Financial and Business News

Acuity to Acquire AI Firm Ascent, Expanding Services for Retail Brokers

Thursday, 18/09/2025 | 10:39 GMT by Tareq Sikder
  • Ascent provides services to more than 170 clients and employs 550 staff across seven European countries.
  • Acuity’s platform provides AI analytics and trading guidance to retail brokers, including RoboForex.
Source: Acuity
Source: Acuity

Acuity Knowledge Partners, a global provider of research, data management, analytics, and AI solutions to the financial services sector, has agreed to acquire Ascent.

Acuity provides AI-powered tools and market insights to support retail brokers. Its platform, integrated with brokers such as RoboForex, combines AI and human expertise to deliver analytics and trading guidance to clients.

Expansion of Technology Services

The acquisition will expand Acuity’s Data and Technology Services (DTS) division and its AI and technology offerings. Ascent is a European provider of AI-driven digital transformation services.

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It serves over 170 clients globally and employs 550 specialists across data, software, and cloud functions in seven European jurisdictions.

Robert King, CEO of Acuity, said: “The move will strengthen the company’s support for clients in digital transformation and AI adoption.” He added that it opens access to sectors including reinsurance, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and retail.

Technology and Delivery Network Extended

Acuity has been developing its technology services division alongside its core research, analytics, and data management operations. The acquisition also expands its global delivery network and maintains Ascent’s existing alliance with Microsoft.

AI Adoption Expands in Retail Brokers

Recent data from Finance Magnates shows that AI is increasingly embedded in retail trading and broker operations, even if job titles don’t always reflect it. Analysis of over 10,000 AI-related finance listings and 5,000 broker roles found that only about one-third of positions included “AI” in the title, despite requiring skills like machine learning and AI tools.

AI in Job Titles

The use of AI spans research, compliance, reporting, and trading guidance, supporting brokers and their clients with analytics and decision-making. Finance firms are integrating AI deliberately, focusing on practical adoption rather than marketing hype.

Salaries for roles explicitly labelled with AI are slightly higher, with regional differences: the US offers the highest pay, China the lowest, and the EU sits in between. The trend shows that AI is becoming a standard skill within brokerages and retail trading operations, quietly shaping workflows and client services without overly emphasizing titles.

Acuity Knowledge Partners, a global provider of research, data management, analytics, and AI solutions to the financial services sector, has agreed to acquire Ascent.

Acuity provides AI-powered tools and market insights to support retail brokers. Its platform, integrated with brokers such as RoboForex, combines AI and human expertise to deliver analytics and trading guidance to clients.

Expansion of Technology Services

The acquisition will expand Acuity’s Data and Technology Services (DTS) division and its AI and technology offerings. Ascent is a European provider of AI-driven digital transformation services.

Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!

It serves over 170 clients globally and employs 550 specialists across data, software, and cloud functions in seven European jurisdictions.

Robert King, CEO of Acuity, said: “The move will strengthen the company’s support for clients in digital transformation and AI adoption.” He added that it opens access to sectors including reinsurance, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and retail.

Technology and Delivery Network Extended

Acuity has been developing its technology services division alongside its core research, analytics, and data management operations. The acquisition also expands its global delivery network and maintains Ascent’s existing alliance with Microsoft.

AI Adoption Expands in Retail Brokers

Recent data from Finance Magnates shows that AI is increasingly embedded in retail trading and broker operations, even if job titles don’t always reflect it. Analysis of over 10,000 AI-related finance listings and 5,000 broker roles found that only about one-third of positions included “AI” in the title, despite requiring skills like machine learning and AI tools.

AI in Job Titles

The use of AI spans research, compliance, reporting, and trading guidance, supporting brokers and their clients with analytics and decision-making. Finance firms are integrating AI deliberately, focusing on practical adoption rather than marketing hype.

Salaries for roles explicitly labelled with AI are slightly higher, with regional differences: the US offers the highest pay, China the lowest, and the EU sits in between. The trend shows that AI is becoming a standard skill within brokerages and retail trading operations, quietly shaping workflows and client services without overly emphasizing titles.

Topics
retail
AI
retail FX
About the Author: Tareq Sikder
Tareq Sikder
  • 1989 Articles
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A Forex technical analyst and writer who has been engaged in financial writing for 12 years.

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