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HKEX hopes white paper will ‘spark discussion’ on shortening stock-trading settlement time

The bourse operator is enhancing its systems to create a clearing and settlement platform that will make the market T+1 ready by end of 2025

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The Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Central. Photo: SCMP/Edmond So
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has commissioned a white paper, which the bourse operator hopes, will “spark discussion” among market participants that could lead to a reduction in the stock-trading settlement time, according to CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting.
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It is clear that financial community wants to move more swiftly, trade faster and settle quicker and that competing exchanges around the world were responding to the markets’ needs, Chan wrote in a blog post on Monday.

The paper will be published in the first half of next year.

“We hope [the white paper] will spark discussion with our whole ecosystem on what settlement cycle is needed for Hong Kong,” she said. The exchange “will push forward with enhancing our systems, creating a next-generation clearing and settlement platform which, by the end of 2025, will make the technology underpinning HKEX’s cash market infrastructure T+1 ready.”

Currently it takes two days after the trade day for transactions to be cleared and settled.

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“We’re dedicated to create the conditions for success while building our long-term resilience,” Chan said. “We’re channelling the spirit of the Olympic Games to go faster, higher, and stronger – together.”

“Enhancing the vibrancy of our markets is integral to this vision.”

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