FINANCIAL MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE (FMI)
Financial market infrastructures (FMI) are essential in the clearing and settlement of transactions in the financial markets such as the movements of money, stocks and other securities around the globe. They are designed to strengthen the markets and promote financial stability. The role financial market structures play in the financial market is a crucial on that needs close oversight, without an appropriate management put in place it could lead to systemic risk in the market. Financial market infrastructures include -
Securities settlement systems (SSS) Trade repositories (TR) Central counterparties (CCP) Recognized payment systems (PS) Central securities depositories (CSD)
For the market to function, adequate resources are put in place to ensure the consistency of the infrastructures put in place. Payment systems make possible the lending and repayments of money, makes possible the payment and purchase of goods and services and also make possible the payment of everyday items through the local banks. Through securities settlement systems the purchase and sale of bonds, equities and other securities is made possible, while central counterparties serve as an insurance that the
payment for goods received will be honored even in the even the original counter party defaults on the payment.
The supervision of financial market infrastructures is the task of the principal monetary body in a country also called Central Banks. The central banks work in conjunction with the Securities and Exchange Commission or Financial Conduct Authority or the financial regulating body depending on the country to ensure that due process is followed in transactions made. Consistency and standardization of market transactions and functions are dependent on the regulatory guidelines and oversight provided by the financial markets infrastructures put in place by the Central banks. Financial institutions have to continuously access the risk, monitor, manage and mitigate the risk in the financial market. In the United States of America, examples of Financial Market Infrastructures include: -
The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), which serves as a CCP for clearing and settling equity and fixed income trades The Federal Reserve Bank which has three payment systems  The Fedwire Fund Service  The Fedwire Fund Service and  The National Settlement Service
International standards for financial market transactions such as payments, clearing and settlement systems are set by the CPSS and the IOSCO (international organization of securities commission). The standards are designed to support a more robust structure supporting the global financial markets, reducing risk and market meltdown.