ECB says pan-euro settlement system to cut costs

The European Central Bank said Tuesday 16 January it believes the implementation of an integrated securities settlement system in the euro zone could cut settlement costs by up to 90%.

Feasibility studies published by the ECB suggest that the central bank will push ahead with plans to implement an integrated settlement infrastructure, dubbed Target2-Securities, despite scepticism about the scheme from market participants.

In current market conditions, settlement transactions costs would fall t