SEC Shortens Trade Settlement Cycle

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially announced a new change to its broker-dealer securities transactions. Securities transactions ought to be settled within one business day (T+1) after a trade is made instead of two.

The securities regulator announced on Wednesday (15th January 2023) that this new switch will become effective 60 days after the finalised adjustments are made in the US Federal Register. It is reported that 28th May 2024 will be the deadline for the final rules.

The modification in regulations is aimed at assisting investors while decreasing the credit, market, and liquidity risks in securities transactions encountered by market participants.

The SEC acknowledged that bouts of higher market volatility experienced in 2020 and 2021 were a factor in the revisions when it published a thorough report on the situation. The regulator stated in the study that these incidents showcase the possible vulnerabilities that were not previously addressed in the US securities industry.

Furthermore, the SEC added a new requirement in relation to straight-through processing (STP) that applies to specific categories of clearing agencies that offer central matching services.

These final regulations will mandate registered investment advisers make and keep detailed records of allocations, confirmations and affirmations for certain securities transactions.

In accordance with the final rules, central matching service providers must establish, implement, uphold, and enforce new policies and practices that are logically curated to facilitate straight-through processing. Additionally, they must submit an annual report to the Commission outlining and quantifying their progress in this area.

“I support this rulemaking because it will reduce latency, lower risk, and promote efficiency and greater liquidity in the markets,” SEC Chair Gary Gensler said.

In 1993, the SEC made its first attempt towards standardising the securities settlement cycle when it established a policy requiring broker-dealers to settle securities transactions within three business days (T+3) whilst securities transactions had to be settled within five business days (T+5). In 2017, the regulator began enforcing the current T+2 practice from the standard T+3.

Alongside the shortening of settlement cycle, the SEC also proposed rule changes to strengthen protections of customer assets managed by registered investment advisers as well as a provision that is designated to revise the Privacy Act Rule in the federal government.