Gerald Segal
LeapRate Analyst
May 23, 2014 BY Gerald Segal

CFTC relaxes certain SEF reporting rules, to incentivize SEF trading

It seems as though trading volumes on Swap Execution Facilities, or SEFs, are not what regulators initially anticipated. To encourage more SEF trading, CFTC Acting Chairman Mark Wetjen  announced three actions to (among other things) promote end-user trading on (SEFs), as well as on designated contract markets (DCMs). What are SEFs? SEFs are licensed trading venues,…

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May 22, 2014 BY Gerald Segal

ESMA launches MiFID II consultation process through August 1

Europe's pan-financial regulator European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has launched its consultation process for the implementation of the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (or MiFID II) This marks the first step in the process of translating  MiFID II requirements into practically applicable rules and regulations - primarily aimed at improving financial market transparency and strengthening investor protection.MiFID II introduces changes that…

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May 22, 2014 BY Gerald Segal

LeapRate’s Retail FX Volume Index dips 6% in April to $281B daily

Low volatility takes its toll. In what is becoming a very up-and-down year volume-wise (see graph below), Retail Forex brokers saw another down month in April. LeapRate's Retail FX Volume Index fell in April by more than 6% to $281 billion ADV, making April 2014 the slowest (non-December) month since November 2012. Institutional brokers generally…

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May 21, 2014 BY Gerald Segal

ESMA posts updated Q&A on EMIR Implementation

On February 12, 2014, new EMIR trade reporting rules came into effect for European Forex, Binary and CFD brokers as mandated by ESMA. Well, it has been more than three months since then, and there remains some confusion as to what a broker's obligations really are, and what does and does not need to be…

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May 16, 2014 BY Gerald Segal

Breaking News... CFH Group Buys 50% of Boston Technologies and Boston Prime

Press release attached, more details to follow... 16 May 2014  -  Copenhagen, Denmark:  CFH Group has entered into an agreement to purchase 50% of voting stock of Boston Technologies Inc. and Boston Prime Ltd in an all-cash transaction from Boston Technologies’ co-founder and partner, Kevin Millien. The deal is expected to close within days, pending final due…

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