Global financial firms are stepping up their commitments to help the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.

A couple of firms have announced plans to donate a portion of the revenues they generate Friday to the cause. Deutsche Bank’s Global Markets Equity group announced it will donate all of today’s net agency equity trading commissions to the disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

“Rapid action is needed to enable the people of Haiti to emerge from this tragedy,” said Robert Karofsky, Deutsche Bank’s co-head of Global Markets Equity. “We encourage our clients to join our efforts today and help the victims of this disaster, as they have so many times before.”

Additionally, New York brokerage and trading technology firm, Investment Technology Group, Inc., is donating 10% of today’s total revenues to three charities to support the relief effort.

Banking giant Citigroup Inc. announced a US$2 million commitment for immediate relief and recovery efforts. Citi said it will give US$250,000 to the American Red Cross for immediate relief and the remainder will be given to local partners for medium- to long-term reconstruction efforts.

Here at home, stock exchange operator TMX Group Inc. said that it has pledged $20,000 in direct financial assistance on behalf of the company and its employees to the Canadian Red Cross, and it has provided a link on its website to facilitate donations.

Insurer AXA Canada has donated $20,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support the various measures being implemented to help the victims.

The Co-operators said will provide up to $150,000 to match staff and agent donations to the Canadian Red Cross in support of the organization’s relief efforts for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

Foresters is donating $50,000 to Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders to help support their disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

IE