Solactive launches Industrial Robotics & Automation Index to Commerzbank LeapRate

First Republic Bank joins S&P 500 index, replaces Scana Corporation

February 22, 2018 BY Valentina Kirilova

Solactive launches Industrial Robotics & Automation Index to Commerzbank

Solactive has introduced the Solactive Industrial Robotics & Automation Index, a thematic index track- ing companies providing robotics and automation solutions in an industrial context. The index holds globally listed companies with a minimum market capitalization of USD 1 billion operating in sectors such as factory automation equipment, semiconductors, industrial machine parts, and programmable logic…

February 22, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

France bans ads for cryptocurrency CFDs

France's financial regulator Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has issued an opinion that it considers that the offer of cryptocurrency derivatives -i.e., CFDs on cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ripple - requires authorisation and that it is prohibited to advertise such offer via electronic means. Essentially, by defining crypto CFDs as 'derivatives', the advertising of…

INTL FCStone’s Carsten Hils discusses the impact the current crisis has on FX markets

February 22, 2018 BY Valentina Kirilova

EU funds blockchain platform IZNES announces its first fundraising

IZNES, the international blockchain record-keeping platform for EU mutual funds powered by SETL’s blockchain technology, has just announced its first fundraising. OFI AM and SETL, the institutional payment and settlement infrastructure provider which uses blockchain technology, have been joined as shareholders of IZNES by five asset management companies, who have participated in the development of…

February 22, 2018 BY Valentina Kirilova

Colt enables businesses in Japan with 100Gbps connectivity solutions

Colt Technology Services today announced that it is expanding 100Gbps connectivity solutions in Japan to better serve the needs of enterprises, financial organisations and cloud service providers in the region. The extended connectivity centres around the Inzai Data Centre district, strategically located near Tokyo’s central business area. It will enable businesses in Tokyo to meet…

February 22, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Henrik Normann replaces Lone Fonss Schroder as Chairman of Saxo Bank

Following a recent change-of-control at Saxo Bank, changes at both the management and board level continue. Copenhagen based multi asset brokerage group Saxo Bank A/S has announced that company chairman Lone Fønss Schrøder has decided to retire from the board of directors of the company. Vice chairman Henrik Normann (pictured above) will assume the position…

February 22, 2018 BY Valentina Kirilova

Canadian regulator BCSC warns against cryptocurrency company Cryp Trade Capital Holdings

Canadian securities regulator the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) has added to its Investment Caution List unregulated cryptocurrency company, named Cryp Trade Capital Holdings SL. The company is operating at https://cryp.trade/. Cryp Trade Capital Holdings SL (Cryp Trade) claims to be located in Alicate, Spain, and offers an online cryptocurrency trading platform and cryptocurrency investment…

February 22, 2018 BY Valentina Kirilova

French AMF publishes the summary of responses to the public consultation on ICO

Among the 82 responses made to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)’ consultation, a large majority of respondents expressed support for setting up an appropriate legal framework for this new type of fundraising. The AMF Board informed that it has decided to continue work on definition of a specific legal framework for ICOs. In view…

February 22, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Playtech suffers $7.6 million Q4 loss from 'crypto hype', as Revenues decline in 2H-2017

Online gaming and financial trading systems giant Playtech PLC (LON:PTEC) has announced its results for the full year 2017, indicating a major slowdown in most key business units in the second half of the year. Overall, Playtech revenues in 2H-2017 totaled €385.5 million, down 9% from the first half's €421.6 million. And that, despite the…

February 22, 2018 BY Valentina Kirilova

ASIC bans former Charter Financial Planning adviser

ASIC announced that it has permanently banned Brenton John Poynter of Baulkham Hills, NSW, from providing financial services. Mr Poynter was an authorised representative of Charter Financial Planning Ltd (Charter) from June 2010 to June 2016 and provided financial advice regarding superannuation products to a number of elderly clients. ASIC found that from January 2015…

February 21, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Bitcoin exchange BitFunder and founder Jon Montroll charged with fraud

The SEC alleges that BitFunder and its founder Jon E. Montroll operated BitFunder as an unregistered online securities exchange and defrauded exchange users by misappropriating their bitcoins and failing to disclose a cyberattack on BitFunder’s system that resulted in the theft of more than 6,000 bitcoins.