Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) ExamKnowledge of Capital MarketsHard

Which of the following entities is responsible for ensuring the orderly settlement of securities transactions by acting as a central counterparty for both buyers and sellers?

  1. ADepository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)
  2. BFederal Reserve Bank
  3. CSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
  4. DFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A. Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) is a major U.S. financial services company that provides clearing and settlement services for financial markets, acting as a central counterparty.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. The Federal Reserve Bank oversees monetary policy and banking, not direct securities settlement.
  • C. The SEC regulates securities markets but does not directly handle settlement.
  • D. FINRA regulates broker-dealers but is not involved in transaction settlement.

Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)

The DTCC provides clearing, settlement, and information services for equities, corporate and municipal debt, money market instruments, and OTC derivatives.

  • Reduces risk and enhances efficiency in financial markets.
  • Acts as a central counterparty for transactions.
  • Its subsidiaries include NSCC (clearing) and DTC (depositories).

Memory trick: DTCC: 'Done, Traded, Clean, Clear'.

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