FXPN signs its first Binaries broker, Zone Options. Leverate's FXPN (FX Partners Network) has announced that it has added the first Binary Options brand to its affiliate program, namely Zone Options. FXPN gives partners (i.e. affiliate marketers) a wide variety of premium brands to promote using a single interface, along with marketing tools to help…
Read moreFX Volumes make a big comeback in January, led by Japan, as a global "risk-on" trade brings back volatility. LeapRate's Retail FX Volume Index, sponsored by Leverate, spiked up 18% in January from December levels to $201 billion per day. January's index figure was the highest we've seen since August 2011, and represented one of the busiest…
Read moreHowever volume decrease was less than usual "December effect" drop. LeapRate's Retail FX Volume Index, sponsored by Leverate, was down 5% in December to $170 billion per day. However December volumes are usually significantly slower -- down typically 15-20% from a regular month -- due to the annual holiday season, so the 5% drop makes December 2012…
Read moreIncreased volatility brought traders back in November, but just marginally. LeapRate's Retail FX Volume Index, sponsored by Leverate, was fairly flat in November, with global retail FX trading activity up 1% to $179 billion per day. However this marks the fifth consecutive month where volumes remained well below last year's levels, with the year-over-year declines in…
Read moreLeverate hires ex Saxo Bank and FXCM exec to head Asia. Forex software platform provider Leverate announced today that it is opening a Hong Kong office next month, to be headed by ex Saxo Bank and FXCM exec Arthur Le. (Note that Saxo Bank is an investor in Leverate). Leverate's Sirix social platform has been…
Read moreLeverate shares data from a recent client installation. Forex software platform provider Leverate announced today that its Sirix social platform, at an unnamed FX broker client, resulted in 1.5 million client visits (over a month), 240,000 trades, and a 55% increase in the time traders spent in the environment. Leverate also pointed out the importance of…
Read morePrime brokerage business growing as large investors diversify away from traditional banks. One phenomenon we've written about recently is the emergence of industry-specific prime brokers, including in the FX world, as larger investors either leave their traditional / big-bank brokers, or just look to diversify away and create alternative trading avenues. Financial software provider SunGard…
Read moreRetail FX volumes flat, but institutional volumes very slow globally in October. LeapRate's Retail FX Volume Index, sponsored by Leverate, was fairly flat in October, with global retail FX trading activity down 1% to $177 billion per day. However this marks the fourth consecutive month where volumes remained well below last year's levels, with the year-over-year declines…
Read moreTraders return after the summer, but levels still lower than last year. LeapRate's Retail FX Volume Index, sponsored by Leverate, rose by 7% in September to $179 billion per day. While a healthy monthly increase, retail FX trading levels were coming off a low base due to consecutive 10.5% and 5% decreases in the index…
Read moreLow Volatility + Vacation = Slow Summer for FX trading. LeapRate's Retail FX Volume Index, sponsored by Leverate, fell by 5% in August to $167 billion per day from $175 billion in July. Note that July's figures were off 10.5% from $196 billion daily in June. August's figures represented the slowest month for FX trading in 2012…
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