The UK and Irish capital markets are to move to a shortened T+2 securities settlement timeframe with effect from October 2014.
The move is in advance of the anticipated deadline of 1 January 2015 in the proposed EU Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR), which aims to harmonise EU securities settlement cycles.
Under the switch, the cash and securities components of a trade will be exchanged two days, rather than three days, after the trade. Over-the-counter (OTC) transactions are exempt from the mandatory T+2 settlement cycle.
Alexander Justham, chief executive officer of London Stock Exchange, says: "We're pleased to assist the market in its move towards shorter trade settlement, as we did in 2001 when the UK markets shifted the standard securities settlement cycle from T+5 to T+3. We will work with the market on the coordination and customer communication required to affect this move."
Euroclear CSDs in Belgium, France and the Netherlands confirmed their switch to T+2 in July.
The shorter settlement cycle will likely require some changes in market practice disciplines such as pre-settlement matching, confirmation and affirmation of client transactions as early as possible, ideally on trade date.