B3 and CETIP entered into a Merger and Justification Agreement to merge submitted to the approval of respective shareholders and subsequently approval of the Brazilian Securities Commission.

HKEx: HKMA and People’s Bank of China (PBC) plan to establish a mutual market access scheme to connect the Mainland China and Hong Kong bond markets (Bond Connect).

Nasdaq (NDAQ) to launch Nasdaq Analytics Hub, a new platform that provides the buy-side with investment signals that are derived from structured and unstructured data, to help the buy side augment investment strategies.

Bucharest SE (BVB) reported 1Q17 net profit of RON2.83m up from RON0.04 in 1Q16, on operating revenues of RON9.19m (+42% y/y) and OpEx of RON6.23m (+1.6% y/y). BVB to pay a gross dividend of RON0.92 per share.

London Stock Exchange (LSE): MTS and NEX Group’s Brokertec to expand the RepoFunds Rate (RFR) indices by adding Dutch and Belgian repo indices.

LSE purchased 30k shares at 3,465p per share, as part of its £200m repurchase program. Total purchases add 1.51m shares up to date.

TAIFEX listed first-ever U.S. index futures, the S&P 500 and DJIA futures, in Taiwan; in parallel with the launch of an after-hour trading session.

Nigerian SE (NSE) will host inaugural REIT Conference at the NSE Event Centre on 23-May.