Managed accounts indices showed strong gains in the months of May and June. The Parker FX Index & the Barclays Hedge Fund Index were both in the green, despite the overall slowdown in trading volumes.
Tough trading conditions since the 2014 geo-political crisis in Russia and the Middle East have had a dire impact on the operating metrics of several FX and CFD providers. However, on the upside, fund managers have published their latest results, which came out stronger than expected during the slower, summer months of May and June. Two major indices that measure the performance of global hedge funds were positive.
Hedge fund managers posted strong trading performances during the month of June, according to two widely referenced indices. The Parker FX index was up 0.66% in May and the Barclays Hedge Fund Index saw an increase in its monthly performance of 1.41% in June.
Sol Waksman, pictured, Founder and President of BarclayHedge, commented about the fundamental events impacting the market in June, in a statement: “As investor’s shrugged off a downward revision of first quarter GDP and focused instead on the positive economic news coming out of the US, equity markets rallied to new all-time highs in June.”
Positive Sentiment in Equity Markets
All major US stock indices saw positive performances in June, with the Russell 2000 seeing gains of above 5.3% for the month. The Nasdaq Composite has continued its strong annual performance topping 3.9% in June, supporting its >5% gains for the year. In addition, the bleak Japanese market saw a slight rebound in domestic stocks. Mr. Waksman added: “Equity prices in emerging markets and Japan posted strong gains as well."
Emerging market stocks started seeing record outflows last year as the retraction in US equity markets pulled funds back into the world’s largest economy, however, emerging markets have seen light at the end of the tunnel. South Asia’s second largest economy, Pakistan, saw its benchmark stock index cross the formidable 29,000 mark in June.
The Barclays Hedge Fund Index is up 3.76% year-to-date (YTD), however the Parker FX Index is down 0.84% YTD.
The Parker FX Index is a specific index that measures the performance of currency programs, the index tracks, macro discretionary, model-driven and diversified currency programs.
The Barclays Hedge Fund Index is a performance indicator of global managed accounts and funds, the index tracking more than 6,200 hedge funds, funds of hedge funds and managed futures programs. Each month Barclay provides updated performance rankings for 38 Hedge Fund categories, 16 CTA categories, and 7 UCITS categories.
A London-based hedge fund manager believes the low Volatility hasn't impacted trader behaviour significantly as mainstream investment products have been faring well, saying, "US equity markets have retracted since the midst of the 2008 great recession.”
Tough trading conditions since the 2014 geo-political crisis in Russia and the Middle East have had a dire impact on the operating metrics of several FX and CFD providers. However, on the upside, fund managers have published their latest results, which came out stronger than expected during the slower, summer months of May and June. Two major indices that measure the performance of global hedge funds were positive.
Hedge fund managers posted strong trading performances during the month of June, according to two widely referenced indices. The Parker FX index was up 0.66% in May and the Barclays Hedge Fund Index saw an increase in its monthly performance of 1.41% in June.
Sol Waksman, pictured, Founder and President of BarclayHedge, commented about the fundamental events impacting the market in June, in a statement: “As investor’s shrugged off a downward revision of first quarter GDP and focused instead on the positive economic news coming out of the US, equity markets rallied to new all-time highs in June.”
Positive Sentiment in Equity Markets
All major US stock indices saw positive performances in June, with the Russell 2000 seeing gains of above 5.3% for the month. The Nasdaq Composite has continued its strong annual performance topping 3.9% in June, supporting its >5% gains for the year. In addition, the bleak Japanese market saw a slight rebound in domestic stocks. Mr. Waksman added: “Equity prices in emerging markets and Japan posted strong gains as well."
Emerging market stocks started seeing record outflows last year as the retraction in US equity markets pulled funds back into the world’s largest economy, however, emerging markets have seen light at the end of the tunnel. South Asia’s second largest economy, Pakistan, saw its benchmark stock index cross the formidable 29,000 mark in June.
The Barclays Hedge Fund Index is up 3.76% year-to-date (YTD), however the Parker FX Index is down 0.84% YTD.
The Parker FX Index is a specific index that measures the performance of currency programs, the index tracks, macro discretionary, model-driven and diversified currency programs.
The Barclays Hedge Fund Index is a performance indicator of global managed accounts and funds, the index tracking more than 6,200 hedge funds, funds of hedge funds and managed futures programs. Each month Barclay provides updated performance rankings for 38 Hedge Fund categories, 16 CTA categories, and 7 UCITS categories.
A London-based hedge fund manager believes the low Volatility hasn't impacted trader behaviour significantly as mainstream investment products have been faring well, saying, "US equity markets have retracted since the midst of the 2008 great recession.”
Retail Trading & Prop Firms in 2025: Five Defining Trends - And One Prediction for 2026
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
