Definitive Trade Lifecycle Guide
Trade Execution | Capture | Enrichment | Confirmation | Settlement | Reconciliation
Expose to securities operations, be able to understand and describe:
- all components of the Trade Lifecycle
- the lifecycle processing sequence and processing impact
- what causes (and prevents) Straight Through Processing
- primary risks and typical mitigating controls
- market-wide terms used in securities trade processing
The securities trade lifecycle
What's a trade?
Transaction type
- Buy/Sell
- Repo
- Securities, Lending and Borrowing
- Movement of securities, particularly bonds, collateral
How are trades executed?
How is trade execution initiated?
Failed Settlement
What is failed settlement?
A securities trade in which the associated securities and/or cash have not been exchanged with the counterparty on value date.
Settlement
What is trade settlement?
The passing of securities and cash between buyer and seller externally, by the film's CSD/custodian.
It's a crucial part of any securities transaction.
Here's a breakdown of how it works:
- Trade Execution: The buyer and seller agree on the terms of the trade, including the price and quantity of the securities.
- Confirmation: Both parties confirm the trade details and agree on the settlement date.
- Clearing: The trade is sent to a clearinghouse, which acts as a central counterparty to guarantee the transaction.
- Settlement: The CSD/custodian facilitates the transfer of securities and cash between the buyer and seller. This typically involves:
- Delivery of Securities: The seller's CSD/custodian delivers the securities to the buyer's CSD/custodian.
- Payment of Cash: The buyer's CSD/custodian transfers the purchase price to the seller's CSD/custodian.
- Confirmation of Settlement: Both parties receive confirmation that the settlement has been completed.
Key Points:
- CSD/Custodian Role: The CSD/custodian acts as an intermediary, holding the securities and cash on behalf of the buyer and seller. They ensure that the settlement process is completed smoothly and efficiently.
- Importance of Settlement: Settlement is essential for ensuring that both parties to a trade receive what they are entitled to. It also helps to reduce the risk of default.
- Types of Settlement: There are different types of settlement, including:
- T+2 Settlement: This is the most common type of settlement, where the trade is settled two business days after the trade date.
- T+1 Settlement: Some markets have moved to T+1 settlement, where the trade is settled one business day after the trade date.
- Real-Time Settlement: In some markets, trades can be settled in real time, which means that the transfer of securities and cash occurs immediately after the trade is executed.
Example:
Imagine you buy 100 shares of Apple stock from another investor. The trade is executed and confirmed, and the settlement date is set for T+2. On the settlement date, your CSD/custodian will receive the 100 shares of Apple stock from the seller's CSD/custodian, and your CSD/custodian will transfer the purchase price to the seller's CSD/custodian.
Note: The specific details of the settlement process may vary depending on the market and the type of securities being traded.
What are the different forms of trade settlement?
delivery versus payment (DvP)
riskless - simultaneous exchange of securities and cash
交割付款(Delivery Versus Payment,DVP) 是一种证券市场结算方式,它确保只有在付款完成后才会进行证券的交割。
DVP 的运作方式:
- 买方义务: 买方必须在收到所购证券之前或同时履行其付款义务。
- 同步交割: 只有在买方付款后,其银行才会将证券交付给买方。
free of payment (FoP) - without risk
also known as ‘upon receipt’
riskless
from the seller’s perspective…
seller does not part with securities until the buyer’s cash has been received
from the buyer’s perspective…
buyer does not part with cash until the seller’s securities have been received
free of payment (FoP) - with risk
risk
seller parts with securities prior to receipt of cash from buyer
buyer parts with cash prior to receipt of securities from seller
to go “on-risk” settlement departments should...
utilize procedures to gain internal approval
免付 (FoP) 是一种证券交易结算方式,其中证券的交付或接收与相应的资金转移无关。1 这意味着证券在没有货币交换的情况下进行转移。 FoP 交易通常用于证券市场,例如在账户之间转移证券而无需现金交易。
FoP 交易通常用于参与方之间存在既有关系并相互信任的情况。这是因为 FoP 交易比交付对价 (DVP) 交易具有更高的交付风险,在 DVP 交易中,资金和证券的交付同时进行。
以下是一些可能使用 FoP 交易的情况示例:
- 在同一机构内账户之间转移证券: 证券公司可能会使用 FoP 在同一客户持有的账户之间转移证券。
- 作为礼物或遗产的一部分转移证券: 个人可能会使用 FoP 将证券转移给受益人作为礼物或遗产的一部分。
- 作为合并或收购的一部分转移证券: 参与合并或收购的公司可能会使用 FoP 将证券作为交易的一部分进行转移。
需要注意的是,FoP 交易并不总是合适的。它们只应在参与方之间具有高度信任和了解所涉及风险的情况下使用
How are trades settled?
instructions are matched prior to value date
corrective action on unmatched trades is vital
on value date
CSD operates its settlement cycle
- seller must have securities to deliver
- buyer must have cash to pay
when settlement occurs
- buyer will be credited with securities - debited with cash
- seller will be debited with securities - credited with cash
当交易最终完成时:
- 买方 的账户会增加(贷记)所购买的证券,同时减少(借记)支付的现金。
- 卖方 的账户会减少(借记)所出售的证券,同时增加(贷记)收到的现金。
这体现了交易双方在结算过程中,证券和现金的转移以及账户的相应变化。
Is it possible to settle trades against different cash values between buyer & seller?
In certain CSDs, it’s possible to settle trades where cash values within a certain tolerance, e.g. USD25 at Euroclear settling against the seller’s cash figure.
Reflecting Settlement
Do trades within internal books & records require updating as a result of settlement externally?
Yes – in order to bring internal records in-line with outside world
extremely important aspect of trade processing…
‘clean-up’
accuracy of resultant B&R will be proven through reconciliation
How is this achieved?
Reflecting individual settlements advised by custodians, based upon settlement advices received and matching via unique trade reference number. Within internal B&R, the act of trade capture results in a trade record being created, initially 'open', and exposes exposure with a counterparty.
What is the result of updating B&R following trade settlement?
Within internal B&R, shows a single delivery & payment occurred.
(Settle date is 1 day later than value date)
Reconciliation
What is reconciliation?
The agreement of one set of records to another.
It's a fundamental and essential control.
What types of reconciliation exist?
FOBO Trade Reconciliation
individual trades captured within trading system, versus
BO system
to ensure completeness of trade capture
FOBO Position Reconciliation
trading book position within trading system, versus
BO system
at individual securities position level
Depot Position Reconciliation
settled securities position within BO system, versus
custodians’ statements
at individual securities position level
Nostro Position Reconciliation
settled cash position within accounting system, versus
custodians’ statements
at account level (by currency)
What purpose does it serve?
Ensures that internal records of clients’ securities and cash are accurate when compared with custodians’ records.
Why should reconciliations be performed urgently?
To ensure that different records (systems) agree
- trades
- positions
because business decisions are dependent upon accurate information
- failed trades
- funding projection
because it’s sensible business practice
How frequently should reconciliations be performed?
Ideally daily, reconciliations performed frequently will identify discrepancies/breaks very soon after they’ve arisen.
How are reconciliations performed?
obtain statements
- internal
- external
agree brought-forward balances
between internal and external statements
reconcile individual movements
identify non-reconciling items on..
- internal statement
- external statement
investigate and rectify non-reconciling items
What methods are used to perform reconciliation?
historically
manually
present day, either
- manually
- automated
- combination of manual and automated
What must happen when a discrepancy is identified?
without delay..
- identify when last agreed..
- then compare entries since last agreed
identify the point at which the difference arose
- contact appropriate department (e.g. traders, settlement, corporate actions)
- gain agreement over rectifying action
- document agreed action
- monitor to ensure agreed action is effected
- chase if not affected
What are the advantages of a centralized reconciliation function?
segregation of duties
allows focus on reconciliation tasks
unaffected by departmental workload
provides ownership of reconciliation process
What is the risk of failing to reconcile sufficiently frequently?
Fundamental loss of control, not knowing if securities or cash have been moved from your account without your knowledge.