The ChoosaBroker Trading Academy

1. An Introduction to Financial Markets (Module 1)
1.1. An Introduction to Financial Markets 1.2. Historical Perspective 1.3. Portfolio Management 1.4. Diversification 1.5. Power of Compounding
2. Breakdown of Asset Classes (Module 2)
2.1. Foreign Exchange 2.2. Stocks 2.3. Indices 2.4. Commodities 2.5. CFDs Contract for Difference 2.6. Bonds 2.7. Cryptocurrencies 2.8. Futures and Options 2.9. ETFs
3. Categories of Financial Market Participants (Module 3)
3.1. Speculators 3.2. Investors 3.3. Hedgers 3.4. Arbitrageurs 3.5. Institutional Players
4. Portfolio Management (Module 4)
4.1. Theory and Importance of Portfolio Management 4.2. Asset Allocation 4.3. Risk Management 4.4. Retirement Planning
5. Introduction to Forex (Module 5)
5.1. How the Forex Market Works 5.2. Benefits and Drawbacks of the Currency Market 5.3. Major Pairs and Time Zones 5.4. Basic Forex Trading Concepts 5.5. Leverage and Margin Trading 5.6. Forex Market Strategies
6. Introduction to Stocks and Indices (Module 6)
6.1. How the Stock Market Works 6.2. Commonly Used Terms 6.3. Primary and Secondary Markets 6.4. Regulatory Framework 6.5. Financial Intermediaries 6.6. Clearing and Settlement Process 6.7. Index Composition
7. Introduction to Commodities (Module 7)
7.1. How the Commodity Market Works 7.2. Understanding Derivatives and Futures Pricing 7.3. Global Commodity Exchange 7.4. Agricultural Commodities 7.5. Non-Agricultural Commodities 7.6. Precious and Non-Precious Metals 7.7. Factors That Affect Commodity Prices
8. Introduction to CFDs (Module 8)
8.1. Types of CFDs 8.2. Basic Concepts of CFD Trading
9. Introduction to ETFs (Module 9)
9.1. How ETFs Work 9.2. How to Select ETFs
10. Different Forms of Asset Analysis (Module 10)
10.1. What is Technical Analysis? 10.2. What is Fundamental Analysis? 10.3. News Trading 10.4. Earnings Trading
11. Basics of Technical Analysis (Module 11)
11.1. How to Identify Support-Resistance Levels 11.2. Understanding Trends 11.3. An Introduction to Classical Chart Patterns 11.4. Overview of Candlestick Patterns 11.5. Different Types of Technical Indicators 11.6. Fibonacci Levels 11.7. How to Build a Trading Plan 11.8. Importance of Controlling Risk in Trading
12. Basics of Meta Trader 4 (Module 13)
13.1. How to Get Started MT4 13.2. How to Create and Adjust Charts 13.3. How to Place an Order 13.4. Basic Performance Monitoring on MT4 13.5. Risk Management Tools 13.6. MT4 Webtrader Basics
13. Advanced Meta Trader 4 Tools (Module 14)
14.1. How to Place Special Orders 14.2. Setting Asset Alerts and Rules 14.3. Adding Technical Indicators 14.4. Using Expert Advisors 14.5. Keyboard Shortcuts 14.6. MT4 Mobile Application

6.6. Clearing and Settlement Process

In a stock market transaction, there is always a buyer and a seller. When a person buys a certain quantity of shares, there can be a single or multiple traders who have sold those shares. This trade is settled only once the buyer receives the shares and the seller receives the money from the sale.

Let us try to understand in easy language how this complex operation unfolds.

CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT PROCESS IN STOCK MARKET

Any financial securities transaction on a regulated exchange involves three key phases. We will discuss each one of them in detail below.

01. Execution

It is simply the completion of a buy or a sell order for a security. A trader first places his order with a broker, who then looks at the size and availability of the order to decide on one of the following methods to execute the order:
  • Send the order to the floor of the exchange
  • Direct the order to a market maker
  • Fill the order from the broker’s own inventory of stocks
  • Route the order to an electronic communications network
By law, brokers are obligated to give traders the best possible “fill price” for every trade placed.

02. Clearing

Once two orders are matched and a trade is executed, the clearing process takes over. Clearing is the procedure of reconciling orders between transacting parties. The process confirms and records –
  • The name and quantity of the financial security being bought and sold
  • The transaction price and date
  • The identity of the buyer and the seller
Most clearing takes place through a third-party clearinghouse. Brokers are members of these clearinghouses, and have financial responsibility to ensure that the buyer receives the quantity of securities purchased and the seller receives the corresponding cash in exchange for the securities sold. In short, clearing is the process of determination of obligations, post which, these obligations are discharged through settlement.

03. Settlement

  • Settlement is the actual exchange of money and securities between the parties engaged in a trade on the “settlement date.” The settlement date normally occurs two or three business days following the trade execution date to allow for certain processing steps to be completed, which, in turn, ensures higher efficiency of the system. As technology has advanced, the entire trade settlement process has become electronic, with the securities interests of participants being recorded by credit entries in accounts maintained against their names. Such a system removes the need for paperwork, permitting quicker settlement of trades. In the United States, securities settlements have been taking place two business days (T+2) following the trade day since September 2017. Thus, if a trade were to be executed on Monday, the official transfer of the securities to the buyer’s account and the cash to the seller’s account would happen on Wednesday. It is important for traders to note that the settlement cycle does not include weekends and public holidays.

FINAL NOTES

The clearing and settlement of securities is quite a theoretical topic. But it is important that you understand the mechanics behind it. As an investor you need not actually worry about how the trades get cleared and settled as there are professional intermediaries to seamlessly carry out this function for you. However a lack of understanding of the process could leave a void in your knowledge base. For this precise reason, we have explored what goes on behind the scenes.

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