SIX Builds API to Accelerate Database and Security Master Updates

SIX, the data aggregator and operator of financial exchanges in Switzerland and Spain, has launched a new API to accelerate the update of databases and security masters.

The faster data transfer system is designed to enable clients to access and process larger volumes of information, reducing the total cost of data ownership, the Zurich-based organisation said.

The SIX Bulk API is built to ensure market participants have the most up-to-date data to better inform investment, trading, banking, risk management and compliance decision making and reduce processing times from hours to minutes.

Data is delivered through the API in JSON format and can be integrated into multi-threaded Python- or Java-based applications, SIX said in a statement.

“The launch of SIX Bulk API marks a significant milestone in our commitment to innovation and excellence in financial data management,” said SIX Head of Product Development Henk D’Hoore.

“It allows our customer to gain instant access to large data sets and supports super-fast initial load and delta deliveries into their security masters. Financial institutions who wish to move away from traditional file transfer services can now take full control by opting for SIX Bulk API instead.”

GoldenSource Leads Australian Pension Fund’s Digital Transformation

GoldenSource has built an investment data management infrastructure for Australia’s Aware Super, one of the country’s largest superannuation funds, providing the enterprise data management company with a foothold in a country that is forecast to become the world’s second-largest pension market.

Under the first phase of the so-called Project Odin, GoldenSource has deployed its SaaS-based EDM platform as the foundation for a digital transformation of the fund, which oversees the equivalent of US$120 billion in assets.

Operation Odin has also included the integration of the fund’s performance, attribution analytics and reporting tool.

It has been designed to enable the fund to meet an anticipated growth in investment. The Australian pension market was valued at $2.6 trillion in 2024, according to Willis Towers Watson.

“Partnering with GoldenSource has produced the strong foundations of a sophisticated data platform which will not only enable us to stay competitive in a fast-evolving landscape, but maintain our focus on returning the strongest possible risk-adjusted returns for our 1.15 million members,” Michael Clavin, Aware Super Head of Income and Markets and sponsor of Project Odin, said in a statement.

ION to Support Day-One Connectivity to MIAX Futures’ New Onyx Platform

ION is to provide seamless, day-one connectivity to MIAX Futures’ new matching engine, Onyx, as the exchange transitions its Minneapolis Hard Red Spring Wheat (HRSW) Futures from CME Globex in Q2 2025. This support ensures that users of ION’s cleared derivatives front-office trading platform will have immediate access to execution and clearing services on the new system.

Additionally, ION will enable trading of MIAX Futures’ upcoming Bloomberg 500 (B500) Index futures, anticipated for launch in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory approval by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Onyx, developed using proprietary MIAX technology, is designed to power trading in both agricultural and financial futures and options across various markets.

Cboe Clear Europe Launches Central Clearing for European Securities Financing Transactions

Cboe Global Markets has announced that Cboe Clear Europe has begun clearing European Securities Financing Transactions (SFTs), marking a significant step in its strategy to expand as a multi-asset class clearing house. The initial cleared trades involved Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking as Principal Lender and JP Morgan as Borrower. This new service transitions SFTs in European equities and ETFs from a bilateral to a centrally cleared model, aiming to improve capital efficiency and support market growth.

The platform leverages the infrastructure of Cboe Clear Europe, the largest pan-European cash equities clearing house. Key features include the use of BNY and JP Morgan as Tri-Party Collateral Agents and Pirum for trade instruction management. The service covers settlement across 19 European CSDs and is designed to reduce capital burdens under regulations such as CSDR, SFTR, and Basel IV. Additional benefits include cross-margining efficiencies, streamlined settlement, and enhanced operational practices.

Quincy Data Launches Ultra-Low Latency Transatlantic Signal Feeds for CME Market Data

Quincy Data has launched new Transatlantic Signal Feeds delivering critical CME market data to London, Frankfurt, and Mumbai. The service is designed to provide real-time insights into major trade events for CME futures instruments, with a one-way latency of under 24 milliseconds from Aurora, Illinois to the Slough-LD4 data centre in the UK. This positions Quincy’s service as one of the fastest available for global price discovery.

Quincy Data categorises its offerings into three types: Snapshot Feeds for normalised global data distribution, Raw Feeds optimised for high-capacity wireless use, and Signal Feeds focused on speed for remote market access. All services are offered on an equal-access basis, maintaining fairness for all subscribers.

Flagright Secures $4.3M to Expand AI-Native AML Platform and Global Footprint

As financial crime grows increasingly sophisticated—with deepfake scams and AI-powered fraud on the rise—compliance teams face mounting pressure to match that pace of innovation. One startup, Flagright, is doing just that by building a full-stack AML compliance platform powered natively by artificial intelligence.

Co-founded in 2022 by Baran Ozkan and Madhu Nadig, Flagright has raised $4.3 million in seed funding to expand its AI agent capabilities and support international growth. The round was led by Frontline Ventures, with backing from prominent angel investors, including former executives from Zalando, Revolut, GoCardless, and others.

AI is now implicated in a significant portion of financial scams. A high-profile incident in Hong Kong saw an employee wire $25 million to fraudsters following a convincing deepfake video call. Reports suggest fintech-related deepfake incidents surged by 700% in 2023. Against this backdrop, Flagright has positioned itself as a counterweight to such threats by embedding AI at the heart of its compliance tools.

“We were really early-stage when the boom in AI came into effect, meaning we could implement AI-native solutions from the very start,” said co-founder Baran Ozkan. “It is true that bad actors in financial crime are finding new ways of using AI all the time, which is what makes the work Flagright is doing so important.”

Initially focused on real-time transaction monitoring, the company has since evolved into a full-featured AML operating system. Today, Flagright serves over 50 clients across six continents, offering tools like dynamic risk scoring, automated case management, and AML screening, all built on a high-availability infrastructure with real-time processing.

Client feedback suggests measurable operational gains. Tom Jennings, CEO of B4B Payments, noted: “By integrating Flagright’s AI-native compliance platform, we have enhanced our fraud detection and AML monitoring capabilities. This allows us to proactively identify and mitigate risks, ensuring a safe and secure environment for our customers while upholding the highest standards of compliance.”

The funding will also support the expansion of Flagright’s AI Forensics tools, which the company claims have already reduced false positives by up to 93% and cut operational costs by 80%. These tools are being developed into a broader product family targeting key areas such as governance, screening, monitoring, and quality assurance.

In parallel, Flagright is ramping up its global presence. The company is expanding operations in New York and San Francisco and has recently opened an EMEA headquarters in London to complement its teams in Berlin, Singapore, and Bangalore. These moves are designed to support customers around the clock and build stronger relationships with financial institutions across regions.

Will Prendergast, Partner at Frontline Ventures, explained the rationale for their continued backing: “During our research with financial institutions before Frontline’s initial investment in Flagright, we kept hearing how Flagright had outperformed other companies—we believe they will be the compliance platform category winner, making them a perfect fit for Frontline.”

As financial institutions prepare for an AI-driven future, Flagright’s latest funding and roadmap underscore a growing trend: compliance isn’t just keeping up with fraudsters—it’s using the same tools to get ahead.

FinCEN Trims CTA with Interim Rule

On March 21, 2025, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an interim final rule that significantly alters the reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). This rule exempts U.S.-based entities, previously classified as “domestic reporting companies,” from the obligation to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN. Consequently, these domestic entities are no longer required to submit, update, or correct BOI reports. The focus now shifts to “foreign reporting companies,” defined as entities formed under foreign laws but registered to do business in the United States. These foreign entities are still required to report BOI, but the rule extends their filing deadline by 30 days from the rule’s publication date— to April 20, providing additional time for compliance. Notably, foreign reporting companies are exempted from reporting BOI of any U.S. persons who are beneficial owners, and U.S. persons are not required to provide such information to these foreign entities.

This interim rule comes after a period of legal uncertainty surrounding the CTA’s implementation. Previously, court orders had halted BOI reporting requirements between December 3, 2024, and February 18, 2025. With the issuance of this rule, FinCEN has clarified the current obligations, emphasizing that domestic entities are exempt from reporting, while foreign entities must comply within the specified timeframe. FinCEN is accepting public comments on this interim rule and intends to issue a final rule later this year. Entities affected by these changes should review the interim rule in detail and consider submitting comments to FinCEN during the open period.

Private Market Data Giant Dun & Bradstreet’s Acquisition Agreed for $7.7bn

Venerable private markets data and analytics giant Dun & Bradstreet has agreed to be acquired in a US$7.7 billion deal that will be partly funded by a debt and equity.

Californian investment private-equity firm Clearlake Capital’s acquisition will take the 184-year old Wall Street company private four years after beginning its second spell as a listed firm.

Dun & Bradstreet is among the largest providers of data and analytics covering private equity and private credit and is also relied upon by investor for its DUNS Number identifiers, paid-for unique identity codes that are used by millions of companies around the world.

The deal comes as the company’s stock languishes 60 per cent below its 2020 listing price, according to Reuters data. Nevertheless, Dun and Bradstreet has found new business as investment in private markets by institutional investors grows. Among its most recent developments, the company has collaborated with LSEG to help the London Stock Exchange operator better compete in the privates data market.

“Dun and Bradstreet has built a trusted, globally recognised brand and has amassed a preeminent set of data and analytics that empower organisations of all sizes,” Clearlake co-founder and managing partner Behdad Eghbali and partner James Pade said in a statement.

“As companies become more data-centric in their decisioning in this fast-paced world, we see vast potential for Dun and Bradstreet to deliver AI-powered solutions to their global client base.”

The deal is “go-shop” arrangement, which permits Dun & Bradstreet to seek better deals from alternative buyers within 30 days of the transaction’s agreement.

According to Bloomberg News, Clearlake sought a $5.75bn bridging loan to fund the acquisition. That’s expected to be converted into longer-term financing via the bonds or leveraged loans markets.

S&P Capital IQ Pro Integrates Visible Alpha Data to Enhance Financial Insights and Forecasting

S&P Global Market Intelligence has announced a significant update to its S&P Capital IQ Pro platform, now integrating Visible Alpha’s historical financials and consensus estimates as an add-on feature. The integration provides access to detailed financial data from over 7,300 companies and more than 1 million line items contributed by over 200 analysts. Users can explore in-depth KPI, income statement, segment, balance sheet and cash flow data across 170+ industries, supported by enhanced search and peer analysis capabilities.

Additional platform enhancements include the introduction of private company headcount data for over 4.3 million firms, expanded valuation data for private M&A deals and funding rounds, and broader content sets within Document Intelligence for deeper analytical insights.

Acquired by S&P Global in May 2024, Visible Alpha’s proprietary analyst-derived content is now fully embedded within the S&P ecosystem, following prior integrations with S&P Global Marketplace and cloud delivery channels.

TNS Launches Services in Zurich’s Equinix ZH4 to Expand European Exchange Connectivity

Transaction Network Services (TNS) has extended its European presence by launching services in the Equinix ZH4 colocation data centre in Zurich, providing managed hosting and ultra-low latency Layer 1 connectivity to the SIX Swiss Exchange, and supporting access to Swiss equities and derivatives markets for both market data and order entry.

Located on Josefstrasse in central Zurich, Equinix ZH4 offers strategic proximity to the banking district, enhancing connectivity for TNS’ clients, including market data vendors and exchange members. This deployment complements TNS’ existing services across major European hubs such as London and Frankfurt.

As part of its broader European expansion, TNS also provides colocation services within other key data centres, including those of BME, CBOE Europe, Deutsche Boerse, Euronext, LME, Nasdaq Nordic and LSE. TNS delivers these services as a registered data vendor and application service provider with SIX, offering a cost-effective alternative to in-house infrastructure management.