By Nicolas H.R. Dumont ( June 26, 2018, 9:07 AM EDT) -- In 2017, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved rule changes shortening the standard settlement cycle for most broker-dealer transactions from three business days after the trade date to two business days, or from "T+3" to "T+2." The shift was prompted, in part, by market desire to reduce risk from unsettled trades, shortened settlement cycles in major securities markets overseas, and advances in trading and settlement technology. Since the transition, many have wondered if the settlement cycle can, or should, be shortened even further, perhaps even to "T+0."[1] In its adopting release for the T+2 rule changes, even the SEC stated that it "believes that shortening the standard settlement cycle will promote technological innovation and changes in market infrastructures and operations that will incentivize market participants to further pursue more operationally and technologically efficient processes, which may lead to further shortening of the standard settlement cycle."...