expansion follows the firm’s recent office opening in Oman and underscores its long-term commitment to the region.  Tickmill said it aims to combine global capabilities with local engagement, providing traders in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region with greater access, transparency, and education. The post Tickmill Opens Kuwait Office to Strengthen Gulf Presence appeared first on LeapRate.

The transaction, announced Thursday, also strengthens LSEG’s control over revenue from its flagship SwapClear clearing service. The investing banks, including Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citi, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Société Générale and UBS, will each become shareholders in Post Trade Solutions. Three directors nominated by the Investing Banks will join the Post Trade Solutions board. LSEG will simultaneously acquire a greater share of the revenue surplus from SwapClear, reducing banks’ entitlement from around 30% to 10% from 2026, in exchange for a £1.15 billion cash payment.  The new arrangement is expected to be 2–3% accretive to adjusted earnings per share (AEPS) in 2025 and improve margins across the group. Daniel Maguire, LSEG’s Head of Markets and CEO of LCH Group, said: “Our SwapClear business was at the forefront of innovation when it was founded in collaboration with our clearing members 25 years ago – and that spirit of innovation and partnership continues today. “Our clearing services have been highly successful in generating substantial growth and ensuring robust risk management for the OTC derivatives market.” The deal reinforces LSEG’s long-term collaboration with major clearing participants, echoing the original LCH model.  Bank executives from Barclays, Citi, BNP Paribas and J.P. Morgan welcomed the partnership as a step toward advancing risk management and post-trade efficiency. The transaction is expected to close in 2025. The post LSEG Brings Global Banks on Board with Post Trade Solutions Deal appeared first on LeapRate.

CEO Michael Miebach praised Rajamannar for his “transformative” contribution to Mastercard’s global brand, saying his creativity and leadership helped make it “one of the world’s most admired brands.” “We are excited to welcome Jill Kramer,” Miebach said. “Jill’s global perspective and deep expertise in B2B marketing will be invaluable as we continue to accelerate our growth and innovation.” Kramer joins from Accenture, where she served as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, leading the global function that helped the consultancy nearly double its brand value from $12 billion to $20.9 billion, according to Interbrand.  She previously held senior roles at BBDO and DDB, overseeing campaigns for major clients including AT&T and ExxonMobil. Recognised among Forbes’ Most Influential CMOs for three consecutive years, Kramer also serves on the Ad Council’s board of directors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The post Mastercard Names Jill Kramer Chief Marketing Officer as Raja Rajamannar Becomes Senior Fellow appeared first on LeapRate.

For the present moment, Gold makes an unstoppable upward move for around 2 months in a row without significant corrections, which is the absolute record for many years. As the “fear of missing out” attitude moves to the retail sector, as people are building in queues to buy and sell physical Gold around the globe, the peak of the rally might be achieved soon. However, it’s difficult to predict the exact points of reversal, as the bullish trend    For the present moment, the main asset in the spotlight is Gold, which has made the unstoppable upward move for around 2 months in a row without significant corrections, which is the absolute record for many years. The “fear of missing out” attitude moves to the retail sector, as people are building in queues to buy and sell physical Gold around the globe. That might point to the potential peak of the rally to be achieved soon. However, it’s difficult to predict the exact points of reversal, as the bullish trend still persists.   On Friday last week, the US president Donald Trump had softened the rethorics, stock indices have rebounded on Friday, sending S&P 500 to its best day since August. Gold and metals have corrected from peaks, displaying some relief for the “Super FOMO rally”. The government shutdown in the US still continues, which has put on hold some important economic publications, such as the US inflation, for example (the anticipated publication was on Oct 15th). The next date of the publication is scheduled Oct 24th.  This week, traders will look forward to speeches of several FED’s members, and the expected US inflation on Friday. The expected crude oil stocks change will be published on Wednesday. In this review, we will focus on several trading opportunities, which might potentially unfold this week. JPM The JP Morgan stock is testing the dynamic support area, moving inside of the 14-day swing from the peak of 29-th of September, 2025. The downside move may reverse off the support zone, as the swing is already mature, and according to statistical studies, directional moves rarely last for more than 16 days for this instrument. If volatility in the market would bounce back and the relief in rethorics from Donald Trump will improve the sentiment, markets may exhale this week, with a focus on the financial sector, and strong names such as JP Morgan. The expected target area may be around $309-310. USDCAD USDCAD is moving inside of a rising wedge above the dynamic support zone and may resume the upswing this week, as the US dollar index may get support after softening rhetoric of Donald Trump. Yields of 30-year bonds of Canada have declined, but with less volatility than for the US treasuries. The weakness of Crude oil futures pressures CAD against the USD, and focuses traders on the long side of USDCAD in the near future. The position of the price of USDCAD is above 200-day moving average, which boosts the bullish momentum for this currency pair. The post Is the “Super FOMO rally” for Gold coming to an end? appeared first on LeapRate.

The firm also announced the appointment of Yaseen Alsamerrai as Country CEO, who will oversee operations and drive strategic growth in Bahrain. The launch follows the Category 2 Investment Business Firm licence granted by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) in July 2025.  The opening ceremony in Manama was attended by senior CFI executives and figures from Bahrain’s financial sector. “This is an exciting moment for CFI as we officially open our doors in Bahrain, a dynamic market with tremendous potential,” said Ziad Melhem, CEO of CFI Financial Group. “Led by Yaseen’s capable leadership, [this] is more than just an expansion; it is a long-term commitment to delivering excellence, transparency, and innovation to traders in the Kingdom.” Alsamerrai said he aims to provide traders with “world-class platforms, competitive conditions, and continuous education, all backed by CFI’s trusted reputation and global expertise.” The new branch will offer access to a broad range of global markets, supported by local expertise and advanced platforms. With over 25 years of experience in online trading, CFI said the launch underscores its confidence in Bahrain’s growing role as a regional financial hub and reinforces its commitment to education, innovation, and best-in-class services. The post CFI Group Opens Bahrain Office, Names Yaseen Alsamerrai Country CEO appeared first on LeapRate.

Licensed by the Capital Market Authority (CMA), the new Alternative Trading System (ATS) executed its inaugural trades between BlackRock, BNP Paribas, and Goldman Sachs. “We are grateful for the trust placed in us by the CMA to deliver the first electronic bond ATS in the Kingdom,” said Billy Hult, CEO of Tradeweb.  “The introduction of SAR bonds to Tradeweb’s multi-asset electronic platform marks not just a technological milestone, but also a foundational moment for fixed income market structure in the Kingdom, preparing the ground for greater international participation.” The CMA selected Tradeweb in 2024 to build and operate the infrastructure as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to deepen its capital markets, attract foreign investment, and enhance transparency.  The launch comes as Saudi Arabia joins the J.P. Morgan EM Bond Index watchlist, a move expected to bring in about USD 5 billion in foreign inflows. CMA Deputy of Market Institutions Raed AlHumaid said the move is “an important step in enhancing the secondary market for debt instruments, while broadening the investor base and expanding the range of products available in the Saudi capital market.” The platform, available to professional investors, will allow efficient electronic trading in line with local conventions and may later expand to corporate bonds, repos, and derivatives, pending regulatory approval. Tradeweb said the launch positions Saudi Arabia to attract greater global investor participation and marks a new chapter in its fixed income market evolution. The post Tradeweb Launches First Electronic Bond Marketplace in Saudi Arabia appeared first on LeapRate.