Increasing competition and a wave of regulation in the post-trade sector is set to drive unprecedented levels of technology investment in Europe's clearing systems, according to industry experts.

Long regarded as the unglamourous back office of the world's securities markets, clearing houses -- which sit in between a trade to ensure the deal completes in the event of either counterparty defaulting -- are now attracting higher levels of IT investment as they look to compete in the increasingly cut-throat post-trade sector.