What is the standard settlement period for regular way transactions?

The standard settlement period for regular way transactions is T+2, meaning that the settlement occurs two business days after the trade date. This timeframe is established to provide sufficient time for the necessary clearing and settlement processes involved in transferring the ownership of securities.

With T+2, both buyers and sellers can ensure that all required documentation is processed and that funds are transferred appropriately, which is crucial for the integrity and smooth functioning of financial markets. This period strikes a balance between promptness and the practical considerations of reconciling and clearing the transactions efficiently.

T+1, which denotes a settlement on the next business day, is typically applicable to certain types of transactions like some government securities but is not the standard for most equity transactions. The same day settlement is more relevant for specific markets and transaction types but is not used as a standard for regular way transactions. T+5, on the other hand, used to be a common settlement period in the past but has since been streamlined to T+2 to increase efficiency and reduce counterpart risk in modern trading.