Vikesh Patel, global head of clearing, president, Cboe Clear Europe
There will be greater focus in 2025 on European competitiveness, with regulators needing to strike the right balance between fostering growth, competition and innovation in clearing on one hand and maintaining regulatory oversight and financial stability on the other. Central clearing will play a key role in this debate, which will be essential for advancing the region’s capital markets, and we look forward to Emir 3.0 helping in this regard.
Whilst there will be continued focus on top-down changes, we will continue to advocate for market-led approaches which strengthen the existing competitive framework, particularly in cash equities clearing, allowing participants to prioritise initiatives which enhance their operational and capital efficiencies.
Aligned with this vision, we are committed to supporting Cboe Europe Derivatives, providing participants with the opportunity to benefit from significant cost savings and capital efficiencies by enabling clearing of a wide range of pan-European equity index derivatives and single stock options through a single CCP, challenging the status quo of how this market has been historically cleared. We are also confident that our pioneering central clearing service for European securities financing transactions (SFTs) in equities and ETFs will resonate with market participants.
Lisa Danino-Lewis, chief growth officer, CLS
In 2024, we’ve witnessed a continuation in the buy-side’s emphasis on adhering to best practices for mitigating settlement risk to meet regulatory expectations and to ensure robust risk management practices. As a result, CLSSettlement has experienced notable growth from the fund community, with nearly 80% of top-tier investment managers now accessing the service.
The transition to a T+1 settlement cycle in North America this year highlighted the need for efficient and automated processes both pre- and post-trade, fostering a broader conversation on optimising post-trade workflows to handle growing complexities. This conversation is especially relevant as cross-border transactions grow in volume and as asset managers expand their investment in international markets. Looking ahead to next year, we anticipate that the buy-side will maintain a strong focus on best practices for FX risk mitigation, particularly in response to market volatility stemming from ongoing geopolitical risks and the continued trend for FX to be traded as an asset class.
Kaisha Schnoll, assistant vice president, STP Investment Services
In 2025, discussions around the UK and EU’s transition to a T+1 settlement cycle are expected to intensify. The UK has outlined a roadmap targeting Q4 2027, but despite ample time to prepare, significant actions are likely to commence soon. Whether the UK moves in sync with the EU or independently, substantial preparation will be necessary to ensure a smooth transition.
The UK Accelerated Settlement Taskforce (AST) is reviewing current infrastructure to guide regulators and policymakers in this shift. Its forthcoming report will outline the roadmap, including a target completion date, necessary steps, and operational requirements.
Accelerated settlement offers benefits like reduced counterparty risk, enhanced liquidity, and alignment with the US. However, risks remain, including compliance challenges under the Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR), tax complexities, cross-border trading, and CSDR penalties, all of which heighten concerns among market participants.
To adapt, market participants will need to streamline processes using technologies like blockchain and real-time data analytics. Institutional investors and brokers may adjust more easily, but smaller firms could face difficulties, necessitating investment in new infrastructure or reliance on third-party service providers. Despite these challenges, T+1 aims to enhance resilience and strengthen the UK and EU’s global financial standing.