Brokers Reach New Frontiers in Funding and Technology

One thing the online trading industry can never be accused of is being boring, and the stories making headlines over the past week certainly show this point. We have seen brokers integrating new technologies and preparing to go public but also unfortunately some that are apparently winding down operations. Meanwhile all the top players came in force to the industry's yearly gathering in Hong Kong.

FlexTrade Adopts CFDs

On Monday, FXCM Inc (NYSE:FXCM) announced that the company’s contract for difference (CFD) trading technology has been integrated into the services of FlexTrade Systems. The development serves as an expansion for FXCM Pro into the institutional space of CFDs trading.

After this partnership, FlexTrade has become one of the first institutional Order Management Systems (OMS) that is geared to deliver CFDs to their clients. The brokerage clients of FlexTrade will be able to use FlexTrade’s OMS and retail trading solution for CFDs pricing and Liquidity Liquidity The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent Read this Term. Brokers also may redistribute to their own clients alongside FX, allowing for the risk to be managed in-house.

A Billion Dollar Broker

On Tuesday we reported that one of the biggest UK headquartered brokerages, CMC Markets, is looking to raise close to $328 million at the mid point of the price range of its upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO).

CMC Markets is looking for between 235 pence to 275 pence per ordinary share, with about 90.4 million shares on offer. At the time of admission to the London Stock Exchange this will be about 31 per cent of the ordinary shares of the UK brokerage.

iFX EXPO Asia 2016

On Wednesday the international online trading industry's yearly Hong Kong expo opened its doors to a large contingency of local finance professionals. Also in attendance was a diverse base of conference goers from both nearby and from far South East Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In the event's second day's summary, Windson Junjie Chen, Doo Forex Forex Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Read this Term, said: “This is the only real opportunity we have to meet technology, liquidity and service providers from around the world that we only get to talk to on email before. The exhibition is beyond my expectation, I have been exhibiting in local industry events in Shanghai and Beijing and it was nothing like this, here we meet so many B2B professionals from all around the world.”

Investing in Apple TV

On Thursday Swiss brokerage Swissquote announced that it is launching an Apple TV application combining an interactive user experience with financial news. Over the years many brokerages have launched their own versions of web television, while pundits have been openly questioning the value of such products.

The application is available for free and users who are in possession of the second generation of Apple TV can download it for free. Providing an interactive view of the world markets, the Swissquote Apple TV app is a step in the right direction when it comes to brokerages and visualized content.

Fortress Prime to Wind Down

On Friday we exclusively reported that Fortress Capital Investments is preparing to dismantle Fortress Prime, according to information confirmed by multiple independent sources. The brokerage is facing the passing of yet another withdrawal deadline as some clients were told they were going to receive their funds by the end of January.

Fortress Capital Investments, the parent company of Fortress Prime, is said to be offering big clients of the firm approximately $0.25 on the dollar as an initial payment accompanied with a full repayment plan, while smaller clients of the company are to be paid in full. Sources with knowledge of the matter are saying that only clients that hold less than $150,000 with Fortress Prime are eligible for full compensation.