Author: Desmond Brooks

Football Freestylers can now register for the highly anticipated xBar Cup 2025 online, as easyMarkets partners with Real Madrid to bring this event to life. Collaboration with Football Legend Roberto Carlos Trading pioneer easyMarkets, along with Real Madrid football icon Roberto Carlos, has announced the return of the xBar Cup, which was first introduced during the Dubai Expo 2024. This year, the competition takes an exciting twist by focusing on elite football Freestylers with a strong social media following. This shift aims to elevate the caliber of the competition, offering both professional Freestylers and fans an engaging platform to showcase…

Hantec Markets, a global Forex and CFD brokerage firm, has appointed Raphael Marsura Abel Ferraz as its new Regional Manager for Brazil and the LATAM region. With years of experience in the financial industry, Ferraz brings expertise that Hantec Markets hopes will strengthen client relationships and expand its market reach in Latin America. Ferraz expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “This opportunity with a company that has 34 years of industry history is truly exciting. I look forward to bringing my passion and dedication to the team, and I’m grateful for the trust placed in me.” Focus on…

BGC Group, Inc. has announced a primarily cash deal to acquire OTC Global Holdings, LP (“OTC”), the largest independent institutional energy and commodities brokerage firm. The acquisition aims to bolster BGC’s Energy, Commodities, and Shipping (ECS) business, expanding its reach in the global markets. Expanding Global Energy and Commodities Presence OTC Global Holdings operates across North America, Europe, and Asia, offering services in crude and refined products, petrochemicals, natural gas, and ship brokerage. BGC sees OTC’s product offerings as a strong complement to its existing ECS business, enhancing the firm’s ability to provide a more comprehensive platform for the global…

MetaQuotes has announced it will discontinue support for older versions of its MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms starting December 1. Users must upgrade to specific versions to continue accessing broker servers without disruption. Minimum Supported Versions For MetaTrader 4, the minimum supported version will be build 1420, released on May 24, 2024. MetaTrader 5 users will need build 4410, which was released on June 21, 2024, to remain connected. Focus on Performance and Security MetaQuotes warned that users who do not update their platforms by the deadline will face disconnection from broker servers. The company emphasized that the new…

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has fined four companies a total of $6 million for providing misleading information to investors about significant cybersecurity breaches. Inadequate Cybersecurity Disclosures The SEC charged Unisys Corp., Avaya Holdings Corp., Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, and Mimecast Limited for downplaying the severity of cyberattacks. These companies reportedly failed to fully disclose the impact of one of the most high-profile breaches in recent years, leaving investors unaware of the true extent of the incidents. According to the SEC, the firms did not provide transparent information about the scope of the cybersecurity intrusions they faced,…

Saxo Bank, a leading Danish trading platform, has garnered significant attention from major investors, including Altor Equity Partners, Centerbridge Partners, and Interactive Brokers Group, according to a report from Yahoo Finance. The investors have reportedly submitted non-binding offers, signaling the possibility of a major transaction in the near future. Multiple Investors Eyeing Saxo Bank Altor and Centerbridge are among the firms that have expressed interest, submitting preliminary bids for Saxo Bank. Interactive Brokers Group is also reported to be evaluating the firm for a potential acquisition. However, no deal has been finalized, and Saxo Bank has not yet committed to…

dxFeed has integrated its suite of indices into the Bloomberg platform as part of its broader strategy to expand partnerships across the financial industry. This collaboration aims to enhance access to financial data for professionals worldwide, fostering innovation in index-linked products. dxFeed’s Global Expansion with Bloomberg The recent integration of dxFeed’s indices into Bloomberg marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to broaden its reach in the financial sector. By making its data accessible to Bloomberg users, dxFeed seeks to provide investors with improved tools for making data-driven decisions. Bruce Traan, Global Head of Indices at dxFeed, expressed enthusiasm…

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has added popular forex and CFD broker ThinkMarkets, along with two proprietary trading firms, FundedNext and Smart Prop Trader, to its growing warning list. This marks the first time prop trading companies have appeared on the RBI’s radar, which previously focused primarily on well-known brokers such as eToro, IC Markets, and XTB. RBI Expands Warning List to Include Prop Firms and FX/CFD Broker The RBI updated its warning list on Tuesday, flagging several new entities. Among them, ThinkMarkets, a well-known broker in the FX/CFD space, and two prop firms, FundedNext and Smart Prop Trader,…

eToro has launched a new feature allowing users to trade in their local currencies, GBP and EUR, eliminating the need for converting funds into USD. This move aims to help investors avoid currency conversion fees and gain better control over their currency exposure when trading UK and European stocks. Improved Currency Management for Investors Previously, eToro users had to convert their local currencies into USD before trading UK and European stocks, leading to additional conversion costs. With this new feature, investors can now trade directly in GBP or EUR, saving on fees and simplifying the process of investing in locally-listed…

MetaTrader 5, developed by MetaQuotes, offers hedge funds a cost-effective solution for managing complex data and operations, thanks to its advanced built-in tools and support for MQL5 and Python. Hedge funds typically handle large amounts of market data, requiring extensive data storage and integration with external databases. This often leads to significant infrastructure and maintenance costs. MetaTrader 5 addresses these challenges by integrating the necessary infrastructure within its platform, providing real-time access to a wide range of financial instruments. Reducing Costs with a Streamlined Approach The platform’s integrated design helps hedge funds cut down on infrastructure expenses while speeding up…