Clearing Services For Global Markets

Clearing forms the core part of a smooth and efficiently functioning financial market infrastructure. Traditionally, it has been provided by clearing houses, most of which today act as a 'central counterparty' (CCP) between the two sides of a trade. The rapid growth of cross-border trading has sparked discussion on the most efficient industry structure - particularly in Europe and the US. At the heart of this discussion lies the question of whether the implementation of a single clearing house creates greater benefits than a more competitive but interlinked market structure. This is the starting point for this book, which analyses the efficiency of clearing and clearing industry structure. Along with clear-cut definitions and a concise characterisation and descriptive analysis of the clearing industry, the book determines the efficiency impact of various cross-border integration and harmonisation initiatives between CCPs. This serves to identify the most preferable future structure for the clearing industry.

The global custody product was conceived out of changes to United States pension law. Today, service providers act for clients in many countries worldwide, handling assets across 100 countries of investment. The range of services is ever more sophisticated. Measured by the value of assets held under custody, it is a multi trillion dollar industry.

"An overview of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), whose sophisticated infrastructure and risk management systems provide essential services to US and global capital markets. The guide explains clearing, netting, and settling - the essential elements of post-trade processing - and the role of a central counterparty in ensuring completion of equity and fixed-income transactions. It looks, as well, at the increasing number of solutions DTCC provides for financial firms at home and around the world"--P. [4] of cover.

'Clearing, Settlement and Custody' focuses on the clearing, settlement and custody functions by analyzing how they work and the interaction between the organizations involved. The author examines the roles of clearing houses, central counterparties, central securities depositories and the custodians, as well as, assessing the impact on the workflow and procedures in the operations function at banks, brokers and institutions. The changes that are taking place in the industry are explored and the impact for operations managers and supervisors assessed. Clearing, settlement and custody is at the heart of everything that happens in the financial markets. The evolution of clearing and settlement is one that is still happening and as such, it is impacting on the operations function through both new practices but also, increasingly, in terms of regulation, risk and reputation. In essence the efficient clearing and settlement operation is managing risk, not because it is a direct part of the process but more because it is a bi-product. The routine procedures relate to reconciliation and record keeping. If these are performed efficiently and accurately it will result in accurate records of activity and profit and loss. The settlement process is a key element in identifying and correcting errors made by dealers and traders. Failure to identify the error or act promptly will result in potentially serious financial loss, as well as worrying audit and the regulators. In addition to these concerns the financial service sector is also undergoing a massive rationalization of the structure of clearing and settlement and seeking the twin goals of automation and shortening settlement cycles. The challenge for operations managers is considerable: manage costs, eradicate inefficiencies, create an environment to be competitive, and implement the procedures to meet future changes that will occur. In this book the author looks at some of the different roles, the processes and procedures, and the key issues, in order to help those in operations meet the challenge. The definitive series of professional references for those finance professionals concerned with "Back office" or operations management unique to this industry.Presents concise references on the essential management functions such as technology, client services, and risk management for financial operations management professionals.A comprehensive resource from a leading financial management consultant for global banks and institutions.

Service activities are at the heart of a major economic revolution taking place all around us. This new economic revolution is equivalent to the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century, the rise of the guilds in the Middle Ages, and the shift from a hunter/gatherer economy to an agricultural/pastoral economy at the dawn of recorded history when organized agriculture first led to the development of towns and the invention of writing. In this new revolution, computers, factory robots, and completely automated factories are rapidly reducing the need for physi cal labor in production. At the same time, sophisticated agricultural machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, and biogenetic engineering have reduced and will continue to reduce the physical labor involved in growing food. In the new economy that will emerge from this revolution, most people will earn their living by working in services. Like all revolutions, the new economic revolution is troublesome because it brings with it major changes in everyday life, both at home and in the workplace. Change creates uncertainty about the future and am biguity in the interpretation of economic trends. The new revolution is also troublesome because it adds to the complexity of economic organiza tion and removes more people from the direct production of physical goods. In the new economy, more and more jobs will be based on the application of specialized knowledge and the manipulation of information with computers, a long step away from "real" jobs like growing wheat and assembling cars.