This past week brought about a number of new things in the world of Retail FX and CFDs – new offices, new product and service launches, and some new partnerships in the wake of brokers continuing to look for MT4 alternatives after the MetaTrader App Store ban.

And, you read about it all first at FNG!

Some of the most read and commented-on FX industry news stories to appear over the past seven days on FNG included:

Equiti Group opens its latest office in Limassol, Cyprus. A month after announcing that it had received a CySEC CIF license for its new operation in Cyprus, leading global online broker Equiti Group has announced the opening of its latest regulated office in Europe in Limassol, Cyprus. Equiti’s new office in Limassol speaks to the company’s commitment to expand its business in Europe in a regulated manner. Equiti Group said that it has plans for significant global geographical expansion in the next three years and looks to continue to acquire licences in other new markets around the world.

Vantage launches Vantage Connect UK liquidity service for institutional traders. International multi-asset trading platform Vantage has announced the launch of Vantage Connect, a liquidity solution for institutions and corporates in the UK. The launch of Vantage Connect comes as part of a wider strategic push by Vantage to expand the institutional side of its business, in response to growing demand among hedge funds, family offices, banks, brokers, money managers and asset managers for bespoke trading solutions.

MultiBank relocates its headquarters from Hong Kong to Dubai. Retail FX and CFDs broker MultiBank Group has announced that it has relocated its global headquarters from Hong Kong, to Dubai. Naser Taher, Chairman of MultiBank Group stated: “The Board of Directors had a difficult choice between deciding whether to move to Singapore or Dubai as its new Headquarters.” MultiBank Group operates a series of onshore and offshore brokerage units domiciled/licensed in Australia, Germany, Cayman Islands, UAE, British Virgin Islands, Austria, Singapore, and Vanuatu.

Illimar Mattus’ Pinorena leads €10M round in The Trading Pit. Liechtenstein based prop trading firm The Trading Pit has announced that it has secured €10 million in its latest round of growth funding. The prop trading fintech said that it has secured capital to accelerate its growth initiatives with a mission to become the global leader in online prop trading. The Trading Pit is now set to enable global access to all major asset classes, including Forex, Futures, Stocks and Cryptos within the next six months. Pinorena Capital was the principal investor in this funding round following its early investment in the company.

Top FX industry executive moves reported at FNG this week included:

❑ Exclusive: eToro Germany boss Dennis Austinat resigns, following Marketing and Ops heads.

❑ Exclusive: OneRoyal hires NAGA/FXPrimus alum Vince De Castro as CMO.

❑ Exclusive: Damian McDowell resigns as CEO of USGFX-UK.

❑ INFINOX hires Finalto’s Ayhan Gürcüoğlu for MENA Institutional Sales.

❑ Sandeep Nanuwan joins IS Prime from NatWest Markets.