Comments due on SEC proposal to speed transaction settlement

The Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2022, voted to propose rule changes to reduce risks in the clearance and settlement of securities, including by shortening the standard settlement cycle for most broker-dealer transactions in securities from two business days after the trade date (T+2) to one business day after the trade date (T+1). The proposed changes are designed to reduce the credit, market, and liquidity risks in securities transactions faced by market participants and U.S. investors.

With the goal of shortening the settlement cycle further, the proposal solicits comments on challenges associated with and potential paths to achieving a same-day settlement cycle.

The public comment period will remain open for 60 days following publication of the proposing release on the SEC’s website or 30 days following publication of the proposing release in the Federal Register, whichever period is longer.

• SEC press release
• Proposed rule
• Fact sheet
• Publication and comment period update: Published in the 2/24/2022 Federal Register, with comments due by 4/11/2022.