Question

Difficulty: EasyDepositories, Clearing Corporations, and Settlement Entities

Match each capital market clearing and settlement entity on the left with its primary operational function on the right.

  • Depository Trust Company (DTC)Provides central safe custody and electronic book-entry ownership transfer of securities.
  • National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC)Serves as the central counterparty for clearing, trade comparison, and netting of broker-to-broker equity trades.
  • Options Clearing Corporation (OCC)Acts as the issuer and central clearinghouse guarantor for standardized options contracts.

Answer

Depository Trust Company (DTC) matches with safe custody and book-entry ownership transfer; National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) matches with clearing, trade comparison, and netting of equity trades; Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) matches with issuing and guaranteeing standardized options contracts.
Each entity performs a distinct post-trade function: the Depository Trust Company (DTC) handles central securities custody and book-entry recordkeeping; the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) clears and nets broker-dealer equity transactions; and the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) issues and guarantees standardized options contracts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core function of the Depository Trust Company (DTC).
DTC provides central custody and book-entry transfer services.
DTC is the primary securities depository in the U.S. market.
2
Identify the core function of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC).
NSCC acts as the central counterparty (CCP) providing clearing and Continuous Net Settlement (CNS) for equities.
NSCC reduces trade volume and risk by netting settlement obligations between broker-dealers.
3
Identify the core function of the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC).
OCC acts as the issuer and guarantor of exchange-listed derivative options.
OCC standardizes options contracts and eliminates counterparty risk for buyers and sellers.

Key Concept

Roles of Capital Market Infrastructure Entities (DTC, NSCC, OCC)
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