Commodity Futures Trading Commission December 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or the ``Commission'') is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed revision to the collection of certain information by the Commission. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information and to allow 60 days for public comment. The Commission recently adopted a final rule that amends the Commission Regulation dealing with records of commodity interest and related cash or forward transactions (the ``Final Rule''). The Final Rule modifies some of the recordkeeping requirements that apply to certain participants in the markets regulated by the Commission. This notice solicits additional comments on the PRA implications of the amended recordkeeping requirements that are set forth in the Final Rule, including comments that address the burdens associated with the modified information collection requirements of the Final Rule.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA''), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (``ICR'') abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is amending its system safeguards rules for designated contract markets, swap execution facilities, and swap data repositories, by enhancing and clarifying existing provisions relating to system safeguards risk analysis and oversight and cybersecurity testing, and adding new provisions concerning certain aspects of cybersecurity testing. The Commission is clarifying the existing system safeguards rules for all designated contract markets, swap execution facilities, and swap data repositories by specifying and defining the types of cybersecurity testing essential to fulfilling system safeguards testing obligations, including vulnerability testing, penetration testing, controls testing, security incident response plan testing, and enterprise technology risk assessment. The Commission is also clarifying rule provisions respecting the categories of risk analysis and oversight that statutorily-required programs of system safeguards-related risk analysis and oversight must address; system safeguards-related books and records obligations; the scope of system safeguards testing; internal reporting and review of testing results; and remediation of vulnerabilities and deficiencies. The new provisions concerning certain aspects of cybersecurity testing, applicable to covered designated markets (as defined) and all swap data repositories, include minimum frequency requirements for conducting the essential types of cybersecurity testing, and requirements for performance of certain tests by independent contractors. In this release, the Commission is also issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting public comment concerning whether the minimum testing frequency and independent contractor testing requirements should be applied, via a future Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, to covered swap execution facilities (to be defined).

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is proposing a series of risk controls, transparency measures, and other safeguards to enhance the regulatory regime for automated trading on U.S. designated contract markets (``DCMs'') (collectively, ``Regulation AT''). The Commission's proposals build on efforts by numerous entities in recent years to promote best practices and regulatory standards for automated trading, including standards and best practices for algorithmic trading systems (``ATSs''), electronic trade matching engines, and new connectivity methods that characterize modern financial markets. In 2012 the Commission adopted rules requiring futures commission merchants (``FCMs''), swap dealers (``SDs''), and major swap participants (``MSPs'') to use automated means to screen orders for compliance with certain risk-based limits. It also adopted rules requiring certain financial risk control requirements for DCMs offering direct market access to their customers. In 2013 the Commission published an extensive Concept Release on Risk Controls and System Safeguards for Automated Trading Environments (``Concept Release''), compiling in one document a comprehensive discussion of industry practices, Commission regulations, and evolving concerns in automated trading.\1\ Now, through this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NPRM'') for Regulation AT, the Commission seeks to update Commission rules in response to the evolution from pit trading to electronic trading. In particular, the Commission is proposing to adopt a comprehensive approach to reducing risk and increasing transparency in automated trading. Proposed Regulation AT is designed to consolidate previous work by industry participants, the Commission, and fellow regulators into a unified body of law addressing automation in order placement and execution in U.S. derivatives markets. The Commission welcomes all public comments.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment. This notice solicits comments on the daily trade and supporting data reports that are submitted to CFTC pursuant to Commission Rule 16.02. This part imposes reporting requirements on Reporting Markets, including Designated Contract Markets.