General News

All In: Central Banks Take Coordinated Action in Battle with Coronavirus, US Federal Reserve Drops Rates to Near Zero

In an unprecedented action, the US Federal Reserve reduced its primary credit rate by 150 basis points to 0.25 percent, effective March 16, 2020. This reduction in the primary credit rate reflects both the 100 basis point reduction in the target range for the federal… Read More

Coronavirus: European Union to Aid SMEs with € 8 Billion of Financing

Like many jurisdictions around the world, the European Union has announced extraordinary measures to combat the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, including measures to mitigate the impact the illness will have on SMEs. In a statement yesterday, the Commission said it considers the COVID-19 pandemic as qualifying as… Read More

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Develpment Announces €1 billion in Funding to Combat Coronavirus Impact

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has annunced a €1 billion “Solidarity Package” of measures to help companies across its regions deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The EBRD said this is an initial response to the crisis and the Bank… Read More

Traditional Banks and Fintech Firms are More Likely to Work Cooperatively than Compete: Report

The ongoing competition between traditional banks and innovative Fintech firms might be coming to an end or is already over, according to Barclays, a British multinational investment bank and financial services company with over $1.2 trillion in assets. A recent report from the London-headquartered investment… Read More

What are the odds of that? Bookmaker Posts Odds on Coronavirus Impact Events`

In a sign of the rather desperate times, Bookmaker.eu has posted odds on Coronavirus impact events. As professional sports events are shuttered and pretty much all school events have been postponed, the oddsmaker claims that necessity is the mother of invention. Current event trader Rick… Read More

Contactless Payments: Software Firm Phos Partners with Mastercard to Launch Transaction Processing System for Android Mobile Devices

Phos, a software development firm, has introduced a pilot program with payments giant Mastercard, which involves the launch of a new mobile-based solution that will allow merchants to process contactless payments. The new payment option is available on all Android smartphones without requiring any additional… Read More

Innovate Finance Cancels April Event, the Flagship Event of UK Fintech Week

Innovate Finance has decided to cancel its annual event, IFGS, the flagship event of UK Fintech Week. IFGS was scheduled to take place on April 20-21 at Guildhall, London. Innovate Finance joins a growing list of events and conferences that have been canceled or postponed due… Read More

Chamber of Digital Commerce Adds Former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins and Colleen Sullivan, CEO of CMT Digital, to Board of Advisors

Former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins and Colleen Sullivan, CEO of CMT Digital, have joined the Board of Advisors of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. Atkins, who is currently CEO of Patomak Global Partners, issued the following statement on the news: “I am pleased to join… Read More

Perspective: Brexit – a Positive News Story for UK Plc

It is fair to say that Brexit dominated headlines in the final few years of the 2010s. After the UK made the historic decision to forge its own future outside of the European Union [EU], many people and businesses were naturally concerned as to what… Read More

Crowdfunding to Combat the Coronavirus Act: Proposed Legislation Creates $1 billion Prize to Crowdfund COVID-19 Vaccine

Representative Patrick McHenry, Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Committee, has proposed legislation to crowdfund a vaccine for the Coronavirus entitled “Crowdfunding to Combat the Coronavirus Act.” The bill creates a $1 billion prize for anyone that develops a vaccine for COVID-19 that is… Read More

Nasdaq Acquires Solovis, an Asset Management Firm, which Will Complement Exchange’s eVestment Analytics Platform

New York-based Nasdaq stock exchange has reportedly acquired Solovis, an asset management company. The acquisition by the world’s second-largest stock exchange by market cap will complement its 2017 purchase of eVestment, a buy-side analytics platform. There are more than 600 institutional clients that use the… Read More

Coronavirus Concern Shutters CME Group Trading Floor

The CME Group will close its Chicago trading floor as of the close of business Friday, March 13, 2020. Similar to many other companies, CME Group is attempting to reduce the risk of Coronavirus exposure. CME Group was quick to state that no Coronavirus cases… Read More

Leading Financial Trading Technology Firm TradingView Moves Head Offices from New York to London

A leading financial trading technology firm has shifted its business operations from its New York head offices to London. Established in 2011 by three Russian businessmen, TradingView has become the largest online community of private investors in the world, with reportedly more than 10 million… Read More

Securities and Exchange Commission Asks Staff to “Telework”

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has posted an “Operating Status” notification on its website indicating that much of its DC staff have been asked to work from home during the Coronavirus outbreak. Recently, the Commission has canceled multiple meetings, according to its event page…. Read More

CFTC Designates Small Exchange as a Contract Market

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued an Order of Designation to Small Exchange, Inc., located in Chicago, Ill., granting it status as a designated contract market (DCM), effective today. Small Exchange is incorporated under Delaware state law. The Small Exchange seeks to make… Read More

Fintech Unicorn Marqeta Announces First Australian Transactions & Continues Expansion

Marqeta, a fintech unicorn that claims to be the first global modern card issuing platform, announced on Tuesday it has begun transacting in Australia. The company reported it will also be supporting two of its major global customers, Klarna and Doordash with their own expansions… Read More

Thailand’s Corporate VC Firm Krungsri Finnovate to Invest $10 Million in Three Startups to Improve Country’s Digital Infrastructure

Krungsri Finnovate, a corporate venture capital company operating under Bank of Ayudhya (BAY), the third-largest bank in Thailand in terms of assets, loans, and deposits, is planning to invest $10 million into the operations of three promising startups during the first half of this year…. Read More

Bulletin: US Federal Agencies Urge Banks to Help Meet Financial Needs During Coronavirus Crisis

A joint bulletin has been issued today by multiple US federal and state regulators. The bulletin encourages banks to help meet the needs of their customers during the Coronavirus crisis. The agencies issuing the bulletin include: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Consumer… Read More

After Two Years of Blockchain Focused Events, Blockland Solutions May Shut Down

Cleveland, Ohio based Blockland Solutions may call it quits on a short series of conferences that took place in 2018 and 2019. The blockchain-focused events, organized in part by Destination Cleveland, launched at the tail end of the initial coin offering induced blockchain hype cycle…. Read More

Digital Transformation: Standard Bank South Africa to Migrate Core SAP Cloud-based Platform to Microsoft Azure

Standard Bank South Africa recently revealed that its migrating its core SAP cloud-powered platform to Microsoft Azure, in order to enhance customer experience and to be able to more effectively deploy new solutions. By teaming up with tech giant Microsoft, the financial institution hopes to… Read More

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