London Stock Exchange Celebrated Record-Breaking Birthday Year for ETPs in 2025
The London Stock Exchange marked a milestone 2025, delivering a record‑breaking year for exchange‑traded products (ETPs). Trading volume surged to GBP 238.4 billion, a 38% year‑on‑year increase, while 398 new listings pushed the total to 2,645 ETPs. The removal of the retail ban on crypto ETNs added 20 new products and sparked a 500% jump in daily value traded. System upgrades halved latency and doubled capacity, and a Retail Broker Scheme saved participants over £1 million.
Pay Transparency Is a Cultural Shift, Not a Reporting Exercise
Pay transparency is evolving from a policy debate to a cultural imperative worldwide, with 16 U.S. states, several countries and EU members already enforcing or drafting legislation. Early adopters reveal that defining "equal work," cleaning legacy pay data, and establishing...
Tom Keaveney Joins AMC Networks International as EVP and Managing Director of AMCNI-UK
AMC Networks International announced Tom Keaveney as executive vice president and managing director of AMCNI‑UK, effective immediately. Based in London, he will oversee programming, marketing, and the company’s fast‑growing FAST (Free‑Ad‑Supported Television) strategy. Keaveney reports to AMCNI president Eduardo Zulueta...
Reform UK Would ‘Repeal Equality Act’
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage and fronted by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, announced it would repeal the Equality Act on its first day in office. The party also pledged to dissolve the equalities department, scrap the equalities minister,...
Operational Discipline in Streaming Is Now Non-Negotiable
Streaming operators are moving from growth‑focused strategies to strict cost discipline as subscriber acquisition slows and infrastructure expenses rise. Igor Oreper argues that profitability now depends on tightly controlled workflows, AI‑driven automation, and smarter cloud‑native architectures. He highlights concrete levers...
Nearshore Hiring Moves Beyond Engineering as US Firms Place Revenue Teams in Latin America
U.S. companies are expanding nearshore hiring beyond software engineering to include sales, customer success, and support teams in Latin America. The customer‑success market is projected to reach $16.5 billion by 2033, while bilingual support job postings have risen 50% year‑over‑year. Talent...
Philip R Lane: Bulgaria and the Euro
Philip R. Lane praised Bulgaria’s smooth euro cash changeover, noting that euros now represent 70 percent of cash in circulation as the dual‑lev/euro period ends on 31 January 2026. The speech highlighted Bulgaria’s new seat at the ECB Governing Council, giving the country a...
Christine Lagarde: Preparing for Geoeconomic Fragmentation
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned that deepening supply‑chain interdependence now poses a security risk, prompting Europe to shift toward strategic autonomy. She outlined three policy levers—diversification, indispensability and independence—to reduce reliance on distant suppliers, especially in electronics, chemicals...
Toshiba Weighs Reducing Elevator Unit Stake as Kone Circles
Toshiba Corp. is weighing a partial or full divestiture of its roughly 80% stake in Toshiba Elevator & Building Systems, as Finland’s Kone Oyj signals renewed interest. Kone, which already owns just under 20% of the unit, has begun informal...
Indian Veg Oil Buyers Await Clarity on US Trade Deal
Indian vegetable‑oil importers are waiting for concrete details on the pending U.S.–India trade pact that could lower tariffs on U.S. soybean oil. The framework hints at a 0‑15% duty cut and a tariff‑rate quota of roughly 200,000‑250,000 tonnes, but exact...
Employee Mental Health Tops the Concerns and Priorities of Employers for 5th Year Running
New research from benefits firm Everywhen shows mental health remains the top concern for employers, with 59% flagging it as a priority. Nearly half (49%) plan to focus resources on mental‑health support over the next 12 months, outpacing physical, financial...
India’s Next Big Power Move Is Set to Unfold in the Bay of Bengal
India’s National Green Tribunal has approved the Rs 90,000‑crore Great Nicobar mega‑infrastructure project, clearing the way for a new International Container Transshipment Port at Galethea Bay. The first phase, slated for 2028, will handle over 4 million TEUs annually, with full capacity...
Haelixa Embeds DNA Authentication Into Products
Haelixa, a Swiss deep‑tech firm, introduced a DNA‑based Authenticity Service that embeds nano‑sized, brand‑unique DNA markers into luxury items such as watches, jewellery and leather accessories. The invisible marker survives resale, repair and returns, and can be verified on‑site with...
Kenya’s Arc Ride Secures $5 Million IFC Commitment for Regional Expansion
Kenyan e‑mobility startup Arc Ride has secured a $5 million equity commitment from the International Finance Corporation to fuel its Series A round and regional rollout. The funding will accelerate the deployment of battery‑swapping stations across East Africa, complementing earlier debt deals...
UAE Clarifies Annual Leave Rules; Sets Limits on Carrying Forward Unused Days
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation issued new guidance clarifying annual leave entitlements and carry‑forward limits. Employees earn a minimum of 30 days paid leave after one year, with accrual at two days per month before that. Unused leave...
Olaf Sleijpen: Repairing the Vending Machine - How the Savings and Investment Union Is Key to Europe's Future
Olaf Sleijpen, governor of De Nederlandsche Bank, highlighted Europe’s €10 trillion of low‑yield household deposits and the need to channel them into productive capital markets through the Savings and Investment Union. He warned that fragmented insolvency regimes and national rules act...
Will Indonesia’s US$762 Million Ramadan Stimulus Be a ‘Positive’ Boost for the Economy?
Indonesia has unveiled a US$762 million, 12.83 trillion‑rupiah stimulus aimed at bolstering Ramadan consumption. The package includes transport fare discounts of up to 30%, full‑fare ferry rides, and food parcels for low‑income families. Officials hope the measures will sustain mobility and purchasing...
Policy Paper: Applying the FSMA 2000 Model of Regulation to the Capital Requirements Regulation
HM Treasury’s 2025 policy update outlines a shift from the EU‑derived Capital Requirements Regulation to a UK‑specific framework built on the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The Treasury will revoke parts of the CRR and replace them with rules...
Proofpoint Boosts Deal Protection, Profitability With Launch Of New Partner Program
Proofpoint announced an updated Partner Network that tightens deal registration protection, introduces backend rebates for new customer wins, and adds growth‑target incentives and renewal bonuses. The program is designed to drive consolidation on Proofpoint’s email, data security, and AI‑powered threat...
The Myth of ‘Always On’: Confronting Data Center SPOFs
Recent incidents—a 2021 Texas freeze and a 2021 OVH fire in Strasbourg—highlight hidden single points of failure in data centers. The freeze delayed fuel deliveries, exposing over‑reliance on on‑site fuel, while the fire demonstrated how passive cooling designs can unintentionally...
4 Steps to Building Your Own Fintech
UK platforms Klipboard, Access Group, and Epos Now illustrate a four‑stage roadmap for building embedded finance. They begin by validating assumptions and launching embedded payments, then evolve payments into a core, cross‑functional capability. Next, they add complementary financial products such as...
Piero Cipollone: The Digital Euro - Strengthening Europe's Payments Ecosystem
In a speech in Nicosia, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone presented the digital euro as a cornerstone for Europe’s payment autonomy, security and competitiveness. He emphasized the ECB’s readiness to issue retail central‑bank digital money while maintaining wholesale settlement...
Employee Benefits: What Organizations Could Expect in 2026
Employers face unprecedented health‑plan cost spikes in 2026, driven by specialty drug prices, catastrophic claims and rising provider expenses. The HUB International outlook highlights AI‑powered decision tools that simplify plan selection but raise data‑privacy questions. Wellness initiatives are expanding, with...
Philip N Jefferson: Economic Outlook and Supply-Side (Dis)inflation Dynamics
Vice Chair Philip N. Jefferson said he is cautiously optimistic about the U.S. economy, noting a 4.4% annualized GDP surge in Q3 2025 and a modest 2.2% growth outlook for 2026. The labor market appears balanced with unemployment hovering near 4.4%...
CleanMax to Float ₹3,100 Crore IPO on Feb 23
CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions announced a ₹3,100 crore IPO opening on Feb 23, with a price band of ₹1,000‑1,053 per share that values the company at up to ₹12,325 crore. The issue includes a ₹1,200 crore fresh issue and a ₹1,900 crore offer‑for‑sale by promoters,...
CFO Budgets Pivot to Growth and AI - Weekly Roundup: 17 February
CFOs are reallocating 2026 budgets toward revenue‑generating functions, technology and AI, while headcount growth and HR spending slow sharply. Nearly 60% of finance leaders plan to raise AI spend, echoing a broader trend of near‑universal AI adoption in financial services....
Youth Unemployment at 11-Year High with 16% Out of Work
Youth unemployment in the UK surged to 16.1% in the October‑December 2025 quarter, the highest level since 2014 and now above the EU average of 14.9%. Overall unemployment rose to 5.2%, a five‑year peak, while pay‑rolled jobs slipped by 6,000,...
Emirates NBD Leads $31 Million Round in Real Estate Investment Platform Stake
Stake, a fractional real‑estate investment platform, closed a $31 million financing round led by Emirates NBD, bringing its total capital to $58 million. The raise backs Stake’s rapid expansion beyond Saudi Arabia into the United States and supports its regulated offering in the Kingdom....
The Film and TV Charity’s Money Matters Survey Reveals Worrying Trend for the Industry
The Film and TV Charity’s second Money Matters report, based on 2,000 industry workers, reveals that 74 % are contemplating leaving the sector because of financial pressure and 43 % have already taken concrete steps to exit. Sustained worklessness affects 22 % of...
Karnataka Plans Tough Law to Protect Govt Staff; Proposes Jail Term for Assault and Threats
Karnataka is drafting a law to make assaults, intimidation, and damage to public property against government employees non‑bailable, with penalties of up to three years imprisonment and fines up to Rs 50,000. The bill defines violence broadly, covering physical attacks, threats,...
Mondrian Picks FundGuard to Update Investment Ledger
Mondrian, a European asset manager, has selected FundGuard’s cloud‑based investment ledger to replace its legacy accounting system. The new platform will provide real‑time transaction processing, automated regulatory reporting, and seamless integration with tokenisation workflows. Migration includes historic data transfer and...
Danish Fintech Pluto Secures New Funding From Seed Capital and Unicorn Founders to Scale Commission-Free Investing Across Europe
Copenhagen‑based fintech Pluto announced a €5 million funding round led by Seed Capital and a syndicate of ten Danish unicorn founders, including executives from Pleo, Synthesia and Zendesk, with footballer Thomas Delaney also participating. The capital will fuel the launch of “Pluto...
Kazuyuki Masu: Economic Activity, Prices, and Monetary Policy in Japan
Kazuyuki Masu, a Bank of Japan policy board member, highlighted that U.S. auto tariffs rose to 12.5% in 2025, pressuring Japanese car exporters. He noted that the yen’s depreciation has partially offset the earnings hit for automakers. Masu added that...
Private Credit: Poised For Growth
Asia‑Pacific private credit is entering a rapid expansion phase, with issuance projected to rise from $59 billion in 2024 to $92 billion by 2027. Industry leaders such as SC Lowy and Moody’s cite digitalization, the energy transition, and infrastructure needs as primary catalysts,...
Velera’s Chuck Fagan: ‘Speed to Member Impact’ Is the Only KPI That Matters for Credit Unions
Chuck Fagan, CEO of Velera, told PYMNTS that credit unions must make "speed to member impact" their primary KPI, measuring how quickly they deliver solutions from concept to market. He warned that the term "credit" alienates millennials and Gen Z,...
Digest: Disney Takes On Bytedance Over AI Video App; Alliance of Independent Agencies Launches Middle East Chapter
ByteDance announced tighter safeguards for its AI video generator Seedance after Disney served a cease‑and‑desist alleging unauthorized use of Marvel and Star Wars characters. The move follows a surge of hyper‑realistic clips that raised copyright concerns across Hollywood. Meanwhile, the...
Ida Wolden Bache: Economic Perspectives
Ida Wolden Bache, governor of Norges Bank, delivered her annual address on 12 February 2026, warning that geopolitical power plays and rapid AI advances are reshaping the economic landscape. She cited Mark Carney’s view that economic integration is being used...
What CFOs Need From Banks and FinTechs in Cross-Border Payments
Cross‑border payments are undergoing a structural shift as CFOs demand more predictable, liquid, and compliant solutions. FinTech firms have accelerated speed and API‑driven usability, opening new corridors and transparent pricing. At the same time, banks are investing in modern settlement,...
Nairagram Completes ₦10 Billion Capital Raise to Deepen Financial Connectivity Across Africa
Pan‑African payments firm Nairagram completed a ₦10 billion commercial paper issuance, fully subscribed within 48 hours after regulatory clearance from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The capital will fund operations across 37 African countries, accelerating expansion in key markets such as Nigeria,...
Cloud Cloning: A New Approach to Infrastructure Portability
FluidCloud’s new Cloud Cloning service tackles the chronic shortcomings of existing cloud‑migration tools by taking a comprehensive snapshot of a source public‑cloud environment and automatically translating it into an equivalent target cloud configuration. The approach captures more than 60% of...
Pure Storage Wants to Demolish Your Storage Silos
Pure Storage’s Cloud service extends its Purity operating environment to AWS and Azure, delivering a single‑pane‑of‑glass storage layer that feels identical to on‑prem FlashArray. By abstracting the underlying cloud hardware, the platform offers native APIs, replication, and security while adding...
Trifork Launches Danish Sovereign Data and AI Solution as Alternative to US Hyperscalers
Trifork has introduced a Danish sovereign data and AI solution aimed at public authorities and critical infrastructure, offering an alternative to US hyperscalers. The offering bundles four integrated components—Netic data centers, Corax Data platform, Corax AI platform, and Trifork Group...
Trainee Solicitors Among Record Number Seeking Mental Health Support
LawCare’s 2025 Impact Report shows the charity supported a record 753 legal professionals, surpassing pandemic levels. Trainee solicitors accounted for 13% of contacts, second only to private‑practice solicitors at 42%. Stress, career concerns and anxiety were the top reasons callers...
DCM Shriram Industries’ Demerger Entities Debut on Bourses
DCM Shriram Industries completed its demerger, launching DCM Shriram Fine Chemicals Ltd and DCM Shriram International Ltd on Indian exchanges. Fine Chemicals opened around 17% below its issue price, while International fell about 18% on the NSE but edged up...
AI Consulting Startup Navikenz Raises $7.5 Mn Led by Sekar PRC and Sudip Nandy
Navikenz, a Noida‑based AI consulting firm, closed a $7.5 million funding round led by Sekar PRC and Sudip Nandy, adding to a prior $8 million raise. The capital will fund team expansion and further development of its AI platforms, including RetailBOT and...
Jersey Hired Secures $250,000 Investment to Revolutionize Local Recruitment Technology
Jersey Hired, New Jersey’s leading hyper‑local job board, announced a $250,000 strategic investment from its parent, Local Talent Group. The capital will accelerate AI‑driven matching, mobile‑first UX upgrades, and an expanded sales force targeting South and Central Jersey. By focusing...
Siemens Energy Investors Urge Wind Focus
Three of Siemens Energy’s largest shareholders are urging the company to focus on stabilising its loss‑making wind turbine unit, Siemens Gamesa, before considering any spin‑off. The call follows activist investor Ananym Capital’s proposal to separate Gamesa, which it values at...
CESC Seeks KERC Nod to Bridge Revenue Deficit
Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) has asked the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) to approve a plan that bridges a ₹528.1 crore net revenue deficit for FY 2024‑25. The shortfall stems from higher power procurement costs, rising finance expenses and a 5.8%...
Record Year for Seaborne Grains with Freight Boost Into 2026
Seaborne agricultural trade set a new high in 2025, moving 716.5 million tonnes – a modest 1% year‑on‑year gain that nonetheless broke the previous record. After a 6% slump in the first half, volumes rebounded 7% in the second half, lifting...
Cash Craze: Currency in Circulation Touches Record Rs 40 Lakh Crore
India's currency in circulation reached a record Rs 40 lakh crore in January 2026, up 11.1% year‑on‑year, while the cash‑to‑GDP ratio slipped to about 11.2%, down from a pandemic peak of 14.4%. Over the past decade, cash holdings have risen from Rs 11.8 lakh crore in...