Forex Broker News Digest — June 17, 2026
Today’s broker news digest covers a mix of regulatory warnings, product launches, and compliance actions. CySEC has issued a fresh alert against unregulated forex firms targeting EU clients, while Exness and IC Markets roll out new trading features to attract retail traders. Meanwhile, Pepperstone suspends its UK welcome bonus under FCA pressure, and FXTM faces a fine from South Africa’s FSCA for misleading advertising.
Top Stories
1. CySEC Warns Against Unregulated Forex Brokers Targeting EU Clients
Broker / Topic: Industry Category: Regulation
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has issued a warning about several unregulated forex brokers actively soliciting clients from the European Union without proper authorization. The regulator emphasized that these entities are not licensed to offer investment services within the EU, putting investor funds at risk.
CySEC urged traders to always verify a broker’s license status through the official register before depositing funds. The warning comes amid a broader regulatory crackdown on offshore brokers attempting to bypass MiFID II requirements.
📰 Source: Finance Magnates
2. Exness Launches New Gold Trading Pairs with Zero Spreads
Broker / Topic: Exness Category: Product
Exness has announced the addition of XAU/EUR and XAU/GBP to its Zero account offering, providing traders with zero spreads on these gold pairs. The move is designed to attract precious metals traders seeking cost-effective execution, particularly those active in European and UK markets.
The new pairs complement Exness’s existing gold offering and are available immediately. The broker highlighted that the zero-spread structure applies to both standard and raw spreads, depending on account type.
📰 Source: ForexLive
3. IC Markets Introduces Fractional Share Trading on MT5
Broker / Topic: IC Markets Category: Product
IC Markets has expanded its product lineup by introducing fractional share trading on the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platform. Retail traders can now invest in high-priced stocks such as Amazon and Google with as little as $10, making blue-chip equities accessible to smaller accounts.
The feature is available across all account types, including standard, raw, and cTrader accounts. IC Markets stated that fractional shares are executed via CFDs, allowing traders to benefit from price movements without owning the underlying asset.
📰 Source: FXStreet
4. Pepperstone Temporarily Suspends Welcome Bonus for UK Clients
Broker / Topic: Pepperstone Category: Bonus
Pepperstone has temporarily suspended its welcome bonus offer for UK clients following updated guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on inducements. The FCA has been tightening rules around promotional offers that may encourage excessive risk-taking among retail investors.
Existing clients are unaffected, and the broker expects to revise the offer in Q3 2026 to align with regulatory requirements. Pepperstone emphasized its commitment to compliance and responsible marketing.
📰 Source: Finance Magnates
5. eToro Launches CopyPortfolio for AI-Themed Stocks
Broker / Topic: eToro Category: Product
eToro has introduced a new CopyPortfolio focused on AI-themed stocks, including NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Palantir. The portfolio is managed by eToro’s investment team and rebalanced quarterly, allowing users to passively invest in the artificial intelligence sector.
The launch taps into growing retail interest in AI-driven companies. CopyPortfolios are a key feature of eToro’s social trading platform, enabling users to automatically copy the allocations of professionally managed portfolios.
📰 Source: ForexLive
6. FSCA Fines FXTM for Non-Compliance with South African Advertising Rules
Broker / Topic: FXTM Category: Regulation
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) of South Africa has imposed a fine on FXTM for misleading advertising claims about potential returns. The regulator found that the broker’s marketing materials overstated the likelihood of profits without adequately disclosing risks.
FXTM has agreed to pay the penalty and will revise its marketing materials to comply with local regulations. The case underscores the FSCA’s increasing scrutiny of forex brokers operating in South Africa.
📰 Source: FXStreet
What This Means for Traders
Today’s news highlights the importance of regulatory due diligence and product awareness. CySEC’s warning reminds EU traders to always check broker licenses before depositing funds. Meanwhile, product launches from Exness, IC Markets, and eToro offer new opportunities for cost-efficient gold trading, fractional equity exposure, and AI-themed passive investing. However, the FSCA fine on FXTM and Pepperstone’s bonus suspension show that regulators are actively policing marketing practices—traders should remain cautious of promotional offers that seem too good to be true.
Compliance Footer
⚠️ This news digest reports factual industry developments based on cited public sources. We do not predict market movements, recommend trades, or provide investment advice. Verify all information with official broker or regulator websites before making decisions. Trading carries high risk.
Compiled 2026-06-17 | Sources: Finance Magnates, ForexLive, FXStreet, Finance Magnates, ForexLive, FXStreet