What did the FCA have to say about looking at a ban on all leveraged CFDs? What did European regulator ESMA admit about the results of its CFD leverage cap, meant to lower the percentage of retail traders who lose money trading CFDs? Who did IG Group hire as its new CEO? Which UK broker…
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UK financial regulator The FCA has issued a statement targeted to brokers, regarding the selling of high-risk speculative investments to retail clients following ESMA’s action on CFD products. In June 2018, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) finalised temporary measures to restrict the sale, marketing and distribution of contracts for difference (CFDs) to retail…
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LeapRate Exclusive Interview... In our continuing series of discussions and interviews with leading figures in the Retail and Institutional FX trading scene ahead of pending ESMA rule changes (now just a week away!), we're pleased to speak today with Hayel Abu-Hamdan, Director and COO of London based Hantec Markets. What is Hantec Markets's approach to…
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UK online trading leader IG Group Holdings plc (LON:IGG) has reported its financial results for 2018 (IG has a May 31 fiscal year end), sporting record revenues and profits - but indicating that results will likely be lower in 2019 due to the CFD leverage caps being instituted by ESMA, scheduled to come into effect…
Read moreWhy is the Playtech acquisition of Alpha Capital Markets likely to be completed at a much lower valuation than the previously advertised $150 million? Which business line did GAIN Capital shutter? Will ESMA's binary options ban and CFD leverage cap, set to come into effect this summer, apply to non-EU clients of EU brokers? How…
Read morePan-European financial regulator European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued today the latest iteration of its Risk Dashboard, covering risks in the EU’s securities markets for Q1-2018. Overall, ESMA stated that its overall risk assessment remains unchanged from Q4-2017, at high levels. ESMA said that it remains concerned about risks posed to investors, which have…
Read moreCyprus financial regulator CySEC has issued a clarification circular (see full text below) following numerous inquiries it received in the wake of ESMA's plans to move forward with new, restrictive rules governing online brokers. ESMA's new rules - finalized in late March and set (just as of last week) to come into effect in two…
Read moreThis week in Forex Industry News at LeapRate... How much did GAIN Capital sell its institutional FX unit GTX for? On which dates do the ESMA binary options ban, and CFD leverage cap, kick in? Who's the new CEO at London Capital Group? Why is Playtech's Markets.com launching a new brand called MarketsX? What warning…
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Pan European financial regulator ESMA has announced the dates from which it will enforce new rules governing online trading and brokerage. We would note, however, that the new rules - banning Binary Options in the EU and restricting leverage on CFDs as outlined in more detail below - are temporary and will only be in…
Read moreWhat are LMAX Exchange's plans for its new institutional cryptocurrency exchange, LMAX Digital? What's new in version 3.0 of Spotware's popular cTrader platform, released this past week? What do institutional FX broker FIXI's £2.2 million fundraising, and hiring of new executives, say about the company's plans for the future? How much effect did IG Group…
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