Settlement of Transactions on Holidays – Stock Exchanges and Depositories

Deputy General Manager
Market Regulation Department – Policy
Email:-sundaresanvs@sebi.gov.in
SEBI/MRD/Policy/AT/Cir- 19/2004
April 21, 2004

1. The Executive Directors/Managing Directors/Administrators
   Of All Stock Exchanges
2. The Managing Director, NSDL
3. The Executive Director, CDSL
   Dear Sir / Madam,
   Sub: Settlement of transactions in the case of holidays
4. It has often been noticed that the holidays of the banks and the Stock
   Exchanges are not common. Further, in view of the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, the holidays across stock exchanges situated in different states are also not common. This lack of uniformity of holidays and force majeure conditions which necessitate sudden closure of one or more Stock Exchanges and banks in a particular state result in situations where multiple settlements have to be completed by the Stock Exchanges on the working day immediately following the day(s) of the closure of the banks.
5. With a view to facilitate the smooth completion of settlement process and help
   members of the Stock Exchanges meet their obligations in a timely manner under such circumstances, the Stock Exchanges/Depositories are advised to follow the guidelines and adhere to the time line laid down in this circular. These guidelines are based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Derivatives and Market Risk Management (RMG) and have been finalised in consultation with the Stock Exchanges and the Depositories.
   2.1 The Stock Exchanges shall clear and settle the trades on a
   sequential basis i.e., the pay-in and the pay-out of the first settlement shall be completed before the commencement of the pay-in and pay￾out of the subsequent settlement/s.
   2.2 The cash/Securities pay out from the first settlement shall be made
   available to the member for meeting his pay-in obligations for the subsequent settlement/s.
   2.3 Further, in-order to meet his pay-in obligations for the subsequent
   settlement, the member may need to move securities from one depository to another. The Depositories shall, therefore, facilitate the inter-depository transfers within one hour and before pay-in for the subsequent settlement begins.

2.4 The Stock Exchanges/Depositories shall follow a strict time schedule
to ensure that the settlements are completed on the same day.
2.5 The Clearing Corporation/Clearing House of the Stock Exchanges
shall execute Auto DO facility for all the settlements together, so as to make the funds and the securities available with the member on the same day for all the settlements, thereby enabling the availability of the funds/securities at the client level by the end of the same day.
3. SEBI vide circular no. SMDRP/Policy/Cir-05/2001 dated February 01, 2001,
had stipulated a time limit of 4 calendar days or 2 working days, whichever is later, for transferring the securities from the member’s pool account to the beneficiary accounts of clients. Also, SEBI vide circular No. SMD/Policy/Cir￾6/2003 dated February 6, 2003 has stipulated the brokers to distribute the pay-out of securities and funds within 24 hours to their clients. Hence, with a view to harmonize the time limit for the pay-out from the pool account of the member to the client account, it is now clarified that, in partial modification of SEBI circular no. SMDRP/Policy/Cir-05/2001 dated February 01, 2001, the stock brokers/clearing members shall be required to transfer the securities from their respective CM Pool account to the respective beneficiary account of their clients within 1 working day after the pay-out day. The securities lying in the pool account beyond the stipulated 1 day shall attract a penalty at the rate of 6 basis point per week on the value of securities.
4. The Stock Exchanges/Depositories are advised to:-
4.1make necessary amendments to the relevant bye-laws, rules and regulations for the implementation of the above decision immediately. 4.2bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of the member brokers/clearing members of the Stock Exchanges and DPs of the Depositories and also to disseminate the same on the website.
5. The Stock Exchanges are also advised to communicate to SEBI, the status of
the implementation of the provisions of this circular in Section II, item no. 13 of the Monthly Development Report for the month of May, 2004.
6. This circular is being issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11
(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market. Yours faithfully, V S SUNDARESAN