Procedures To Establish Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes for Large Notional Off-Facility Swaps and Block Trades, 32865-32944 [2013-12133]

Agencies

• Commodity Futures Trading Commission

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32865-32944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12133]



[[Page 32865]]

Vol. 78

Friday,

No. 105

May 31, 2013

Part III





Commodity Futures Trading Commission





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17 CFR Part 43





Procedures To Establish Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes for Large 
Notional Off-Facility Swaps and Block Trades; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 105 / Friday, May 31, 2013 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 32866]]


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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

17 CFR Part 43

RIN 3038-AD08


Procedures To Establish Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes for Large 
Notional Off-Facility Swaps and Block Trades

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is adopting 
regulations to implement certain statutory provisions enacted by Title 
VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. 
Specifically, in accordance with section 727 of the Dodd-Frank Act, the 
Commission is adopting regulations that define the criteria for 
grouping swaps into separate swap categories and establish 
methodologies for setting appropriate minimum block sizes for each swap 
category. In addition, the Commission is adopting further measures 
under the Commission's regulations to prevent the public disclosure of 
the identities, business transactions and market positions of swaps 
market participants.

DATES: Effective date: July 30, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John W. Dunfee, Assistant General 
Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, 202-418-5396, jdunfee@cftc.gov; 
George Pullen, Economist, 202-418-6709, gpullen@cftc.gov, or Nhan 
Nguyen, Special Counsel, 202-418-5932, nnguyen@cftc.gov, Division of 
Market Oversight; Esen Onur, Economist, Office of the Chief Economist, 
202-418-6146, eonur@cftc.gov; Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 
Three Lafayette Center, 1155 21st Street NW., Washington, DC 20581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Background
    A. The Dodd-Frank Act
    B. The Initial Proposal
    1. Overview
    2. Public Comments in Response to the Initial Proposal
    C. Issuance of the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule
    D. Further Block Proposal
    1. Policy Goals
    2. Summary of Proposed Approach
    3. Overview of Comments Received
    4. Additional Proposal Regarding Aggregation of Blocks
II. Procedures To Establish Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes for 
Large Notional Off-Facility Swaps and Block Trades--Final Rules
    A. Criteria for Distinguishing Among Swap Categories in Each 
Asset Class
    1. Interest Rate and Credit Asset Classes
    a. Background
    b. Interest Rate Swap Categories
    i. Interest Rate Swap Data Summary
    ii. Summary of Proposed Rule
    c. Credit Swap Categories
    i. Credit Swap Data Summary
    ii. Credit Swap Data Analysis
    2. Swap Category in the Equity Asset Class
    3. Swap Categories in the FX Asset Class
    4. Swap Categories in the Other Commodity Asset Class
    5. Comments Regarding Swap Categories Across Asset Classes
    B. Appropriate Minimum Block Size Methodologies for the Initial 
and Post-Initial Periods
    1. Phase-in of Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes
    2. Overview of Proposed Approach
    3. The 67-Percent Notional Amount Calculation for Determination 
of Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes
    4. Data for Determination of Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes in 
the Post-Initial Period
    5. Methodology for Determining the Appropriate Minimum Block 
Sizes by Asset Class
    a. Interest Rate and Credit Default Swaps
    b. Equity
    c. FX
    i. Initial Period Methodology
    ii. Post-Initial Period Methodology
    d. Other Commodity
    i. Initial Period Methodology
    ii. Post-Initial Period Methodology
    6. Special Provisions for the Determination of Appropriate 
Minimum Block Sizes for Certain Types of Swaps
    a. Swaps With Optionality
    b. Swaps With Composite Reference Prices
    c. Physical Commodity Swaps
    d. Currency Conversion
    e. Successor Currencies
    C. Procedural Provisions
    1. Sec.  43.6(a) Commission Determination
    2. Sec.  43.6(f)(4) and (5) Publication and Effective Date of 
Post-Initial Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes
    3. Sec.  43.6(g) Notification of Election
    4. Sec.  43.7 Delegation of Authority
    5. Sec.  43.6(h)(6)--Aggregation
    6. Sec.  43.6(i) Eligible Block Trade Participants
III. Anonymity Protections for the Public Dissemination of Swap 
Transaction and Pricing Data
    A. Policy Goals
    B. Establishing Notional Cap Sizes for Swap Transaction and 
Pricing Data To Be Publicly Disseminated in Real-Time
    1. Policy Goals for Establishing Notional Cap Sizes
    2. Proposed Amendments Related to Cap Sizes--Sec.  43.2 
Definitions and Sec.  43.4 Swap Transaction and Pricing Data To Be 
Publicly Disseminated in Real-Time
    a. Initial Cap Sizes
    b. Post-Initial Cap Sizes and the 75-Percent Notional Amount 
Calculation
    C. Masking the Geographic Detail of Swaps in the Other Commodity 
Asset Class
    1. Policy Goals for Masking the Geographic Detail for Swaps in 
the Other Commodity Asset Class
    2. Proposed Amendments to Sec.  43.4
    3. Application of Proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) and Proposed 
Appendix E to Part 43--Geographic Detail for Delivery or Pricing 
Points
    a. U.S. Delivery or Pricing Points
    i. Natural Gas and Related Products
    ii. Petroleum and Related Products
    iii. Electricity and Sources
    iv. All Remaining Other Commodities
    b. Non-U.S. Delivery or Pricing Points
    c. Basis Swaps
    d. Comments Received and Commission Determination
    4. Further Revisions to Part 43
    a. Additional Contracts Added to Appendix B to Part 43
    b. Technical Revisions to Part 43
IV. Paperwork Reduction Act
    A. Background
    B. Description of the Collection
    1. Sec.  43.6(g)--Notification of Election
    2. Amendments to Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and 43.4(h)
V. Cost-Benefit Considerations
    A. Background
    B. The Statutory Mandate To Consider the Costs and Benefits of 
the Commission's Action: Section 15(a) of the CEA
    C. Rules Establishing Determination Criteria and Methodology 
(Sec.  43.6(a)-(f) and (h))
    1. Rule Summary
    a. Rule 43.6(a) Commission Determination
    b. Rule 43.6(b) Swap Category
    c. Rules 43.6(c)-(f) and (h) Methods for Determining Appropriate 
Minimum Block Sizes
    2. Overview of Comments Received
    3. Costs
    a. Direct Costs
    b. Indirect Costs
    4. Benefits
    5. Alternatives
    a. Commission Determination of Minimum Block Sizes
    b. Swap Category Alternatives
    c. Block Methodology Alternatives
    6. CEA Section 15(a) Factors
    a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    b. Efficiency, Competitiveness and Financial Integrity of 
Markets
    c. Price Discovery
    d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    D. Cost-Benefit Considerations Relevant to the Block Trade/Large 
Notional Off-Facility Swap Election Process (Sec.  43.6(g))
    1. Costs Relevant to the Election Process (Sec.  43.6(g))
    a. Incremental, Non-Recurring Expenditure to a Non-Financial 
End-user, SEF or DCM To Update Existing Technology
    b. Incremental, Non-Recurring Expenditure to a Non-Financial 
End-User, SEF or DCM To Provide Training to Existing Personnel and 
Update Written Policies and Procedures
    c. Incremental, Recurring Expenses to a Non-Financial End-User, 
DCM or SEF Associated With Incremental Compliance, Maintenance and 
Operational Support in Connection With the Proposed Election Process

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    d. Incremental, Non-Recurring Expenditure to an SDR To Update 
Existing Technology To Capture and Publicly Disseminate Swap Data 
for Block Trades and Large Notional Off-Facility Swaps
    2. Comments Received
    3. Benefits Relevant to the Election Process (Sec.  43.6(g))
    4. Alternatives
    5. Application of the Section 15(a) Factors to Sec.  43.6(g)
    a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    b. Efficiency, Competitiveness and Financial Integrity
    c. Price Discovery
    d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    E. Costs and Benefits Relevant to Anonymity Protections 
(Amendments to Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and (h))
    1. Amendments to Sec.  43.4(d)(4)
    2. Amendments to Sec.  43.4(h)
    3. Costs Relevant to the Amendments to Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and (h)
    4. Benefits Relevant to the Amendments to Sec.  43.4
    5. Alternatives
    6. Application of the Section 15(a) Factors to the Amendments to 
Sec.  43.4
    a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    b. Efficiency, Competitiveness and Financial Integrity
    c. Price Discovery
    d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    F. Costs and Benefits Relevant to Sec.  43.6(h)(6)--Aggregation
    1. Overview of Comments Received
    2. Costs
    3. Benefits
    4. Section 15(a) Factors
    a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    b. Efficiency, Competitiveness, and Financial Integrity of the 
Futures Markets
    c. Price Discovery
    d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    G. Costs and Benefits Relevant to Sec.  43.6(i)--Eligible Block 
Trade Parties
    1. Overview of Comments Received
    2. Costs
    3. Benefits
    4. Section 15(a) Factors
    a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    b. Efficiency, Competitiveness, and Financial Integrity of the 
Futures Markets
    c. Price Discovery
    d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    e. Other Public Interest Considerations
VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act
VII. Example of a Post-Initial Appropriate Minimum Block Size 
Determination Using the 67-Percent Notional Amount Calculation
VIII. List of Commenters Who Responded to the Further Block Proposal

I. Background

A. The Dodd-Frank Act

    On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street 
Reform and Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-Frank Act'').\1\ Title VII 
of the Dodd-Frank Act \2\ amended the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'') 
\3\ to establish a comprehensive new regulatory framework for swaps and 
security-based swaps. This legislation was enacted to reduce risk, 
increase transparency and promote market integrity within the financial 
system by, inter alia: (1) Providing for the registration and 
comprehensive regulation of swap dealers (``SDs'') and major swap 
participants (``MSPs''); (2) imposing mandatory clearing and trade 
execution requirements on standardized derivative products; (3) 
creating robust recordkeeping and real-time reporting regimes; and (4) 
enhancing the Commission's rulemaking and enforcement authorities with 
respect to, among others, all registered entities and intermediaries 
subject to the Commission's oversight.
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    \1\ See Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).
    \2\ The short title of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act is the 
``Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010.''
    \3\ See 7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.
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    Section 727 of the Dodd-Frank Act created section 2(a)(13) of the 
CEA, which authorizes and requires the Commission to promulgate 
regulations for the real-time public reporting of swap transaction and 
pricing data.\4\ Section 2(a)(13)(A) provides that ``real-time public 
reporting'' means reporting ``data relating to a swap transaction, 
including price and volume, as soon as technologically practicable 
after the time at which the swap transaction has been executed.'' \5\ 
Section 2(a)(13)(B) states that the purpose of section 2(a)(13) is ``to 
authorize the Commission to make swap transaction and pricing data 
available to the public in such form and at such times as the 
Commission determines appropriate to enhance price discovery.''
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    \4\ See generally CEA section 2(a)(13), 7 U.S.C. 2(a)(13).
    \5\ CEA section 2(a)(13)(A).
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    In general, section 2(a)(13) of the CEA directs the Commission to 
prescribe regulations providing for the public availability of 
transaction and pricing data for certain swaps. Section 2(a)(13) places 
two other statutory requirements on the Commission that are relevant to 
this final rule. First, sections 2(a)(13)(E)(ii) and (iii) of the CEA 
respectively require the Commission to prescribe regulations specifying 
``the criteria for determining what constitutes a large notional swap 
transaction (block trade) for particular markets and contracts'' and 
``the appropriate time delay for reporting large notional swap 
transactions (block trades) to the public.'' \6\ In promulgating 
regulations under section 2(a)(13), section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv) directs the 
Commission to take into account whether public disclosure of swap 
transaction and pricing data ``will materially reduce market 
liquidity.'' \7\
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    \6\ Section 2(a)(13)(E) explicitly refers to the swaps described 
only in sections 2(a)(13)(C)(i) and 2(a)(13)(C)(ii) of the CEA 
(i.e., clearable swaps, including swaps that are exempt from 
clearing). As noted in the Commission's Initial Proposal (as defined 
below), its Real-Time Reporting Final Rule (as defined below), and 
its Further Block Proposal (as defined below), the Commission, in 
exercising its authority under CEA section 2(a)(13)(B) to ``make 
swap transaction and pricing data available to the public in such 
form and at such times as the Commission determines appropriate to 
enhance price discovery,'' is authorized to prescribe rules similar 
to those provisions in section 2(a)(13)(E) to uncleared swaps 
described in section 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) and (iv) of the CEA.
    \7\ CEA section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv). Section 5h(f)(2)(C) of the CEA 
imposes a similar directive upon registered swap execution 
facilities (``SEF'') by requiring that they set forth rules for 
block trades for swap execution purposes.
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    The second statutory requirement relevant to this final rule is 
found in sections 2(a)(13)(E)(i) and 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) of the CEA. 
Through these sections, Congress sought to ``ensure that the public 
reporting of swap transaction and pricing data [would] not disclose the 
names or identities of the parties to [swap] transactions.'' \8\ 
Accordingly, Sec.  2(a)(13)(E)(i) of the CEA requires the Commission to 
protect the identities of counterparties to mandatorily-cleared swaps, 
swaps excepted from the mandatory clearing requirement, and 
voluntarily-cleared swaps. Section 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) of the CEA requires 
the Commission to prescribe rules that maintain the anonymity of 
business transactions and market positions of the counterparties to an 
uncleared swap.\9\
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    \8\ 156 Cong. Rec. S5921 (daily ed. July 15, 2010) (Statement of 
Sen. Blanche Lincoln).
    \9\ This provision does not cover swaps that are ``determined to 
be required to be cleared but are not cleared.'' See CEA section 
2(a)(13)(C)(iv).
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    In order to carry out the requirements of section 2(a)(13), 
including among other things the two statutory requirements regarding 
blocks and anonymity described above, the Commission issued a notice of 
proposed rulemaking on December 7, 2010 (the ``Initial Proposal''). On 
January 9, 2012, the Commission issued a final rule regarding Real-Time 
Public Reporting of Swap Transaction Data adopting several provisions 
contained in the Initial Proposal (the ``Real-Time Reporting Final 
Rule''). The Real-Time Reporting

[[Page 32868]]

Final Rule, however, did not adopt most of the provisions in the 
Initial Proposal pertaining to appropriate block sizes and anonymity. 
Instead, the Commission issued a further notice of proposed rulemaking 
regarding Procedures to Establish Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes for 
Large Notional Off-Facility Swaps and Block Trades on March 15, 2012 
(the ``Further Block Proposal'').\10\ Each of these issuances is 
described more fully below.
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    \10\ See Procedures to Establish Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes 
for Large Notional Off-Facility Swaps and Block Trades, 77 FR 
15,460, Mar. 15, 2012.
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B. The Initial Proposal

1. Overview
    On December 7, 2010, the Commission published in the Federal 
Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement section 2(a)(13) 
of the CEA, which included specific provisions pursuant to sections 
2(a)(13)(E)(i)-(iv) and 2(a)(13)(C)(iii).\11\ In this Initial Proposal, 
the Commission set out proposed provisions to satisfy, among other 
things, the statutory requirements discussed above regarding minimum 
block sizes and anonymity protections. With respect to the first 
statutory requirement, the Commission proposed: (1) Definitions for the 
terms ``large notional off-facility swap'' and ``block trade''; \12\ 
(2) a method for determining the appropriate minimum block sizes for 
large notional off-facility swaps and block trades; \13\ and (3) a 
framework for timely reporting of such transactions and trades.\14\ 
Proposed Sec.  43.5(g) provided that registered swap data repositories 
(``SDRs'') would be responsible for calculating the appropriate minimum 
block size for each ``swap instrument'' using the greater result of the 
distribution test \15\ and the multiple test.\16\ Proposed Sec.  
43.2(y) broadly defined ``swap instrument'' as ``a grouping of swaps in 
the same asset class with the same or similar characteristics.''\17\ 
Proposed Sec.  43.5(h) provided that for any swap listed on a swap 
execution facility (``SEF'') or designated contract market (``DCM''), 
the SEF or DCM must set the appropriate minimum block trade size at a 
level at or above that established by an SDR for the relevant swap 
instrument.\18\
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    \11\ See Real-Time Public Reporting of Swap Transaction Data, 75 
FR 76139, Dec. 7, 2010, as corrected in Real-Time Public Reporting 
of Swap Transaction Data Correction, 75 FR 76930, Dec. 10, 2010. 
Interested persons are directed to the Initial Proposal for a full 
discussion of each of the proposed part 43 rules.
    \12\ The Initial Proposal defined the term ``large notional 
swap.'' See proposed Sec.  43.2(l), 75 FR 76171. The Real-Time 
Reporting Final Rule finalized the term as ``large notional off-
facility swap,'' to denote, in relevant part, that the swap is not 
executed pursuant to a SEF or designated contract market's (``DCM'') 
rules and procedures. See Sec.  43.2, 77 FR 1182, 1244, Jan. 9, 
2012. Specifically, the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule defined the 
term as an ``off-facility swap that has a notional or principal 
amount at or above the appropriate minimum block size applicable to 
such publicly reportable swap transaction and is not a block trade 
as defined in Sec.  43.2 of the Commission's regulations.'' Id. 
Throughout this final rulemaking, the Commission uses the term 
``large notional off-facility swap'' as adopted in the Real-Time 
Reporting Final Rule.
    The Initial Proposal's definition of ``block trade'' was similar 
to the final definition in the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule. See 
proposed Sec.  43.2(f), 75 FR 76171. The Real-Time Reporting Final 
Rule defines the term ``block trade'' as a publicly reportable swap 
transaction that: ``(1) [i]nvolves a swap that is listed on a SEF or 
DCM; (2) [o]ccurs away from the [SEF's or DCM's] trading system or 
platform and is executed pursuant to the [SEF's or DCM's] rules and 
procedures; (3) has a notional or principal amount at or above the 
appropriate minimum block applicable to such swap; and (4) [i]s 
reported subject to the rules and procedures of the [SEF or DCM] and 
the rules described in [part 43], including the appropriate time 
delay requirements set forth in Sec.  43.5.'' See Sec.  43.2, 77 FR 
1243.
    \13\ See proposed Sec.  43.5, 75 FR 76174-76.
    \14\ Proposed Sec.  43.5(k)(1) in the Initial Proposal provided 
that the time delay for the public dissemination of data for a block 
trade or large notional off-facility swap shall commence at the time 
of execution of such trade or swap. See 75 FR 76176. Proposed Sec.  
43.5(k)(2) provided that the time delay for standardized block 
trades and large notional off-facility swaps (i.e., swaps that fall 
under CEA Section 2(a)(13)(C)(i) and (iv)) would be 15 minutes from 
the time of execution. Id. The Initial Proposal did not provide 
specific time delays for large notional off-facility swaps (i.e., 
swaps that fall under Section 2(a)(13)(C)(ii) and (iii)). Instead, 
proposed Sec.  43.5(k)(3) provided that the time delay for such 
swaps shall be reported subject to a time delay that may be 
prescribed by the Commission. Id.
    The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule established time delays for 
the public dissemination of block trades and large notional off-
facility swaps in Sec.  43.5. See 77 FR 1247-49.
    \15\ The distribution test, described in proposed Sec.  
43.5(g)(1)(i) of the Initial Proposal, required that an SDR take the 
rounded transaction sizes of all trades executed over a period of 
time for a particular swap instrument and create a distribution of 
those trades. An SDR would then determine the minimum threshold 
amount as an amount that is greater than 95 percent of the notional 
or principal transaction sizes for the swap instrument for an 
applicable period of time. See 75 FR 76175.
    \16\ The multiple test, described in proposed Sec.  
43.5(g)(1)(ii) in the Initial Proposal, required that an SDR 
multiply the block trade multiple by the ``social size'' of a 
particular swap instrument. Proposed Sec.  43.2(x) defined ``social 
size'' as the greatest of the mean, median or mode transaction size 
for a particular swap instrument. The Commission proposed a block 
trade multiple of five. Id.
    \17\ See proposed Sec.  43.2(y), 75 FR 76172.
    \18\ See 75 FR 76176.
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    With respect to anonymity, the Initial Proposal set forth several 
provisions to address issues pertinent to protecting the identities of 
parties to a swap. Essentially, these proposed provisions sought to 
protect the identities of parties to a swap through the limited 
disclosure of information and data relevant to the swap. In particular, 
proposed Sec.  43.4(e)(1) in the Initial Proposal provided that an SDR 
could not publicly report swap transaction and pricing data in a manner 
that discloses or otherwise facilitates the identification of a party 
to a swap. Proposed Sec.  43.4(e)(2) would have placed a requirement on 
SEFs, DCMs and reporting parties to provide an SDR with a specific 
description of the underlying asset and tenor of a swap. This proposed 
section also included a qualification with respect to the reporting of 
the specific description. In particular, this section provided that 
``[the] description must be general enough to provide anonymity but 
specific enough to provide for a meaningful understanding of the 
economic characteristics of the swap.'' \19\ This qualification would 
have applied to all swaps.
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    \19\ See 75 FR 76174.
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    In the Initial Proposal, the Commission acknowledged that swaps 
that are executed on or pursuant to the rules of a SEF or DCM do not 
raise the same level of concerns in protecting the identities, business 
transactions or market positions of swap counterparties since these 
swaps generally lack customization.\20\ As a result, the Commission 
provided that SEFs and DCMs should tailor the description required by 
proposed Sec.  43.2(e) depending on the asset class and place of 
execution of each swap.
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    \20\ See 75 FR 76151 (``In contrast, for those swaps that are 
executed on a swap market, the Commission believes that since such 
contracts will be listed on a particular trading platform or 
facility, it will be unlikely that a party to a swap could be 
inferred based on the reporting of the underlying asset and 
therefore parties to swaps executed on swap markets must report the 
specific underlying assets and tenor of the swap.'').
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    In contrast, the Commission acknowledged that the public 
dissemination of a description of the specific underlying asset and 
tenor of swaps that are not executed on or pursuant to the rules of a 
SEF or DCM (i.e., swaps that are executed bilaterally) may result in 
the unintended disclosure of the identities, business transactions or 
market positions of swap counterparties, particularly for swaps in the 
other commodity asset class.\21\ To address this issue, the Commission 
proposed in Sec.  43.4(e)(2) that an SDR publicly disseminate a more 
general description of the specific underlying asset and tenor.\22\ In 
the Initial Proposal, the Commission provided a hypothetical example of 
how an SDR could mask or otherwise protect the underlying asset from 
public disclosure

[[Page 32869]]

in a manner too specific so as to divulge the identity of a swap 
counterparty. The Commission, however, did not set forth a specific 
manner in which SDRs should carry out this requirement.\23\
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    \21\ See 75 FR 76150-51.
    \22\ See 75 FR 76174.
    \23\ See 75 FR 76150. The Initial Proposal further provided that 
the requirement in proposed Sec.  43.4(e)(2) was separate from the 
requirement that a reporting party report swap data to an SDR 
pursuant to section 2(a)(13)(G) of the CEA. See 75 FR 76174.
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    To further protect the identities, business transactions or market 
positions of swap counterparties, proposed Sec.  43.4(i) of the Initial 
Proposal included a rounding convention for all swaps, which included a 
``notional cap'' provision. The proposed notional cap provision 
provided, for example, that if the notional size of a swap is greater 
than $250 million, then an SDR only would publicly disseminate a 
notation of ``$250+'' rather than the actual notional size of the 
swap.\24\
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    \24\ See 75 FR 76152.
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    The Commission issued the Initial Proposal for public comment for a 
period of 60 days, but later reopened the comment period for an 
additional 45 days.\25\ After issuing the Initial Proposal, the 
Commission received 105 comment letters and held 40 meetings with 
interested parties regarding the proposed provisions.\26\
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    \25\ The initial comment period for the Initial Proposal closed 
on February 7, 2011. The comment periods for most proposed 
rulemakings implementing the Dodd-Frank Act--including the proposed 
part 43 rules--subsequently were reopened for the period of April 27 
through June 2, 2011.
    \26\ The interested parties who either submitted comment letters 
or met with Commission staff included end-users, potential swap 
dealers, asset managers, industry groups/associations, potential 
SDRs, a potential SEF, multiple law firms on behalf of their clients 
and a DCM. Of the 105 comment letters submitted in response to the 
Initial Proposal, 42 letters focused on various issues relating to 
block trades and large notional off-facility swaps. Of the 40 
meetings, five meetings focused on various issues relating to block 
trades and large notional off-facility swaps. All comment letters 
received in response to the Initial Proposal may be found on the 
Commission's Web site at: https://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/CommentList.aspx?id=919.
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2. Public Comments in Response to the Initial Proposal
    The commenters to the Initial Proposal provided general and 
specific comments relating to the proposed provisions regarding the 
determination of appropriate minimum block sizes and anonymity 
protections for the identities, business transactions and market 
positions of swap counterparties.\27\ The comments submitted regarding 
the Initial Proposal's provisions regarding appropriate minimum block 
sizes and anonymity protections are summarized in detail in the Further 
Block Proposal.\28\
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    \27\ A list of the full names and abbreviations of commenters 
who responded to the Initial Proposal and who the Commission refers 
to in the Further Block Proposal is included in section VI below. As 
noted above, letters from these commenters and others submitted in 
response to the Initial Proposal are available through the 
Commission's Web site at: https://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/CommentList.aspx?id=919.
    \28\ See Further Block Proposal at 77 FR 15463-66.
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    Following the close of the comment period for the Initial Proposal, 
the Commission took several actions in consideration of the comments 
received regarding the proposed methodology to determine appropriate 
minimum block sizes, the proposed anonymity protections and the 
proposed implementation approach.\29\ A discussion of the Commission's 
actions and their impact on the Further Block Proposal is set out 
immediately below.
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    \29\ Commission staff also consulted with the staffs of several 
other federal financial regulators in connection with the issuance 
of the Further Block Proposal.
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C. Issuance of the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule

    In consideration of the public comments submitted in response to 
the Initial Proposal, the Commission obtained and analyzed swap data in 
order to better understand the trading activity of swaps in certain 
asset classes.\30\ The Commission also reviewed additional information, 
including a study pertaining to the mandatory trade execution 
requirement and post-trade transparency concerns that arose out of two 
of the Commission's proposed rulemakings,\31\ as well as a report 
issued by two industry trade associations on block trade reporting in 
the swaps market.\32\ In addition, the Commission and the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (``SEC'') held a two-day public roundtable on 
Dodd-Frank Act implementation on May 2-3, 2011 (``Public 
Roundtable'').\33\ During the Public Roundtable and in comment letters 
submitted in support thereof, interested parties recommended that the 
Commission adopt a phased-in approach with respect to establishing 
block trade rules.
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    \30\ A detailed discussion of Commission staff's review and 
analysis process is set out below in sections II.A.1.b.i. and c.i.
    \31\ See ISDA, Costs and Benefits of Mandatory Electronic 
Execution Requirements for Interest Rate Products, 24 (ISDA 
Discussion Paper No. 2, Nov. 2011), available at https://www2.isda.org/attachment/Mzc0NA==/ISDA%20Mandatory%20Electronic%20Execution%20Discussion%20Paper.pdf. 
This paper cited the Commission's notice of proposed rulemaking with 
respect to SEFs (Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap 
Execution Facilities, 76 FR 1214, 1220, Jan. 7, 2011) and the 
Initial Proposal.
    \32\ See ISDA and SIFMA, Block trade reporting over-the-counter 
derivatives markets, 6 (Jan. 2011), available at https://www.isda.org/speeches/pdf/Block-Trade-Reporting.pdf.
    \33\ See Joint Public Roundtable on Issues Related to the 
Schedule for Implementing Final Rules for Swaps and Security-Based 
Swaps Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act, 76 FR 23211, Apr. 26, 2011. A copy of the transcript 
is accessible at: https://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@newsroom/documents/file/csjac_transcript050211.pdf.
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    On January 9, 2012, the Commission issued the Real-Time Reporting 
Final Rule, finalizing several provisions that were proposed in the 
Initial Proposal.\34\ Those provisions implement, among other things: 
(1) Several definitions proposed in the Initial Proposal relevant to 
this final rule, including ``asset class''; \35\ (2) the scope of part 
43; (3) the reporting responsibilities of the parties to each swap; (4) 
the requirement that SDRs publicly disseminate swap transaction and 
pricing data; (5) the data fields that SDRs will publicly disseminate; 
(6) the time-stamping and recordkeeping requirements of SDRs, SEFs, 
DCMs and the ``reporting party'' to each swap; \36\ (7) the interim 
time delays for public dissemination and the time delays for public 
dissemination of large notional off-facility swaps and block trades; 
and (8) interim notional cap sizes for all swaps that are publicly 
disseminated.\37\ Based on commenters' recommendations, however, the 
Commission did not adopt proposed Sec.  43.5 and stated its intent to 
re-propose a calculation methodology for appropriate minimum block 
sizes based on additional data and analysis in a separate 
rulemaking.\38\
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    \34\ See 77 FR 1182.
    \35\ The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule includes final 
definitions for the following terms: (1) block trade; (2) large 
notional off-facility swap; (3) appropriate minimum block size; and 
(4) asset class. As noted above, the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule 
did not define the term swap instrument. This final rule adopts a 
new term, swap category, which groups swaps for the purpose of 
determining whether a swap transaction qualifies as a large notional 
off-facility swap or block trade. See note 17 supra.
    \36\ See Sec.  43.2 of the Commission's regulations. 77 FR 1244. 
The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule finalized the definition of 
``reporting party'' as a ``party to a swap with the duty to report a 
publicly reportable swap transaction in accordance with this part 
[43] and section 2(a)(13)(F) of the [CEA].'' 77 FR 1244.
    \37\ See 77 FR 1244.
    \38\ See 77 FR 1185.
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D. Further Block Proposal

    On March 15, 2012, the Commission issued for comment the Further 
Block Proposal.\39\ Based on the public comments received in response 
to the Initial Proposal, and in order to successfully implement the 
real-time public reporting regulatory framework

[[Page 32870]]

established in the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission 
proposed provisions in the Further Block Proposal that: (1) Specify the 
criteria for determining swap categories and methodologies for 
determining the appropriate minimum block sizes for large notional off-
facility swaps and block trades; and (2) provide increased protections 
to the identities of swap counterparties to large swap transactions and 
certain other commodity swaps, which were not fully addressed in the 
Real-Time Reporting Final Rule.\40\
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    \39\ See 77 FR 15460.
    \40\ In several places in the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, 
the Commission stated that it planned to address these requirements 
in a separate, forthcoming release. See, e.g., 77 FR 1185, 1191, 
1193 and 1217. The Further Block Proposal was that release.
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1. Policy Goals
    In section 2(a)(13) of the CEA, Congress intended that the 
Commission consider both the benefits of enhanced market transparency 
and the effects such transparency would have on market liquidity.\41\ 
Section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv) of the CEA places constraints on the 
requirements for the real-time public reporting of swap transaction and 
pricing data by mandating that the Commission shall ``take into account 
whether the public disclosure [of swap transaction and pricing data] 
will materially reduce market liquidity.''\42\ While the Commission 
anticipates that the public dissemination of swap transaction and 
pricing data will generally reduce costs associated with price 
discovery and prevent information asymmetries between market makers and 
end-users,\43\ it also believes that the benefits of enhanced market 
transparency are not boundless, particularly in swap markets with 
limited liquidity.
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    \41\ In considering the benefits and effects of enhanced market 
transparency, the Commission notes that the ``guiding principle in 
setting appropriate block trade levels [is that] the vast majority 
of swap transactions should be exposed to the public market through 
exchange trading.'' Congressional Record--Senate, S5902, S5922 (July 
15, 2010).
    \42\ CEA section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv). See also CEA section 
5h(f)(2)(C) (concerning the treatment of block trades on SEFs for 
trade execution purposes).
    \43\ See e.g., CEA section 2(a)(13)(B) (``The purpose of this 
section is to authorize the Commission to make swap transaction and 
pricing data available to the public in such form and at such times 
as the Commission determines appropriate to enhance price 
discovery.'').
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    The Commission understands that the publication of detailed 
information regarding ``outsize swap transactions'' \44\ could expose 
swap counterparties to higher trading costs.\45\ In this regard, the 
publication of detailed information about an outsize swap transaction 
may alert the market to the possibility that the original liquidity 
provider to the outsize swap transaction will be re-entering the market 
to offset that transaction.\46\ Other market participants might be 
alerted to the liquidity provider's need to offset risk and therefore 
would have a strong incentive to exact a premium from the liquidity 
provider. As a result, liquidity providers possibly could be deterred 
from becoming counterparties to outsize swap transactions if swap 
transaction and pricing data is publicly disseminated before liquidity 
providers can offset their positions. The Commission anticipates that, 
in turn, this result could negatively affect liquidity in the swaps 
market.
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    \44\ As used in the Further Block Proposal and this final rule, 
an ``outsize swap transaction'' is a transaction that, as a function 
of its size and the depth of the liquidity of the relevant market 
(and equivalent markets), leaves one or both parties to such 
transaction unlikely to transact at a competitive price.
    \45\ Consistent with this final rule, the Commission clarified 
in the SEF final rule that a swap transaction qualifies as a block 
trade based on the size of the swap transaction, not based on 
whether the swap is subject to the trade execution requirement under 
section 2(h)(8) of the CEA. See Core Principles and Other 
Requirements for Swap Execution Facilities, p. 72 (May 16, 2013)]. 
In Sec.  37.200 of the Commission's regulations, the Commission has 
codified the statutory text of SEF Core Principle 2 under section 
5h(f)(2)(C) of the CEA, which requires a SEF to establish rules 
governing the operation of its trading facility, including trading 
procedures for block trades. 17 CFR 37.200(c). Similarly, the 
Commission's proposed rulemaking regarding core principles and other 
requirements for DCMs under Sec.  38.504 of the Commission's 
regulations, the Commission requires DCMs to adopt rules that comply 
with all of the provisions of part 43, including the block trade 
provisions finalized herein. Core Principles and Other Requirements 
for Designated Contract Markets, 75 FR 80572, 80617 (Dec. 22, 2010).
    \46\ The price of such a transaction would reflect market 
conditions for the underlying commodity or reference index and the 
liquidity premium for executing the swap transaction. The time 
delays in part 43 of the Commission's regulations will protect end-
users and liquidity providers from the expected price impact of the 
disclosure of publicly reportable swap transactions. Trading that 
exploits the need of traders to reduce or offset their positions has 
been defined in financial economics literature as ``predatory 
trading.'' See e.g., Markus Brunnermeier and Lasse Heje Pedersen, 
Predatory Trading, Journal of Finance LX 4, Aug. 2005, available at 
https://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~lpederse/papers/predatory_trading.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In consideration of these potential outcomes, the Further Block 
Proposal sought to provide maximum public transparency, while taking 
into account the concerns of liquidity providers regarding possible 
reductions in market liquidity. To do so, the Further Block Proposal 
established the following more detailed criteria: (1) Swap categories 
(relative to the definition of swap instrument in the Initial 
Proposal); (2) a phased-in approach to determining appropriate minimum 
block sizes for block trades and large notional off-facility swaps; and 
(3) anonymity provisions for the public reporting of transaction data. 
A summary of the Commission's proposed approach is provided below.
2. Summary of Proposed Approach
    The Commission proposed a two-period, phased-in approach to 
implement regulations for determining appropriate minimum block 
sizes.\47\ Specifically, the Commission proposed phasing-in minimum 
block sizes during an initial period and setting them thereafter on an 
ongoing basis (i.e., the post-initial period) so that market 
participants could better adjust their swap trading strategies to 
manage risk, secure new technologies and make necessary arrangements in 
order to comply with part 43 reporting requirements. The Commission 
proposed two provisions relating to the Commission's determination of 
appropriate minimum block sizes: (1) Initial appropriate minimum block 
sizes under proposed Sec.  43.6(e); and (2) post-initial appropriate 
minimum block sizes under proposed Sec.  43.6(f).
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    \47\ The Commission proposed the same phased-in approach for 
determining cap sizes, which help to protect the anonymity of 
counterparties' market positions and business transactions as 
required in the CEA. For a more detailed discussion of the 
Commission's proposed approach with respect to cap sizes, see 
section III.B.
    The two-period, phased-in approach would become effective after 
the implementation of the part 43 provisions in the Real-Time 
Reporting Final Rule. Until the date on which the proposed 
provisions in the Further Block Proposal become effective, all swaps 
would be subject to a time delay pursuant to the provisions in part 
43.
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    In proposed Sec.  43.6(e), the Commission proposed establishing 
initial appropriate minimum block sizes for each category of swaps 
within the interest rate, credit, foreign exchange (``FX'') and other 
commodity asset classes.\48\ The Commission listed the prescribed 
initial appropriate minimum block sizes in proposed appendix F to part 
43 based on these swap categories.\49\ For interest rate and credit 
swaps, the Commission reviewed actual market data and prescribed 
initial appropriate minimum block sizes for swap categories in these 
asset classes

[[Page 32871]]

based on that data. For the other asset classes, the Commission did not 
have access to relevant market data. As such, during the initial 
period, the Commission proposed using a methodology based on whether a 
swap or swap category is ``economically related'' to a futures 
contract.\50\ Swaps and swap categories that are not economically 
related to a futures contract would remain subject to a time delay 
(i.e., treated as block trades or large notional off-facility swaps, as 
applicable, regardless of notional amount) during the initial period.
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    \48\ The Commission proposed that swaps in the equity asset 
class do not qualify as block trades and large notional off-facility 
swaps. See proposed Sec.  43.6(d). Otherwise, the Commission 
proposed prescribing swap categories for each asset class as set 
forth in proposed Sec.  43.6(b). These swap categories would remain 
the same during the initial and post-initial periods.
    \49\ The Commission notes SEFs and DCMs would not be prohibited 
under the Further Block Proposal from setting block sizes for swaps 
at levels that are higher than the appropriate minimum block sizes 
as determined by the Commission.
    \50\ See infra notes 169-174 and accompanying text.
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    In proposed Sec.  43.6(f)(1), the Commission provided that the 
duration of this initial period would be no less than one year after an 
SDR started collecting reliable data for a particular asset class as 
determined by the Commission. During the initial period, the Commission 
would review reliable data for each asset class. For the purposes of 
this proposed provision, reliable data would include all data collected 
by an SDR for each asset class in accordance with the compliance chart 
in the adopting release to part 45 of the Commission's regulations.\51\
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    \51\ See Swap Data Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, 77 
FR 2136, 2196, Jan. 13, 2012.
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    The Commission stated in the Further Block Proposal and is 
currently of the view that data is per se reliable if it is collected 
by an SDR for an asset class after the respective compliance date for 
such asset class as set forth in part 45 of the Commission's 
regulations or by other Commission action. The Commission notes that 
SDRs have been collecting data pursuant to the compliance dates for 
certain market participants and asset classes since December 2012. DCMs 
and Swap Dealers (``SDs'') began reporting swap transactions in the 
interest rate and credit default swap asset classes on December 31, 
2012.\52\ DCMs and SDs began reporting swap transactions in the FX, 
equity, and other commodity asset classes on February 28, 2013.\53\ 
Major Swap Participants (``MSPs'') began reporting swap transactions in 
all five asset classes on February 28, 2013.\54\ Financial Entities 
began reporting swap transactions in the interest rate and credit 
default swap asset classes on April 10, 2013.\55\ Financial Entities 
begin reporting swap transactions for swaps executed starting April 10, 
2013, in the FX, equity, and other commodity asset classes on May 29, 
2013.\56\ Non-SDs, non-MSPs, and non-Financial Entities begin reporting 
swap transactions for swaps executed starting April 10, 2013, in the 
interest rate and credit default swap asset classes on July 1, 
2013.\57\ Non-SDs, non-MSPs, and non-Financial Entities begin reporting 
swap transactions for swaps executed starting April 10, 2013, in the 
FX, equity, and other commodity asset classes on August 19, 2013.\58\ 
Accordingly, the Commission and SDRs will have one year of reliable 
data as of April 10, 2014.
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    \52\ See ``Commission Q & A--On the Start of Swap Data 
Reporting'' (Oct. 9, 2012).
    \53\ See ``No-Action Relief for Swap Dealers from Certain Swap 
Data Reporting Requirements of Part 43, Part 45, and Part 46 of the 
Commission's Regulations Due to Effects of Hurricane Sandy,'' 
Commission Letter No. 12-41 (Dec. 5, 2012).
    \54\ See id.
    \55\ See ``Time-Limited No-Action Relief for Swap Counterparties 
that are not Swap Dealers or Major Swap Participants, from Certain 
Swap Data Reporting Requirements of Parts 43, 45 and 46 of the 
Commission's Regulations,'' Commission Letter No. 13-10 (Apr. 9, 
2013).
    \56\ See id.
    \57\ See id.
    \58\ See id.
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    The proposed initial period would expire following the publication 
of a Commission determination of post-initial appropriate minimum block 
sizes in accordance with the publication process set forth in proposed 
Sec.  43.6(f)(4) and (5). Thereafter, the Commission would set post-
initial appropriate minimum block sizes for swap categories no less 
than once each calendar year using the calculation methodology set 
forth in proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(1).\59\
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    \59\ In particular, the Commission proposed a 67-percent 
notional amount calculation, which is discussed in more detail in 
section II.B.3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also proposed special rules for determining 
appropriate minimum block sizes in certain instances. In particular, in 
proposed Sec.  43.6(d), the Commission prescribed special rules for 
swaps in the equity asset class. In proposed Sec.  43.6(h), the 
Commission proposed establishing special rules for determining 
appropriate minimum block sizes in certain circumstances including, for 
example, rules for converting currencies and rules for determining 
whether a swap with optionality qualifies for block trade or large 
notional off-facility swap treatment.\60\
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    \60\ See infra Section II.B.6. for a discussion of the special 
rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the Further Block Proposal's proposed amendments to Sec.  
43.4(h) and 43.4(d)(4), the Commission also prescribed measures to 
fulfill the CEA's anonymity requirements in connection with the public 
dissemination of publicly reportable swap transactions. The Commission 
proposed adopting the practices used by most federal agencies when 
releasing to the public company-specific information--by removing 
obvious identifiers, limiting geographic detail (e.g., disclosing 
general, non-specific geographical information about the delivery and 
pricing points) and masking high-risk variables by truncating extreme 
values for certain variables (e.g., capping notional values).\61\
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    \61\ The Commission proposed to follow the necessary procedures 
for releasing microdata files as outlined by the Federal Committee 
on Statistical Methodology: (i) Removal of all direct personal and 
institutional identifiers, (ii) limiting geographic detail, and 
(iii) top-coding high-risk variables which are continuous. See 
Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology, Report on Statistical 
Disclosure Limitation Methodology 94 (Statistical Policy Working 
Paper 22, 2d ed. 2005), https://www.fcsm.gov/working-papers/totalreport.pdf. The report was originally prepared by the 
Subcommittee on Disclosure Limitation Methodology in 1994 and was 
revised by the Confidentiality and Data Access Committee in 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Overview of Comments Received
    The Commission received comments from 35 interested parties 
representing a broad range of interests including: financial end-users, 
swap dealers, asset managers, industry groups/associations, potential 
SEFs, and a DCM.\62\ Some commenters expressed general support for the 
Further Block Proposal's provisions regarding minimum block sizes and 
anonymity; others objected to particular aspects of the Further Block 
Proposal and/or offered recommendations for clarification or 
modification of specific proposed regulations.
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    \62\ A list of the full names and abbreviations of commenters 
who responded to the Further Block Proposal is included in section 
VIII below. As noted above, letters from these commenters and others 
submitted in response to the Initial Proposal are available through 
the Commission's Web site at https://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/CommentList.aspx?id=919.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to a general solicitation for comment on all aspects of 
the Further Block Proposal, the Commission requested comment on a 
number of specific, focused questions related to particular provisions. 
For example, commenters were asked to address issues related to: (i) 
The appropriate criteria for determining swap categories in the five 
asset classes; (ii) the appropriate methodology for determining 
appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps in the five asset classes; 
(iii) whether and how a phase-in of block thresholds should be 
implemented; (iv) special rules with respect to swaps with optionality, 
swaps with composite reference prices, physical commodity swaps, 
currency conversions, and successor currencies; (v) the role of SEFs 
and DCMs in

[[Page 32872]]

determining appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps that they list; 
(vi) the process by which the Commission would notify the public of 
appropriate minimum block sizes; (vii) the process through which a 
qualifying swap transaction would be treated as a block trade or large 
notional off-facility swap; (viii) the appropriate methodology for 
determining the maximum limit of the principal, notional amount of a 
swap that is publicly disseminated; (ix) appropriate anonymity 
protections for the public dissemination of publicly reportable swap 
transactions in the other commodity asset class.
    The Commission also requested comment with respect to the cost-
benefit considerations in the Further Block Proposal and specifically 
requested commenters to provide a feasible alternative approach to 
establishing minimum block sizes that would impose less regulatory 
burden on swap market participants and the general public. Commenters 
also were expressly invited to provide data regarding the direct and 
indirect quantifiable costs with the proposed criteria for establishing 
minimum block thresholds.
4. Additional Proposal Regarding Aggregation of Blocks
    Among the requirements contained in the Initial Proposal, proposed 
Sec.  43.5(b)(1) provided that eligible parties to a block trade (or 
large notional swap) must be Eligible Contract Participants (``ECPs''), 
except that a DCM may allow a Commodity Trading Advisor (``CTA''), 
investment advisor, or foreign person meeting certain criteria to 
transact block trades for customers who are not ECPs. Further, proposed 
Sec.  43.5(m) prohibited aggregation of orders for different trading 
accounts in order to satisfy the appropriate minimum block size 
requirement, except if done so on a DCM by a CTA, investment adviser, 
or foreign person meeting certain criteria.
    After it issued its Further Block Proposal, the Commission 
determined that the aggregation provision and the provision that 
specified the eligible parties to a block trade, including the proposed 
requirement that persons transacting block trades on behalf of 
customers must receive prior written consent to do so, were 
inadvertently omitted from the Further Block Proposal. These provisions 
were then the subject of a separate notice of proposed rulemaking 
issued on June 27, 2012 (``Proposed Aggregation Rule'').\63\
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    \63\ Rules Prohibiting the Aggregation of Orders to Satisfy 
Minimum Block Sizes or Cap Size Requirements, and Establishing 
Eligibility Requirements for Parties to Block Trades, 77 FR 38229, 
June 27, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received a total of nine comment letters in response 
to the proposed rules regarding eligible parties to a block trade and 
aggregation of orders. Four of the letters responded to the Initial 
Proposal and five letters responded to the Proposed Aggregation Rule. 
Many of the comments received applied equally to the same provisions 
contained in both proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6) and 43.6(i), which address 
the aggregation of orders and the eligible parties to a block trade.

II. Procedures To Establish Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes for Large 
Notional Off-Facility Swaps and Block Trades--Final Rules

A. Criteria for Distinguishing Among Swap Categories in Each Asset 
Class

    In the Further Block Proposal, the Commission proposed to use the 
term ``swap category'' to convey the concept of a grouping of swap 
contracts that would be subject to a common appropriate minimum block 
size.\64\ Specifically, the Commission proposed specific criteria for 
defining swap categories in each asset class. As adopted in the Real-
Time Reporting Final Rule, Sec.  43.2 of the Commission's regulations 
defines ``asset class'' as ``a broad category of commodities, 
including, without limitation, any `excluded commodity' as defined in 
section 1a(19) of the [CEA], with common characteristics underlying a 
swap.'' \65\ Section 43.2 also identifies the following five swap asset 
classes: Interest rates; \66\ equity; credit; FX; \67\ and other 
commodities.\68\
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    \64\ Proposed Sec.  43.6(b) does not set out a definition for 
the term ``swap category.'' Instead, proposed Sec.  43.6(b) sets out 
the provisions that group swaps within each asset class with common 
risk and liquidity profiles, as determined by the Commission.
    \65\ See Sec.  43.2, 77 FR 1243.
    \66\ In the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission 
determined that cross-currency swaps are a part of the interest rate 
asset class. See 77 FR 1193. The Commission noted that this 
determination is consistent with industry practice.
    \67\ The U.S. Department of the Treasury (``Treasury'') has 
issued a Final Determination, pursuant to sections 1a(47)(E)(i) and 
1b of the CEA, that exempts FX swaps and FX forwards from the 
definition of ``swap'' under the CEA. Therefore, the requirements of 
section 2(a)(13) of the CEA would not apply to those transactions, 
and such transactions would not be subject to part 43 of the 
Commission's regulations. See Determination of Foreign Exchange 
Swaps and Foreign Exchange Forwards under the Commodity Exchange 
Act, 77 FR 69694, Nov. 20, 2012. Nevertheless, section 
1a(47)(E)(iii) of the CEA provides that FX swaps and FX forwards 
transactions still are not excluded from regulatory reporting 
requirements to an SDR. Further, the Commission notes that 
Treasury's final determination excludes FX swaps and FX forwards, 
but does not apply to FX options or non-deliverable FX forwards. As 
such, FX instruments that are not covered by Treasury's final 
determination are subject to part 43 of the Commission's 
regulations.
    \68\ The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule defines the term ``other 
commodity'' to mean any commodity that is not categorized in the 
other asset classes as may be determined by the Commission. See 77 
FR 1244. The definition of asset class in Sec.  43.2 also provides 
that the Commission may later determine that there are other asset 
classes not identified currently in that section. See 77 FR 1243.
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    The proposed swap category criteria are intended to address the 
following two policy objectives: (1) Categorizing together swaps with 
similar quantitative or qualitative characteristics that warrant being 
subject to the same appropriate minimum block size; and (2) minimizing 
the number of the swap categories within an asset class in order to 
avoid unnecessary complexity in the determination process.\69\ In the 
Commission's view, balancing these policy objectives and considering 
the characteristics of different types of swaps within an asset class 
are necessary in establishing appropriate criteria for determining swap 
categories within each asset class. The five asset classes established 
by the Commission in the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule are discussed 
briefly in the paragraph below, followed by a discussion of the 
proposed swap category criteria for each asset class.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \69\ These objectives are specific to the determination of 
appropriate swap category criteria and are intended to promote the 
general policy goals described above in section I.D.1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the Further Block Proposal, the Commission proposed breaking 
down each asset class into separate swap categories to determine 
appropriate minimum block sizes for such categories. During the initial 
and post-initial periods, the Commission would group swaps in the five 
asset classes into the prescribed swap categories as set forth in 
proposed Sec.  43.6(b).

[[Page 32873]]

    Twenty-one commenters addressed the Further Block Proposal's use of 
swap categories.\70\ The vast majority of the comments did not question 
the use of swap categories generally, and focused on the specific 
criteria proposed for determining swap categories within each asset 
class instead. Better Markets and ICI expressly supported the 
Commission's proposed use of swap categories.\71\ Better Markets stated 
that ``the concept of a `swap category' is useful, in that it allows 
greater granularity than the far broader notion of `asset class.' '' 
\72\ ICI ``support[ed] the CFTC's proposal to establish categories of 
swaps within different asset classes that would be subject to a common 
appropriate minimum block size to better calibrate the block thresholds 
to the relative liquidity of the swap categories in each asset class.'' 
\73\ ICAP, however, disagreed with the Commission's use of swap 
categories and stated that ``the Commission's proposal is mistaken in 
its use of `swap categories' . . . as opposed to using the standard 
liquid tenors of swap contracts.'' \74\
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    \70\ See generally CL-AFR; CL-AII; CL-Barclays; CL-Better 
Markets; CL-CME; CL-FIA; CL-GFMA; CL-ICAP; CL-ICAP Energy; CL-ICI; 
CL-ISDA/SIFMA; CL-Kinetix; CL-MFA; CL-Morgan Stanley; CL-
Parascandola; CL-Parity; CL-Pierpont; CL-SDMA; CL-SIFMA; CL-WMBAA; 
CL-Vanguard.
    \71\ CL-Better Markets at 5; CL-ICI at 4.
    \72\ CL-Better Markets at 5.
    \73\ CL-ICI at 4.
    \74\ CL-ICAP at 8.
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    After consideration of the comments related to the use of swap 
categories, the Commission is adopting swap categories as proposed in 
Sec.  43.6, with certain modifications based upon both general concerns 
expressed by commenters in regard to the use of swap categories, 
specific concerns raised in regard to the criteria for determining swap 
categories within each asset class, and other relevant market 
developments.\75\ The following sections address the comments regarding 
specific asset classes and set out, where appropriate, the Commission's 
responsive modifications of the swap categories approach.
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    \75\ The Commission is using the term ``swap category'' instead 
of ``swap instrument'' in this final rule. Although the Commission 
is not adopting a definition of ``swap category,'' the Commission 
believes that this term groups swap contracts that would be subject 
to the same appropriate minimum block size based on asset class with 
common quantitative or qualitative characteristics, i.e., risk and 
liquidity profiles.
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1. Interest Rate and Credit Asset Classes
a. Background
    The Commission was able to obtain and review non-public swap data 
to make inferences about patterns of trading activity, price impact and 
liquidity in the markets for swaps in the interest rate and credit 
asset classes. Based on that review, the Commission proposed criteria 
for determining swap categories in these two asset classes. 
Specifically, the Commission proposed defining swap categories for: (1) 
Interest rate swaps based on unique combinations of tenor \76\ and 
currency; and (2) credit default swaps (``CDS'') based on unique 
combinations of tenor and conventional spread.\77\
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    \76\ As used in the Further Block Proposal, the tenor of a swap 
refers to the amount of time from the effective or start date of a 
swap to the end date of such swap. In circumstances where the 
effective or start date of the swap was different from the trade 
date of the swap, the Commission used the later occurring of the two 
dates to determine tenor.
    Two commenters addressed how the Commission should determine 
tenor for backdated swaps. AFR stated that backdating a swap is the 
equivalent of a swap with a date of its inception, but with a price 
that includes an adjustment for the backdating feature of the 
transaction; AFR wrote that tenor should be determined accordingly. 
CL-AFR at 5-6. Similarly, ISDA/SIFMA requested that the Commission 
determine the tenor of a back dated swap as the time from the date 
of execution of the swap (as opposed to the start date) to the 
maturity date of the swap. CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 10. After consideration 
of these comments, the Commission maintains the same approach from 
the Further Block Proposal.
    \77\ As generally used in the industry, the term ``conventional 
spread'' represents the equivalent of a swap dealer's quoted spread 
(i.e., an upfront fee based on a fixed coupon and using standard 
assumptions such as auctions and recovery rates). More information 
regarding the use of this term can be found at Markit, The CDS Big 
Bang: Understanding the Changes to the Global CDS Contract and North 
American Conventions, at https://www.markit.com/cds/announcements/resource/cds_big_bang.pdf, (Mar. 2009), at 19.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission obtained transaction-level data for these asset 
classes from two third-party service providers with the assistance of 
the Over-the-Counter Derivatives Supervisors Group (``ODSG'').\78\ 
Established in 2005, the ODSG is chaired by the Federal Reserve Bank of 
New York and is comprised of domestic and international supervisors of 
representatives from major OTC derivatives market participants.\79\ In 
particular, the ODSG coordinated with the ``G-14 banks'' in order to 
gain written permission to access the non-public swap data.\80\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ Section 8(a) of the CEA protects non-public, transaction-
level data from public disclosure. Section 8(a)(1) provides, in 
relevant part, that ``the Commission may not publish data and 
information that would separately disclose the business transactions 
or market positions of any person and trade secrets or names of 
customers . . . .'' To assist commenters, the Further Block Proposal 
included various tables and summary statistics depicting the ODSG 
data in aggregate forms. In the discussion that follows, the 
Commission additionally has described the methodology it employed in 
reviewing, analyzing and drawing conclusions based on the ODSG data.
    \79\ See OTC Derivatives Supervisors Group--Federal Reserve Bank 
of New York, https://www.ny.frb.org/markets/otc_derivatives_supervisors_group.html (last visited May 6, 2013). The ODSG was 
formed ``in order to address the emerging risks of inadequate 
infrastructure for the rapidly growing market in the credit 
derivatives . . . .'' The ODSG works directly with market 
participants to plan, monitor and coordinate industry progress 
toward collective commitments made by firms.
    \80\ The G-14 banks are Bank of America-Merrill Lynch; Barclays 
Capital; BNP Paribas; Citigroup; Credit Suisse; Deutsche Bank AG; 
Goldman Sachs & Co.; HSBC Group; J.P. Morgan; Morgan Stanley; The 
Royal Bank of Scotland Group; Societe Generale; UBS AG; and Wells 
Fargo Bank, N.A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    MarkitSERV \81\ provided the interest rate swap data set. The 
interest rate swap data set covered transactions confirmed on the 
MarkitWire platform between June 1, 2010 and August 31, 2010 where at 
least one party was a G-14 Bank.\82\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \81\ MarkitSERV is a post-trade processing company wholly owned 
by Markit. From its formation in 2009 until April 2013, MarkitSERV 
was jointly owned by Markit and The Depository Trust & Clearing 
Corporation (``DTCC'').
    \82\ The interest rate swap data was limited to transactions and 
events submitted to the MarkitWire platform. MarkitWire is a trade 
confirmation service offered by MarkitSERV.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Warehouse Trust Company LLC (``The Warehouse Trust'') provided 
the CDS data set.\83\ The CDS data set covered CDS transactions for a 
three-month period beginning on May 1, 2010 and ending on July 31, 
2010.\84\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \83\ The Warehouse Trust, a subsidiary of DTCC DerivSERV LLC, is 
regulated as a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System and as a 
limited purpose trust company by the New York State Banking 
Department. The Warehouse Trust provides the market with a trade 
database and centralized electronic infrastructure for post-trade 
processing of OTC credit derivatives contracts over their entire 
lifecycle. See DTCC, The Warehouse Trust Company, About the 
Warehouse Trust Company, https://www.dtcc.com/about/subs/derivserv/warehousetrustco.php.
    \84\ The Warehouse Trust data contained ``allocation-level 
data,'' which refers to transactional data that does not distinguish 
between isolated transactions and transactions that, although 
documented separately, comprise part of a larger transaction.
    The Commission notes the work of other regulators in aggregating 
observations believed to be part of a single transaction. See 
Kathryn Chen, et al., Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Report, 
An Analysis of CDS Transactions: Implications for Public Reporting, 
(Sept. 2011), at 25, https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/sr517.html. The Commission notes that this allocation-level 
information could produce a downward bias in the notional amounts of 
the swap transactions in the data sets provided by the ODSG. In 
turn, this downward bias would produce smaller appropriate minimum 
block trade sizes relative to a data set that, if available with 
appropriate execution time stamps, would reflect the aggregate 
notional amount of swaps completed in a single transaction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission filtered both data sets in order to analyze only 
transaction-level data corresponding to ``publicly reportable swap 
transactions,'' as defined in Sec.  43.2 of the Real-Time

[[Page 32874]]

Reporting Final Rule.\85\ As such, the Commission excluded from its 
analysis duplicate and non-price forming transactions.\86\ The 
Commission also converted the notional amount of each swap transaction 
into a common currency denominator, the U.S. dollar.\87\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ ``Publicly reportable swap transaction'' means, unless 
otherwise provided in part 43: (1) Any executed swap that is an 
arm's-length transaction between two parties that results in a 
corresponding change in the market risk position between the two 
parties; or (2) any termination, assignment, novation, exchange, 
transfer, amendment, conveyance, or extinguishing of rights or 
obligations of a swap that changes the pricing of the swap. Examples 
of an executed swap that do not fall within the definition of 
publicly reportable swap transaction may include: (1) Certain 
internal swaps between 100-percent-owned subsidiaries of the same 
parent entity; and (2) portfolio compression exercises. These 
examples represent swaps that are not transacted at arm's length, 
but that do result in a corresponding change in the market risk 
position between two parties. See 77 FR 1244.
    \86\ The excluded records represented activities such as option 
exercises or assignments for physical, risk optimization or 
compression transactions, and amendments or cancellations that were 
assumed to be mis-confirmed. A transaction was assumed to be mis-
confirmed when it was canceled without a fee, which the Commission 
has inferred was the result of a confirmation correction. The 
Commission also excluded interest rate transactions that were 
indicated as assignments, terminations, and structurally excluded 
records since the Commission was unable to determine if these 
records were price-forming. The Commission also excluded CDS 
transactions that were notated as single name transactions. The data 
sets also included transaction records created for workflow purposes 
(and therefore redundant), duplicates and transaction records 
resulting from name changes or mergers.
    \87\ The Commission calculated the average daily exchange rates 
between relevant currencies and the U.S. dollar for the three-month 
period covered by the data. This average daily exchange rate was 
then applied to the notional amounts for non-U.S. dollar denominated 
swap transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Interest Rate Swap Categories
i. Interest Rate Swap Data Summary
    The filtered transaction records in the interest rate swap data set 
contained 166,847 transactions with a combined notional value of 
approximately $45.4 trillion dollars.\88\ These transactions included 
trades with a wide range of notional amounts, 28 different currencies, 
eight product types, 57 different floating rate indexes and tenors 
ranging from under one week to 55 years. Summary statistics of the 
filtered interest rate swap data set are presented in Table 1.\89\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \88\ The Commission only reviewed relevant transaction records 
in the interest rate swap data set. As noted above, the Commission 
excluded duplicate and non-price forming transactions from its 
review. See supra note 86 for a list of excluded transaction 
records.
    \89\ See the International Organization for Standardization 
(ISO) standard ISO 4217 for information on the currency codes used 
by the Commission. For information on floating rate indexes, see 
also ISDA, 2006 Definitions (2006), and supplements.

[[Page 32875]]



  Table 1--Summary Statistics for the Interest Rate Swap Data Set by Product Type, Currency, Floating Index and
                                                      Tenor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Percentage of     Notional
                                                     Number of         total          amount       Percentage of
                                                   transactions    transactions    (billions of   total notional
                                                                       \90\            USD)         amount  (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Type:
    Single Currency Interest Rate Swap..........         128,658              77          16,276              36
    Over Night Index Swap (OIS).................          12,816               8          16,878              37
    Forward Rate Agreement (FRA)................           5,936               4           7,071              16
    Swaption....................................          11,042               7           2,256               5
    Other.......................................           8,395               5           2,909               6
Currency:
    European Union Euro Area euro (EUR).........          46,412              28          18,648              41
    United States dollar (USD)..................          50,917              31          11,377              25
    United Kingdom pound sterling (GBP).........          16,715              10           7,560              17
    Japan yen (JPY).............................          19,502              12           4,253               9
    Other.......................................          33,301              20           3,553               8
Floating Index:
    USD-LIBOR-BBA...............................          48,651              29           9,411              21
    EUR-EURIBOR-Reuters.........................          39,446              24           9,495              21
    EUR-EONIA-OIS-COMPOUND......................           6,517               4           9,122              20
    JPY-LIBOR-BBA...............................          19,194              12           4,010               9
    GBP-LIBOR-BBA...............................          12,835               8           2,419               5
    GBP-WMBA-SONIA-COMPOUND.....................           2,014               1           5,123              11
    Other.......................................          38,190              23           5,809              13
Tenor: \91\
    1 Month.....................................           3,171               2          11,859              26
    3 Month.....................................          10,229               6          11,660              26
    6 Month.....................................           2,822               2           1,701               4
    1 Year......................................           9,522               6           3,484               8
    2 Year......................................          16,450              10           3,347               7
    3 Year......................................           9,628               6           1,488               3
    5 Year......................................          26,139              16           2,712               6
    7 Year......................................           6,599               4             661               1
    10 Year.....................................          34,000              20           2,746               6
    30 Year.....................................           9,616               6             448               1
    Other.......................................          38,671              23           5,284              12
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Sample Totals...........................         166,847             100          45,390             100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \90\ The percentages were rounded to the nearest whole number. 
Due to the rounding, the total percentages for the listed categories 
do not add up to exactly 100%.
    \91\ In producing Table 1, the Commission counted tenors for 
swaps with an end date within four calendar days of a complete month 
relative to the swap's start date as ending on the nearest complete 
month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 2 below sets out the notional amounts of the interest rate 
swap data set organized by product type, currency, floating index and 
tenor. The table also includes the notional amounts in each percentile 
of a distribution of the data set.

                 Table 2--Notional Amounts of Interest Rate Swap Data Set Organized by Product Type, Currency, Floating Index and Tenor
                                                                  [In millions of USD]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Mean                                    Percentiles
                                                                   notional ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    amount      5th        10th       25th       50th       75th       90th       95th
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Type:
    Single Currency Interest Rate Swap..........................        127          4          9         23         52        117        252        438
    OIS.........................................................      1,293          6         13         63        341      1,261      3,784      5,282
    FRA.........................................................      1,168         90        133        266        631      1,039      2,000      3,018
    Swaption....................................................        204          3         20         50        100        226        500        642
    Other.......................................................        346          *          1         23         89        250        631      1,132
Currency:
    EUR.........................................................        400          6         15         38         91        249        631      1,617
    USD.........................................................        221          5         12         31         89        200        500      1,000
    GBP.........................................................        435          1          1         15         57        167        755      1,698
    JPY.........................................................        221         11         13         28         57        124        339        790
    Other.......................................................        108          4          6         13         30         78        175        308
Floating Index:
    USD-LIBOR-BBA...............................................        192          5         12         30         76        180        500        803

[[Page 32876]]

 
    EUR-EURIBOR-Reuters.........................................        241          8         17         38         79        189        416        757
    EUR-EONIA-OIS-COMPOUND......................................      1,385          4         10         61        315      1,261      3,784      6,306
    JPY-LIBOR-BBA...............................................        211         11         12         28         57        113        339        658
    GBP-LIBOR-BBA...............................................        181          1          4         23         54        151        377        755
    GBP-WMBA-SONIA-COMPOUND.....................................      2,450         75        113        283      1,509      3,018      6,037      9,055
    Other.......................................................        152          2          4         12         31         88        264        500
Tenor: \92\
    1 Month.....................................................      3,523         37        252      1,251      2,522      3,784      7,546     12,074
    3 Month.....................................................      1,081         11         38        208        604      1,250      2,000      3,018
    6 Month.....................................................        581         19         49        150        377        747      1,261      1,892
    1 Year......................................................        348         20         31         70        151        341        755      1,261
    2 Year......................................................        205         10         16         39        111        243        453        631
    3 Year......................................................        154         10         16         44         95        169        315        500
    5 Year......................................................        107          5          9         25         63        113        226        316
    7 Year......................................................        105          7         13         29         57        113        221        315
    10 Year.....................................................         83          5         10         23         50         95        175        252
    30 Year.....................................................         47          4          7         18         26         50         95        132
    Other.......................................................        249          2          4         15         50        126        340        883
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \92\ In producing Table 2, the Commission counted tenors for 
swaps with an end date within four calendar days of a complete month 
relative to the swap's start date as ending on the nearest complete 
month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also analyzed the interest rate swap data set to 
classify the counterparties into broad groups.\93\ The Commission's 
analysis of the interest rate swap data set revealed that approximately 
50 percent of the transactions were between buyers and sellers who were 
both identified as G-14 banks and that these transactions represented a 
combined notional amount of approximately $22.85 trillion, or 50 
percent of the relevant IRS data set's total combined notional amount.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \93\ MarkitSERV anonymized the identities of the counterparties 
and indicated whether a G-14 bank was a party to the swap 
transaction. Summary statistics relating to these anonymous numbers 
included the following: (1) The total count of unique counterparties 
was approximately 300; (2) the average notional size of transactions 
involving two G-14 banks was approximately $280 million; (3) the 
average notional size of transactions involving both a G-14 bank and 
a non G-14 bank (which traded at least 100 swap transactions) was 
approximately $260 million.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ii. Summary of Proposed Rule
    Based upon the data described above, the Commission proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(1) establishing swap categories in the interest rate asset 
class based on tenor and underlying currency.
    The Commission proposed interest rate swap tenor groupings based on 
two observations regarding the data in the interest rate swap data set. 
First, the Commission observed that points of concentrated transaction 
activity along the yield curve correspond with specific tenors (e.g., 
three months, six months, one year, two years, etc.). Second, the 
Commission observed a tendency for the transacted notional amounts to 
decrease as tenor increased (e.g., longer-dated tenors in the data set 
generally had lower average notional sizes). Based on these 
observations, table 3 below details the eight proposed tenor groups for 
the interest rate asset class.

                       Table 3--Proposed Tenor Groups for Interest Rates Asset Class \94\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Tenor group                     Tenor greater than             And tenor less than or equal to
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  .............................  Three months (107 days).
2....................................  Three months (107 days)......  Six months (198 days).
3....................................  Six months (198 days)........  One year (381 days).
4....................................  One year (381 days)..........  Two years (746 days).
5....................................  Two years (746 days).........  Five years (1,842 days).
6....................................  Five years (1,842 days)......  Ten years (3,668 days).
7....................................  Ten years (3,668 days).......  30 years (10,973 days).
8....................................  30 years (10,973 days)         ..........................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, through its analysis of the interest rate swap data set, 
the Commission found that the currency referenced in a swap explains a 
significant amount of variation in notional size and, hence, can be 
used to categorize interest rate swaps \95\ The

[[Page 32877]]

Commission proposed currency groupings after considering: (1) The swap 
transaction total notional amounts and transaction volumes of currency 
groups based on the number of transactions; and (2) the average 
transaction notional amounts and lack of evidence of large transacted 
notional amounts or substantial volume of currency groups. After 
considering these factors, the Commission proposed three currency 
categories for the interest rate asset class: (1) Super-major 
currencies, which are currencies with large volume and total notional 
amounts; \96\ (2) major currencies, which generally exhibit moderate 
volume and total notional amounts; \97\ and (3) non-major currencies, 
which generally exhibit moderate to very low volume and total notional 
amounts.\98\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \94\ The Commission chose to extend the tenor groups about one-
half month beyond the commonly observed tenors to group similar 
tenors together and capture variations in day counts. The Commission 
added an additional 15 days beyond a multiple of one year to the 
number of days in each group to avoid ending each group on specific 
years.
    \95\ The Commission considered alternative approaches of using 
the individual floating rate indexes or currencies to determine swap 
categories in the interest rate asset class. These alternative 
approaches would have the benefit of being more correlated to an 
underlying curve than the adopted currency and tenor groupings. The 
data contained 57 floating rate indexes and 28 currencies, which 
would result in 456 and 224 categories respectively, after sorting 
by the eight identified tenor groups. The Commission anticipates, 
however, that grouping swaps using individual rates or currencies 
would not substantially increase the explanation of variations in 
notional amounts, while it could result in cells with relatively few 
observations in some currency-tenor categories. Hence, the 
Commission does not believe there would be a significant benefit to 
offset the additional compliance burden that a more granular 
approach would impose on market participants.
    \96\ Super-major currencies represent over 92 percent of the 
total notional amounts and 80 percent of the total transactions in 
the data set. It is noteworthy that these currencies have well-
developed, i.e., liquid futures markets for general interest rates 
and FX rates.
    \97\ Major currencies represent about 6 percent of the total 
notional amount and about 10 percent of the total transactions in 
the data set. Some of these currencies host liquid futures markets 
for interest rates, and all exhibit liquid FX markets.
    \98\ Non-major currencies represent less than two percent of the 
total notional amount and about 10 percent of the transactions in 
the data set. These currencies typically do not have corresponding 
interest rate and FX futures markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 4 below summarizes the Commission's three proposed currency 
swap categories.

  Table 4--Proposed Currency Categories for Interest Rates Asset Class
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Currency category                  Component currencies
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super-Major Currencies............  United States dollar (USD), European
                                     Union Euro Area euro (EUR), United
                                     Kingdom pound sterling (GBP), and
                                     Japan yen (JPY).
Major Currencies \99\.............  Australia dollar (AUD), Switzerland
                                     franc (CHF), Canada dollar (CAD),
                                     Republic of South Africa rand
                                     (ZAR), Republic of Korea won (KRW),
                                     Kingdom of Sweden krona (SEK), New
                                     Zealand dollar (NZD), Kingdom of
                                     Norway krone (NOK) and Denmark
                                     krone (DKK).
Non-Major Currencies..............  All other currencies.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 5 below presents details on the sample characteristics of the 
interest rate swap data set organized by currency and tenor swap 
categories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \99\ The Commission selected these currencies for inclusion in 
the definition of major currencies based on the relative liquidity 
of these currencies in the interest rate and FX futures markets. The 
Commission is of the view that this list of currencies is 
consistent, in part, with the Commission's existing regulations in 
Sec.  15.03(a), which defines ``major foreign currency'' as ``the 
currency, and the cross-rates between the currencies, of Japan, the 
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden and the 
European Monetary Union.'' 17 CFR 15.03(a).

                 Table 5--Sample Characteristics of Proposed Interest Rate Swap Categories \100\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Percent of       Notional       Percent of
        Currency category           Tenor group      Number of     transactions    (billions of   total notional
                                                   transactions         (%)            USD)             (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super-major.....................               1          11,394               7          22,347              50
Super-major.....................               2           2,563               2           1,813               4
Super-major.....................               3           6,277               4           3,302               7
Super-major.....................               4          12,395               7           3,420               8
Super-major.....................               5          32,148              19           4,818              11
Super-major.....................               6          42,675              26           4,220               9
Super-major.....................               7          24,237              15           1,433               3
Super-major.....................               8           1,857               1              56               0
Major...........................               1           2,305               1           1,818               4
Major...........................               2             445               0             124               0
Major...........................               3           2,113               1             302               1
Major...........................               4           2,639               2             226               1
Major...........................               5           5,380               3             293               1
Major...........................               6           3,707               2             129               0
Major...........................               7             704               0              19               0
Major...........................               8            <200  ..............  ..............  ..............
Non-Major.......................               1             403               0              64               0
Non-Major.......................               2             247               0              26               0
Non-Major.......................               3           2,073               1             165               0
Non-Major.......................               4           3,354               2             256               1
Non-Major.......................               5           5,873               4             116               0
Non-Major.......................               6           3,935               2              41               0
Non-Major.......................               7            <200  ..............  ..............  ..............
Non-Major.......................               8            <200  ..............  ..............  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \100\ Tables 5 and 6 do not include sample characteristics for 
swap categories with less than 200 transactions in order to preserve 
the anonymity of the parties to these transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 6 below sets out the notional amounts of the interest rate 
swap data set organized by currency and tenor categories. The table 
includes the mean notional amount of each currency and tenor category, 
as well as the notional amounts in each percentile of a distribution of 
the data set.

[[Page 32878]]



Table 6--Notional Amounts of Interest Rate Swap Data Set Organized by the Proposed Interest Rate Swap Categories
                                              [In millions of USD]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Transactions Percentiles
         Currency group           Tenor     Mean  --------------------------------------------------------------
                                  group              5th      10th     25th     50th     75th     90th     95th
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super-major....................        1    1,961       10       36      500    1,000    2,260    4,000    6,306
Super-major....................        2      708       13       41      200      500      883    1,500    2,260
Super-major....................        3      526       47       75      150      272      565    1,179    1,809
Super-major....................        4      276       19       43      100      176      304      565      848
Super-major....................        5      150        9       21       50      100      158      301      482
Super-major....................        6       99        6       12       30       54      100      204      305
Super-major....................        7       59        1        5       14       31       63      126      200
Super-major....................        8       30        0        0        1       13       37       65      118
Major..........................        1      789       80      133      175      312      573      921    1,313
Major..........................        2      279       50       70      120      210      350      480      921
Major..........................        3      143       13       26       52       97      175      264      438
Major..........................        4       86        9       16       33       66      104      184      240
Major..........................        5       54        4        8       19       44       72      109      145
Major..........................        6       35        4        7       13       23       46       72       96
Major..........................        7       27        5        7       11       20       31       49       75
Major..........................        8     <200  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......
Non-major......................        1      160       19       37       64      129      225      315      450
Non-major......................        2      106       16       23       39       72      145      233      311
Non-major......................        3       79        8       22       31       56      102      157      224
Non-major......................        4       76        6        9       16       27       50       78      108
Non-major......................        5       20        2        4        8       14       23       39       54
Non-major......................        6       10        2        2        4        8       13       21       29
Non-major......................        7     <200  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......
Non-major......................        8     <200  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received twelve comments regarding the use of tenor 
to establish swap categories in the interest rate swap asset class. 
Five commenters expressed support for the Further Block Proposal's 
suggested tenor buckets.\101\ Five other commenters recommended nine 
tenor buckets straddling the most liquid tenor points as follows: 0-3 
months, 3-6 months, 6-18 months, 18 months-3 years, 3-7 years, 7-12 
years, 12-20 years, 20-30 years, and more than 30 years.\102\ These 
commenters suggested that these nine tenor groupings would provide 
greater granularity and avoid grouping together swaps with different 
levels of liquidity. Similarly, ICI suggested that narrower tenor 
groupings would provide greater granularity.\103\ Kinetix also 
expressed concern with the proposed tenor buckets, stating that they 
grouped together products with sharply different trading volumes.\104\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \101\ CL-AFR at 5; CL-Better Markets at 5; CL-MFA at 4; CL-
Pierpont at 3; CL-SDMA at 8 (``The CFTC categories are . . . 
appropriate and accurate in terms of currency, index, and tenor.'')
    \102\ CL-AII at 8; CL-Barclays at 7; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 10; CL-
SIFMA at 7; CL-Vanguard at 5.
    \103\ See CL-ICI at 5.
    \104\ Kinetix stated that ``[t]he major flaw comes from 
including in a bucket products with sharply different trading 
volumes.'' Kinetix recommended bucketing products by average trade 
volume, product type, and tenor, but did not suggest specific tenor 
buckets. CL-Kinetix at 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the comments received regarding the Further Block 
Proposal, the Commission also considered the research in the Federal 
Reserve Bank of New York's March 2012 staff report entitled ``An 
Analysis of OTC Interest Rate Derivatives Transactions: Implications 
for Public Reporting'' (the ``Federal Reserve Staff Analysis''). In 
that report, Federal Reserve staff tested for a relationship between 
tenor and trade size. The Federal Reserve staff identified nine tenor 
buckets, as opposed to the eight identified by the Commission. The 
tenor buckets identified by the Federal Reserve staff were the same as 
those proposed by the Commission in the Further Block Proposal, with a 
further division of the Commission's 0-3 month bucket into a 0-1 month 
bucket and a 1-3 month bucket.\105\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \105\ The Federal Reserve staff specifically found that ``when 
[they] reduced the number of buckets at the short end of the trading 
curve (by merging the 0-1 month and 1-3 month buckets into a 0-3 
month bucket), the explanatory power of [their] regression declined 
24%.'' Federal Reserve Staff Analysis at 16.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received and the Federal 
Reserve Staff Analysis, the Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(b)(1) 
with one modification--the addition of another tenor grouping at the 
shorter end of the interest rate yield curve. The Commission notes, as 
an initial matter, that commenters generally supported the use of tenor 
buckets to establish swap categories in the interest rate asset class. 
Commenters, however, disagreed with the proposed tenor buckets.
    In the Further Block Proposal, tenor buckets were proposed based on 
observations of the distributions of notional sizes and volume with the 
objectives of grouping swaps with similar characteristics while 
maintaining a manageable number of swap categories. The tenor buckets 
proposed by the Commission were associated with concentrations of 
liquidity at commonly recognized points along the interest rate yield 
curve. In general, the Commission observed that transactions in the 
data set (and presumed market liquidity) tended to cluster at certain 
tenors.
    In establishing the categories, the Commission proposed groupings 
that placed actively traded tenors at the upper boundary of the 
category groupings because the calculation of the minimum block 
threshold in a category will be most influenced by the notional amounts 
of the most heavily traded swaps in a category, i.e., those at the 
active tenor points. Hence, the minimum block thresholds for shorter 
dated swaps in a category will tend to be set based on the typical 
notional value of longer dated swaps. Since the longer dated swaps tend 
to trade in smaller notional amounts, establishing

[[Page 32879]]

the categories in this manner will tend to result in a more 
conservative (i.e., smaller) minimum block threshold for shorter 
tenored swaps within the category. In addition, because the shorter-
dated swaps within an established swap category may experience less 
liquidity, due to smaller trading volumes, these swaps may also benefit 
from the setting of a lower minimum block threshold.
    The narrower tenor buckets recommended by commenters, in contrast, 
tend to straddle the liquid tenor points. If the Commission were to 
establish tenor buckets straddling the liquid tenor points (rather than 
having a liquid tenor point be the upper boundary of a tenor bucket), 
then the minimum block threshold for swaps within a category would be 
more heavily influenced by swaps centrally located in the category. 
Thus, longer dated swaps in a category, which tend to trade in smaller 
notional sizes, would be subject to higher minimum block thresholds, 
meaning fewer would be eligible for the block trade exemption.
    To illustrate the impact of placing the liquid tenor point at the 
top of the category, consider the impact on a seven-year interest rate 
swap that is proposed to be grouped in a tenor bucket with swaps having 
a tenor greater than 5 years and less than or equal to 10 years. The 
most liquid tenor point (i.e., the tenor point with the greatest number 
of observations) within this bucket would be the 10-year interest rate 
swap; thus, the 10-year interest rate swap would be the primary driver 
in determining the minimum block threshold for swaps in the 5 to 10-
year tenor bucket. Table 7 is a subset of the information from Table 1 
that illustrates this point. Specifically, there are 6,599 swaps with a 
tenor of seven years, yielding an average notional amount of $100 
million (USD) and 34,000 swaps with a tenor of ten years yielding an 
average notional size of $81 million (USD). By combining these into the 
same category, the Commission is adopting a conservative approach in 
setting block sizes for the less liquid tenors.
    Under the commenters' approach, however, the seven-year interest 
rate swap is grouped in the same tenor bucket with the 5-year tenor 
interest rate swaps. In this scenario, the liquid tenor point within 
the bucket is the 5-year interest rate swap; thus, the 5-year interest 
rate swap, with more than 26,000 transactions yielding an average 
notional amount of $104 million (USD), is the primary driver in 
determining the minimum block threshold for the tenor bucket and 
results in a larger block size for the 7-year tenor interest rate swaps 
than under the currently proposed swap category.
    The Commission is of the view that the tenor with the most 
transactions in the swap category, and thus having the most weight in 
the block calculations, should be at the high end of the tenor grouping 
for the swap category. Given the tendency for average notional size to 
decrease as tenor increases as shown in Table 7 below, the Commission 
views this as a more conservative approach to setting minimum block 
thresholds, which results in lower block sizes for swap transactions at 
tenors that may experience less liquidity.

                 Table 7--Summary Statistics for the Interest Rate Swap Data Set by Tenor \106\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Average notional
                     Tenor \107\                           Number of        Notional amount    amount  (billions
                                                         transactions      (billions of USD)        of USD)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Month.............................................               3,171              11,859               3.740
3 Month.............................................              10,229              11,660               1.140
6 Month.............................................               2,822               1,701               0.603
1 Year..............................................               9,522               3,484               0.366
2 Year..............................................              16,450               3,347               0.203
3 Year..............................................               9,628               1,488               0.155
5 Year..............................................              26,139               2,712               0.104
7 Year..............................................               6,599                 661               0.100
10 Year.............................................              34,000               2,746               0.081
30 Year.............................................               9,616                 448               0.047
Other...............................................              38,671               5,284               0.137
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \106\ In producing Table 7, the Commission counted tenors for 
swaps with an end date within four calendar days of a complete month 
relative to the swap's start date as ending on the nearest complete 
month.
    \107\ Tenor groups include swaps having tenors within 4 calendar 
days of a complete month, plus or minus, of the stated tenor. All 
other swaps are included in the ``Other'' category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to comments generally calling for narrower tenor 
buckets, the Commission is adopting an additional tenor bucket in order 
to provide greater granularity as requested by commenters. The 
Commission is splitting the first tenor group in the Further Block 
Proposal (0-3 months) into two tenor groups (0-46 days, and greater 
than 46 days to less than or equal to 3 months). While the Commission 
did not receive any comments specifically discussing the less than 46 
day tenor, the Commission received numerous comments recommending 
greater granularity. Based upon the comments received requesting nine 
tenor buckets and the Federal Reserve Staff Analysis identifying nine 
tenor buckets, the Commission has determined to add a less than 46 day 
tenor group. This would provide greater granularity and establish 
notional swap groupings that account more precisely for the effects of 
increased transparency on liquidity for swaps of a shorter tenor.
    Accordingly, the Commission is adopting the following tenor 
buckets:

[[Page 32880]]



                           Table 8--Tenor Groups for Interest Rates Asset Class \108\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Tenor group                     Tenor greater than             And tenor less than or equal to
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  .............................  46 days.
2....................................  46 days......................  Three months (107 days).
3....................................  Three months (107 days)......  Six months (198 days).
4....................................  Six months (198 days)........  One year (381 days).
5....................................  One year (381 days)..........  Two years (746 days).
6....................................  Two years (746 days).........  Five years (1,842 days).
7....................................  Five years (1,842 days)......  Ten years (3,668 days).
8....................................  Ten years (3,668 days).......  30 years (10,973 days).
9....................................  30 years (10,973 days).......  ..........................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \108\ As in the Further Block Proposal, the Commission chose to 
extend the tenor groups about one-half month beyond the commonly 
observed tenors to group similar tenors together and capture 
variations in day counts. The Commission added an additional 15 days 
beyond a multiple of one year to the number of days in each group to 
avoid ending each group on specific months or years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received eleven comments regarding whether interest 
rate swaps should be categorized into the super-major, major, and non-
major currency groupings as proposed. Five commenters supported the 
currency groupings proposed in the Further Block Proposal.\109\ Four 
commenters urged the Commission to establish a separate swap category 
for each individual currency in determining block thresholds.\110\ Two 
more commenters specifically recommended that each of the four super-
major currencies should be categorized separately, rather than as a 
group, in determining block thresholds.\111\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \109\ CL-AFR at 5; CL-Better Markets at 5; CL-MFA at 4; CL-
Pierpont at 3; CL-SDMA at 8 (``The CFTC categories are . . . 
appropriate and accurate in terms of currency, index, and tenor.'')
    \110\ CL-AII at 8; CL-ICI at 5; CL-SIFMA at 8-9; CL-Vanguard at 
6.
    \111\ CL-Barclays at 7; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 7-8. While ISDA/SIFMA 
supported separate categories for super-major currencies, their 
comment also suggests separate categorization for each individual 
currency. Similarly, SIFMA's comment, while requesting separate 
categorization generally, states that dividing the four proposed 
super-major currencies is most important. CL-SIFMA at 8-9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(b)(1)(i) as proposed in regard to currency 
categories. The currencies were grouped into the three categories in 
the Further Block Proposal based upon the swap transaction total 
notional amounts and transaction volumes of currency groups based on 
the number of transactions, and the average transaction notional 
amounts of currency groups. The commenters who requested that all 
currencies be categorized by individual currency mainly focused on 
differences in liquidity among the four super-major currencies, 
particularly when comparing interest rate swaps in USD and EUR to those 
in JPY and GBP. Similarly, the commenters who specifically requested 
that the Commission establish separate swap categories for each of the 
super-major currencies focused on perceived differences in liquidity. 
While USD and EUR interest rate swaps feature the highest liquidity, 
the Commission is of the view that, based upon all of the criteria 
mentioned above, the super-major currencies are most similar to each 
other (and different from major \112\ and non-major currencies) to 
warrant treatment as a group, rather than separately.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \112\ The Commission notes that the difference between the total 
notional and transactional volume of swaps referencing Japanese 
yen--the lowest among those swaps in the super-major currency 
category--and of swaps referencing the Australian Dollar--the 
highest among those swaps in the major currency category--is 
significantly larger than such differences between swaps within each 
adopted currency category. This observation supports adopting the 
Commission's approach in assigning certain swaps in the super-major 
currency category against the major currency category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission considered alternative approaches of using the 
individual currencies to determine swap categories in the interest rate 
asset class. While these alternative approaches would have provided 
greater correlation to an underlying curve than the adopted groupings, 
the Commission believes that this would not substantially increase the 
explanation of variations in notional amounts, but rather would result 
in categories with too few observations. Hence, the Commission does not 
believe that there would be a significant benefit to offset the 
additional compliance burden that a more granular approach would impose 
on market participants. The Commission notes that adoption of the 
proposed currency categories establishes 27 separate swap categories 
for interest rate swaps. Separate categorization of all currencies 
would result in nearly 200 separate swap categories. Separate 
categorization of the super-major currencies alone would result in 54 
swap categories. The Commission believes that the 27 separate swap 
categories contained in the rule achieves the objectives of grouping 
swaps with similar characteristics while maintaining a manageable 
number of swap categories.
    The Commission also received a number of comments recommending that 
interest rate swaps should be categorized based on criteria other than 
tenor and currency. Four commenters suggested a range of additional 
interest rate swap categories for the purposes of establishing block 
thresholds.\113\ Two other commenters suggested grouping swaps by 
product type in addition to tenor and currency groupings.\114\ Another 
commenter, Kinetix, recommended grouping products by average trade 
volume, as well as by product type and tenor.\115\ Of the four 
commenters who expressed support for the proposed tenor and currency 
groupings,\116\ two of them argued that further granularity would cause 
some swaps to be subject to lower block thresholds than are 
appropriate.\117\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \113\ Barclays suggested unique block levels for each of the 
following swap categories: each super major currency, swaps against 
standard floating rate indices, basis swaps, inflation swaps, 
swaptions, caps and floors, cross-currency swaps, and structured 
swaps. CL-Barclays at 7-8. ISDA/SIFMA suggested the following 
additional swap categories: fixed versus non-benchmark floating rate 
indexes and basis swaps, inflation swaps (a specified inflation rate 
index), options (swaption and cap/floor markets); cross-currency 
swaps (each leg denominated by different currency), and exotics. CL-
ISDA/SIFMA at 9. SIFMA and Vanguard suggested swap categorization 
based on optionality or other characteristics such as distinctions 
between ``plain vanilla,'' ``interest rate options,'' and ``other,'' 
as well as separate categories for major floating rate indices. CL-
SIFMA at 8-9; CL-Vanguard at 5-6.
    \114\ CL-ICI at 5; CL-MFA at 5.
    \115\ CL-Kinetix at 2.
    \116\ CL-AFR at 5; CL-Better Markets at 5; CL-Pierpont at 3; CL-
SDMA at 8 (``The CFTC categories are . . . appropriate and accurate 
in terms of currency, index, and tenor.'')
    \117\ CL-AFR at 5; CL-Better Markets at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(b)(1)(i) as proposed and Sec.  43. 6(b)(1)(ii) with 
the modifications discussed above. Although some level of

[[Page 32881]]

categorization of swaps is useful to capture different levels of 
trading activity and hedging potential, where a number of different 
swaps could be used to hedge the same risk, the over-identification of 
swap categories will eventually lead to a dilution of observations 
within categories. Categories having small numbers of observations 
could be subject to highly volatile minimum block sizes over time. 
Over-identification also would be expected to lead to underestimations 
of the ability to offset risks using related swap instruments. The 
Commission believes that it has struck a balance between over- and 
under-categorizing swaps that will result in more stable minimum block 
sizes and allow for adequate risk offsets using instruments within a 
category. The modification described above in regard to tenor will 
provide some further granularity at the short end of the yield curve, 
as suggested by commenters above, while still achieving the objectives 
of grouping swaps with similar characteristics and reducing unnecessary 
complexity for market participants in determining whether their swaps 
are classified within a particular swap category.
c. Credit Swap Categories
i. Credit Swap Data Summary
    The CDS data set contained 98,931 CDS index records that would fall 
within the definition of publicly reportable swap transactions,\118\ 
with a combined notional value of approximately $4.6 trillion 
dollars.\119\ The CDS data set contained transactions based on 26 broad 
credit indexes.\120\ Of those indexes, both the iTraxx Europe Series 
and the Dow Jones North America investment grade CDS indexes 
(``CDX.NA.IG'') served as the basis for over 20 percent of the total 
number of transactions and over 33 percent of the total notional value 
in the relevant CDS data set. Table 9 sets out summary statistics of 
the CDS data set for CDS indexes with greater than five transactions 
per day on average.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \118\ See note 85 supra.
    \119\ The CDS index transactions in the data set made up 
approximately 33 percent of the total filtered records and 75 
percent of the CDS markets' notional amount for the three months of 
data provided. The data set contained over 250 different reference 
indexes; 400 reference index and tenor combinations; and 450 
reference index, tenor, and tranche combinations. The data set also 
contained three different currencies: USD (53%), EUR (46%), and JPY 
(1%). The Commission notes that in all but a handful of records, 
each reference index transaction was denoted in a single currency.
    \120\ Those indexes were: (1) ABX.HE; (2) CDX.EM; (3) CDX.NA.HY; 
(4) CDX.NA.IG; (5) CDX.NA.IG.HVOL; (6) CDX.NA.XO; (7) CMBX.NA; (8) 
IOS.FN30; (9) iTRAXX Asia ex-Japan HY; (10) iTRAXX Asia ex-Japan IG; 
(11) iTRAXX Australia; (12) iTRAXX Europe Series; (13) iTRAXX Europe 
Subs; (14) iTRAXX Japan 80; (15) iTRAXX Japan HiVol; (16) iTRAXX 
Japan Series; (17) iTRAXX LEVX Senior; (18) iTRAXX SOVX Asia; (19) 
iTRAXX SOVX CEEMA; (20) iTRAXX Western Europe; (21) LCDX.NA; (22) 
MCDX.NA; (23) PO.FN30; (24) PRIMEX.ARM; (25) PRIMEX.FRM; and (26) 
TRX.NA.

                                  Table 9--Summary Statistics by CDS Index Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Percentage of     Notional
                                                     Number of         total        amount (in     Percentage of
                      Names                        transactions    transactions     millions of   total notional
                                                                        (%)            USD)         amount (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITRAXX EUROPE SERIES 13 V1......................          18,287           18.48       1,138,362           24.83
CDX.NA.IG.14....................................          12,611           12.75       1,083,974           23.64
ITRAXX EUROPE XO SERIES 13 V1...................           8,713            8.81         153,365            3.34
CDX.NA.HY.14....................................           7,984            8.07         172,599            3.76
ITRAXX EUROPE SENIOR FINANCIALS SERIES 13 V1....           4,774            4.83         187,978            4.10
CDX.NA.IG.9.....................................           4,134            4.18         388,650            8.48
ITRAXX EUROPE XO SERIES 13 V2...................           3,959            4.00          66,894            1.46
CDX.NA.IG.9 TRANCHE.............................           3,357            3.39         112,411            2.45
ITRAXX SOVX CEEMEA SERIES 3 V1..................           3,252            3.29          32,291            0.70
CDX.EM.13.......................................           3,052            3.08          34,952            0.76
ITRAXX SOVX WESTERN EUROPE SERIES 3 V1..........           2,377            2.40          74,068            1.62
ITRAXX AUSTRALIA SERIES NUMBER 13 V1............           2,138            2.16          31,540            0.69
ITRAXX EUROPE SERIES 9 V1.......................           1,893            1.91         188,364            4.11
ITRAXX EUROPE SUB FINANCIALS SERIES 13 V1.......           1,779            1.80          50,241            1.10
ITRAXX EUROPE SERIES 9 V1 TRANCHE...............           1,577            1.59          50,269            1.10
ITRAXX JAPAN SERIES NUMBER 13 V1................           1,406            1.42          19,100            0.42
ITRAXX ASIA EX-JAPAN IG SERIES NUMBER 13 V1.....           1,319            1.33          15,856            0.35
ITRAXX SOVX ASIA PACIFIC SERIES 3 V1............           1,001            1.01          11,666            0.25
ITRAXX EUROPE HIVOL SERIES 13 V1................             788            0.80          30,585            0.67
CMBX.NA.AAA.1...................................             463            0.47          13,384            0.29
ITRAXX EUROPE SERIES 12 V1......................             452            0.46          71,161            1.55
CMBX.NA.AJ.3....................................             392            0.40           6,332            0.14
CMBX.NA.AAA.2...................................             381            0.39           8,433            0.18
LCDX.NA.14......................................             380            0.38           7,063            0.15
MCDX.NA.14......................................             350            0.35           2,798            0.06
CMBX.NA.AAA.4...................................             337            0.34           6,024            0.13
CMBX.NA.A.1.....................................             332            0.34           3,834            0.08
IOS.FN30.500.09.................................             317            0.32           7,836            0.17
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................          87,805           88.75       3,970,029           86.59
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ii. Credit Swap Data Analysis
    As noted above, the Commission proposed using tenor and 
conventional spread criteria to define swap categories for CDS indexes. 
The Commission proposed the following six broad tenor groups in the 
credit asset class: (1) Zero to two years (0-746 days); (2) over two to 
four years (747-1,476 days); (3) over four to six years (1,477-2,207 
days) (which include the five-year tenor); (4) over six to eight-and-a-
half years (2,208-3,120 days); (5) over eight-and-a-half to

[[Page 32882]]

12.5 years (3,121-4,581 days) and (6) greater than 12.5 years (4,581 
days).\121\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \121\ The Commission assessed the possibility of applying the 
tenor categories proposed for swaps in the interest rate asset class 
to the distribution of notional sizes in the CDS indexes and 
anticipates the level of granularity proposed to categorize swaps in 
the interest rate asset class by tenor would be inappropriate for 
the CDS index market. The Commission anticipates that this level of 
granularity would be inappropriate because the vast majority of CDS 
index transactions in the data set had a tenor of five years (or 
approximately 1,825 days). Based on the concentration of CDS index 
transactions in five-year tenors, the Commission proposed six tenor 
bands for CDS indexes.
    The Commission chose to extend the tenor groups about one-half 
month beyond the commonly observed tenors to group similar tenors 
together and capture variations in day counts. The Commission added 
an additional 15 days beyond a multiple of one year to the number of 
days in each group to avoid ending each group on specific years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the conventional spread criterion, the Commission 
determined ranges of spread values based on a review of the 
distribution of spreads in the entire CDS data set.\122\ In particular, 
the Commission observed that the relevant CDS data set partitioned at 
the 175 basis points (``bps'') and 350 bps levels.\123\ The Commission 
found that significant differences existed in the CDS data set between 
CDS indexes with spread values under 175 bps and those in the other two 
CDS categories (spread values between 175 to 350 bps; spread values 
above 350 bps). Accordingly, the Commission proposed three separate 
conventional spread levels: (1) CDS indexes with spread values under 
175 bps; (2) CDS indexes with spread values between 175 and 350 bps; 
and (3) CDS indexes with spread values above 350 bps. Table 9 shows the 
summary statistics of the proposed criteria to determine swap 
categories for swaps in the credit asset class.\124\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \122\ See supra note 77 for a definition of ``conventional 
spread.''
    \123\ The Commission proposed partition levels by a qualitative 
examination of multiple histogram distributions of the traded and 
fixed spreads from the CDS data set. This qualitative examination 
was confirmed through a partition test (using JMP software), 
including both before and after controlling for the effects of tenor 
on the distribution. The Commission observed that 175 bps explained 
the greatest difference in means of the two data sets resulting from 
a single partition of the data. The Commission also observed that 
350 bps was an appropriate partition for CDS index transactions with 
spreads over 175 bps.
    \124\ The Commission found that these categories were good 
predictors of notional size. This finding was based on an analysis 
which used the tenor and spread categories in Table 9 as explanatory 
variables in a least squares regression, where the logged value of 
the notional amount of the swap was the dependent variable.

 Table 9--CDS Index Sample Statistics by Proposed Swap Category Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Sum of notional
             Spread                  amounts  (in      Number of trades
                                   billions of USD)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<=175...........................               3,761              59,887
175-to-350......................                 233              11,045
350>............................                 577              27,998
------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
                                    Sum of notional
    Tenor  (in calendar days)           amounts        Number of trades
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-746...........................                 146               1,421
747-1,476.......................                 569               6,774
1,477-2,207.....................               3,490              79,357
2,208-3,120.....................                 159               2,724
3,121-4,581.....................                  18                 497
4,582+..........................                 190               8,157
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission sought comment on this proposed approach, a series 
of alternative criteria to be used, and alternative categories. The 
Commission received eight comments regarding the proposed swap 
categories for CDS. Five of the comments focused on the proposed tenor 
buckets in the Further Block Proposal. SIFMA and Vanguard suggested 
that the 4-6 year tenor bucket be divided into four buckets: 4 to 4.5 
years, 4.5 to 5 years, 5 to 5.5 years, and 5.5 to 6 years.\125\ AII and 
ICI also recommended narrowing the tenor categories for CDS.\126\ MFA 
generally supported the Commission's proposed grouping by tenor.\127\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \125\ CL-SIFMA at 7-8 (``We believe that such groupings would 
better approximate sets of swaps with similar liquidity 
characteristics''); CL-Vanguard at 5.
    \126\ CL-AII at 8; CL-ICI at 5.
    \127\ CL-MFA at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Two of the comments focused on the proposed conventional spread 
criteria. ISDA/SIFMA expressed support for the proposed use of spread 
criteria, but also suggested that the Commission should clarify that 
the spread for a CDS transaction will be based on the traded spread, 
rather than on the fixed coupon.\128\ Barclays, however, commented that 
traded spreads should not be used for categorizing CDS because swaps 
may move daily between threshold buckets as spreads can move 
substantially over short periods, which would create an unacceptable 
level of operational risk for market participants in trying to achieve 
compliance.\129\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \128\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 6 (``swap categories should be based on 
the current spread of a transaction in order to reflect . . . 
changes in liquidity'').
    \129\ CL-Barclays at 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the comments regarding the tenor and conventional 
spread criteria proposed, commenters also provided a number of 
recommendations regarding other potential swap categories for CDS. 
Three commenters suggested separate swap categories for individual CDX 
index series.\130\ Better Markets, however, argued that using 
individual CDX index series to create swap categories would be too 
granular and recommended that CDS be divided into single-name and index 
categories, with indexes further subdivided into five groups: 
sovereign, corporate, municipal, mortgage-backed securities, and 
other.\131\ Four commenters recommended that tranches of indices 
receive their own unique swap category.\132\ Two commenters suggested 
grouping CDS by different product type.\133\ MFA recommended separate 
swap categories for indexes and options (as well as tranches).\134\ 
Finally, eight commenters suggested differentiating between on-the-run 
and off-the-run CDS

[[Page 32883]]

indices.\135\ MFA specifically suggested separate minimum block sizes 
for the current 5-year on-the-run CDS indices for CDX.NA.IG, CDX.NA.HY, 
iTraxx Europe, and iTraxx Europe Crossover.\136\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \130\ CL-AII at 8; CL-Barclays at 8; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 6.
    \131\ CL-Better Markets at 6.
    \132\ CL-AII at 8; CL-Barclays at 8; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 6; MFA at 
5.
    \133\ CL-ICI at 5; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 6.
    \134\ CL-MFA at 5.
    \135\ MFA specifically suggested separate minimum block sizes 
for the current 5-year on-the-run CDS indices for CDX.NA.IG, 
CDX.NA.HY, iTraxx Europe, and iTraxx Europe Crossover. CL-MFA at 5; 
CL-AII at 8; CL-Barclays at 8; CL-ICAP at 7; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 5-6; 
CL-SIFMA at 8; CL-Vanguard at 5.
    \136\ CL-MFA at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(b)(2) as proposed. In general, the Commission 
believes that the proposed criteria--tenor and conventional spread--
provide an appropriate way to group swaps with economic similarities 
and to reduce unnecessary complexity for market participants in 
determining whether a particular swap is classified within a particular 
swap category. In regard to ISDA/SIFMA's suggested clarification, the 
Commission clarifies that the spread for a CDS transaction will be 
based on the traded spread, rather than on the fixed coupon.
    Specifically, the Commission believes that the proposed tenor and 
conventional spread categories sufficiently capture the variation in 
notional size that is necessary for setting appropriate minimum block 
sizes and that refining these categories as suggested by commenters 
will not improve the clustering of swaps in order to better set 
appropriate minimum block sizes. For example, the Commission notes that 
the tenor buckets contained in the adopted rule generally result in 
separate categorization for on-the-run and off-the-run indexes for 
swaps in the CDS data set. On-the-run indexes, for example, comprised 
the vast majority of swaps in the 4-6 year tenor bucket, while off-the-
run indexes were the vast majority of swaps in the 0-2, 2-4, and 6-8.5 
year tenor buckets.
    The Commission determined these swap categories based on the way 
activity in the CDS data set clustered towards the center of each tenor 
band. While the majority of transactions in the CDS data set consisted 
of on-the-run corporate credit default index swaps with a five-year 
tenor, the Commission found that significant trading of corporate 
credit default index swaps also occurred in other tenor ranges.\137\ 
The Commission believes that its approach is appropriate since CDS on 
indexes other than corporate indexes (e.g., asset backed indexes, 
municipal indexes, sovereign indexes) also trade at tenors other than 
five years.\138\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \137\ For example, based on the observed CDS data set, corporate 
CDS indexes traded in all but the longest of the tenor groups. The 
vast majority of transactions outside of the 4-6 year tenor group 
were off-the-run series.
    \138\ For example, based on the observed CDS data set, the 
majority of municipal credit default index swaps traded with tenors 
of around 10 years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission, however, decided not to use ``on-the-run'' or 
``off-the-run'' designations for grouping CDS indexes into categories 
for the following reasons: (i) The underlying components of swaps with 
differing versions or series based on the same named index are broadly 
similar, if not the same, and are indicative of economic 
substitutability across versions or series; (ii) differences in the 
average notional amount across differing versions or series were 
explained by differences in tenor; and (iii) using versions or series 
as the criterion for defining CDS swap categories may result in an 
unnecessary level of complexity.\139\ Hence, the Commission believes 
that while on-the-run and off-the-run indexes may differ in terms of 
available liquidity, they nonetheless are economically related to each 
other within the categories proposed by the Commission; therefore, on-
the-run indexes could be used to offset much of the risk associated 
with off-the-run indices. Moreover, while the off-the-run swaps 
generally had less trading activity, and presumably less liquidity, 
than the on-the-run swaps, off-the-run index swaps had larger notional 
sizes, on average, than on-the run swaps in the same category. Hence, 
the more liquid, on-the-run swaps will drive the block size in a 
category and will result in lower block sizes for the less liquid swaps 
in the category.\140\ The Commission feels that this is a more 
conservative approach to setting block sizes for less liquid swaps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \139\ An on-the-run CDS index represents the most recently 
issued version of an index. For example, every six months, Dow Jones 
selects 125 investment grade entities domiciled in North America to 
make up the Dow Jones North American investment grade index 
(``CDX.NA.IG''). Each new CDX.NA.IG index is given a new series 
number while market participants continue to trade the old or ``off-
the-run'' CDX.NA.IG series. The index provider determines the 
composition of each index through a defined list of reference 
entities. The index provider has discretion to change the 
composition of the list of reference entities for each new version 
or series of an index. In its analysis of the CDS data set, the 
Commission generally observed either no change or a small change 
(ranging from one percent to ten percent) of existing composition in 
the reference entities underlying a new version or series of an 
index. Because of these two dynamics (tenor and index composition), 
the CDS data set contained transactions within a given index with 
different versions and series that were, in some instances, 
identical, and in others, not identical, across varying tenors.
    \140\ This is similar to the example provided for the tenor 
groupings in interest rate swaps in Section II.A.1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to the commenters that specifically requested a 
differentiation between on-the-run and off-the-run CDS indexes, the 
Commission believes that while on-the-run and off-the-run indexes may 
differ in terms of available liquidity, they nonetheless are 
economically related to each other within the categories proposed by 
the Commission such that on-the-run indexes could be used to offset 
much of the risk associated with off-the-run indexes. The Commission 
also notes that the tenor buckets contained in the adopted rule 
generally result in separate categorization for on-the-run and off-the-
run indexes. For the CDS data set, the vast majority of swaps in the 4-
6 year tenor bucket were on-the-run indexes, while the vast majority of 
swaps in the 0-2, 2-4, and 6-8.5 year tenor buckets were off-the-run.
    In response to commenters that specifically recommended separate 
swap categorization for tranches, the Commission believes that the 
proposed swap categorization based upon conventional spread criteria 
will result in separate categorizations related to tranches where 
appropriate.\141\ For example, tranches having significantly different 
levels of risk will potentially have spreads traded at levels that 
differ enough from the underlying index so as to be placed in 
categories that would receive a different block trade size. The 
conventional spread reflects the risk of the underlying transaction and 
the Commission believes that the risk associated with the transaction 
will be the primary determinant of how difficult a transaction is to 
hedge. Thus, the Commission believes that categorization of CDS by 
conventional spread will capture differences related to tranches where 
appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \141\ In the CDS market, a ``tranche'' means a particular 
segment of the loss distribution of the underlying CDS index. For 
example, tranches may be specified by the loss distribution for 
equity, mezzanine (junior) debt, and senior debt on the referenced 
entities. The Commission found that the tranche-level data was even 
more granular than index-level data. Similarly, the Commission 
anticipates that grouping the relevant CDS data set in tranche 
criterion may not be practicable because it may produce too many 
swap categories and as a result would impose unnecessary complexity 
on market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission notes that the adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(2) establishes 
18 separate swap categories for CDS swaps. While none of the commenters 
provided suggestions as to precisely how to categorize CDS by tranche, 
the Commission believes that creating additional swap categories for 
tranches would result in swap categories totaling a multiple of the 
proposed 18 swap categories, as each CDS index has multiple tranches. 
Establishing swap categories based upon tenor and

[[Page 32884]]

conventional spread criterion as in adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(2) meets the 
objectives of grouping swaps with economic similarity and reducing 
confusion for market participants in determining whether their swaps 
are classified within a particular swap category.
    The Commission believes that this approach will mitigate the 
administrative burden to both market participants and to the Commission 
by limiting the number of swap categories for which appropriate minimum 
block sizes need to be calculated. In regard to Barclay's concern that 
swaps would move between categories, the Commission believes that 
instances where a given swap will move daily between spread levels will 
be limited given the small number of spread categories and the observed 
distribution of trades. Additionally, the quantitative nature of the 
block category calculation should limit the operational risk by 
providing clarity and ease of notice to market participants as to what 
the minimum block sizes are, even if they are subject to change.
    If market participants reach the conclusion that the Commission has 
determined specific swap categories in a way that will materially 
reduce market liquidity, then those participants are encouraged to 
submit data to support their conclusion. If, through its own 
surveillance of swaps market activity, the Commission becomes aware 
that a specific swap categorization for determination of appropriate 
minimum block levels would reduce market liquidity, then the Commission 
may exercise its legal authority to take action by rule or order to 
mitigate the potential effects on market liquidity with respect to 
swaps in that swap category.
2. Swap Category in the Equity Asset Class
    The Commission proposed a single swap category for swaps in the 
equity asset class. The Commission proposed this approach based on: (1) 
The existence of a highly liquid underlying cash market for equities; 
(2) the absence of time delays for reporting block trades in the 
underlying equity cash market; (3) the small relative size of the 
equity index swaps market relative to the futures, options, and cash 
equity index markets; and (4) the Commission's goal to protect the 
price discovery function of the underlying equity cash market and 
futures market.
    The Commission received six comments regarding swap categories in 
the equity asset class. AFR supported the single swap category proposed 
for the equity asset class.\142\ Five other commenters recommended that 
the Commission treat equity swaps similarly to the other asset classes 
and establish swap categories based upon a range of criteria.\143\ AII 
recommended that equity swaps should be treated as blocks based on 
liquidity, and urged the Commission to consider linking equity swap 
categories to the liquidity of the underlying index.\144\ Barclays 
recommended that swap categories should be established for equity swaps 
taking into account transaction volume by index and equity asset class 
type, and that broad-based indices should have separate block levels 
based upon futures market levels.\145\ ICI recommended closer study of 
data on equity swap transactions due to potential differences in 
liquidity in the underlying equity cash market.\146\ ISDA/SIFMA 
recommended categorizing equity swaps on the basis of underlying index 
or basket, product type, notional size, and tenor.\147\ SIFMA stated 
that the Commission should establish equity swap block categories based 
upon liquidity of the underlying indices.\148\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \142\ CL-AFR at 6.
    \143\ CL-AII at 9; CL-Barclays at 9; CL-ICI at; ISDA/SIFMA at 
10-11; SIFMA at 5.
    \144\ CL-AII at 9.
    \145\ CL-Barclays at 9.
    \146\ CL-ICI at 5.
    \147\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 10-11.
    \148\ CL-SIFMA at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(b)(3) as proposed. While a number of the commenters 
point out differences in liquidity in the underlying equity indices to 
support separate swap categories within the equity asset class and 
establishment of block sizes in equities, these differences do not 
undermine the premises underlying the Commission's proposal. Even 
taking into account differences in liquidity, (1) there is still a 
highly liquid underlying cash market for equities; and (2) the equity 
index swaps market is small relative to the futures, options, and cash 
equity index markets. These characteristics, combined with the fact 
that there are no time delays for reporting block trades in the 
underlying equity cash market, makes establishment of swap categories, 
and therefore minimum block thresholds, for equity swaps 
inappropriate.\149\ The Commission notes that establishing time delays 
for reporting block trades in the swaps market when no time delays 
exist could negatively impact the price discovery function of the 
underlying equity cash market and futures market. Accordingly, the 
Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(b)(3) as proposed.\150\
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    \149\ See infra Section II.B(5)(b). In the event that time 
delays are established for reporting block trades in the underlying 
equity cash market, the Commission may consider establishing swap 
categories and minimum block thresholds for equity swaps.
    \150\ The Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'') has 
proposed general criteria that it would consider to set appropriate 
minimum block trade sizes for security-based swaps. The SEC, 
however, has not proposed specific numerical thresholds at this 
time, but rather intends to propose such thresholds upon the 
adoption of Regulation SBSR--Reporting and Dissemination of 
Security-Based Swap Information. 75 FR 75208, 75228 (Dec. 2, 2010). 
On May 1, 2013, the SEC reopened the comment period regarding this 
proposed rule. See Reopening of Comment Periods for Certain 
Rulemaking Releases and Policy Statement Applicable to Security-
Based Swaps Proposed Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 
(May 1, 2013).
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3. Swap Categories in the FX Asset Class
    The Commission proposed establishing swap categories for the FX 
asset class based on unique currency combinations, with Sec.  
43.6(b)(4)(i) distinguishing futures-related swaps \151\ from swaps 
that are not futures-related (covered under proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(4)(ii)). Distinguishing futures-related swaps from other swaps 
would allow the Commission to set initial appropriate minimum block 
sizes for certain swaps based on DCM block sizes for FX futures 
contracts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \151\ Under Sec.  43.2, a futures-related swap is defined as a 
swap (as defined in section 1a(47) of the Act and as further defined 
by the Commission in implementing regulations) that is economically 
related to a futures contract. See infra notes 169-174 and 
accompanying text. Under Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i), a futures-related swap 
is a swap where one of the underlying currencies of the swap is the 
subject of a futures contract listed on a DCM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission based its approach on the assumption that FX swaps 
and futures contracts based upon the same currency draw upon the same 
liquidity pools. The Commission proposed in Sec. Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) 
and (b)(4)(ii) to distinguish FX swaps and instruments based on the 
existence of a related futures contract. Liquidity in the underlying 
futures market for the currency combinations established in proposed 
Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) suggested sufficient liquidity in the swaps market 
for these currency combinations.
    The Commission proposed establishing swap categories for futures-
related swaps under proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) based on the unique 
currency combinations between the currency of each of the following: 
the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, 
Switzerland, Canada, Republic of South Africa, Republic of Korea, 
Kingdom of Sweden, New Zealand, Kingdom of Norway, Denmark, Brazil, 
China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, New

[[Page 32885]]

Zealand, Poland, Russia, and Turkey.\152\ Hence, proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(4)(i) would establish a separate swap category for each of the 
231 unique currency combinations between these currencies. In proposed 
Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(ii), the Commission would establish an additional swap 
category based on unique currency combinations not included in proposed 
Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i).\153\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \152\ For example, the euro (EUR) and the Canadian dollar (CAD) 
combination would be one swap category; whereas, the Swedish krona 
(SEK) and the Korean won (KRW) combination would be a separate swap 
category.
    \153\ Under proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(2), swaps having currency 
combinations described in Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(ii) would all be eligible 
to be treated as a block trade or large notional off-facility swap. 
Only in the post-initial period would the proposed rules set an 
appropriate minimum block size for this category of FX swaps. See 
infra Section II.B(5)(c)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received six comments regarding the proposed swap 
categories for the FX asset class based on unique currency 
combinations. Two commenters recommended additional swap categories for 
the FX asset class.\154\ Barclays suggested that EUR- and USD-
denominated transactions should be categorized separately from less 
liquid transactions and that distinct block levels should apply to the 
following product categories: Forwards, non-deliverable forwards, non-
deliverable options, vanilla options, and other more complex 
options.\155\ GFMA recommended more granular swap categories that would 
group specific instruments according to similarity of liquidity 
profile.\156\ AFR, however, commented that the governing principle in 
establishing swap categories should be the reasonable relationship of 
swaps within a category to a liquid class of swaps or futures that are 
potential hedges for that category and expressed concern that adding 
any additional granularity might violate this principle.\157\ AII and 
ICI urged the Commission to remove block trading thresholds so that all 
transactions would be treated as blocks for the FX asset class during 
the initial period, and allow for collection and analysis of SDR data 
during this period to determine appropriate swap categories for the 
post-initial period.\158\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \154\ CL-Barclays at 10; CL-GFMA at 2-3.
    \155\ CL-Barclays at 10.
    \156\ CL-GFMA at 2-3. GFMA also suggested that (1) FX swaps 
should be distinguished by tenor, and that (2) block size thresholds 
should vary based on time of day, in order to take into account 
liquidity across time zones.
    \157\ CL-AFR at 6.
    \158\ CL-AII at 3; CL-ICI at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission notes that, since the Further Block Proposal, 
Treasury has issued a Final Determination, pursuant to sections 
1a(47)(E)(i) and 1b of the CEA, that exempts FX swaps and FX forwards 
from the definition of ``swap'' under the CEA. Therefore, the 
requirements of section 2(a)(13) of the CEA would not apply to those 
transactions, and such transactions would not be subject to part 43 of 
the Commission's regulations.\159\ Nevertheless, section 1a(47)(E)(iii) 
of the CEA provides that FX swaps and FX forwards transactions still 
are not excluded from regulatory reporting requirements to an SDR. 
Further, the Commission notes that Treasury's final determination 
excludes FX swaps and FX forwards, but does not apply to FX options or 
non-deliverable FX forwards. As such, FX instruments that are not 
covered by Treasury's final determination are subject to part 43 of the 
Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \159\ See Determination of Foreign Exchange Swaps and Foreign 
Exchange Forwards under the Commodity Exchange Act, 77 FR 69,694, 
Nov. 20, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received and the complexity of 
the proposed approach, the Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(b)(4) with 
modifications. The Commission is modifying proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) 
to establish swap categories based on the unique currency combinations 
between one super-major currency paired with one of the following: (1) 
Another super major currency \160\; (2) a major currency \161\; or (3) 
a currency of Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, 
New Zealand, Poland, Russia, or Turkey. This approach differs from the 
proposal in that the adopted swap categories will not include the 
unique currency combinations between major currencies and other major 
currencies, between major currencies and each of the ten additional 
enumerated non-major currencies, and between the ten additional 
enumerated non-major currencies. Under Sec.  43.6(b)(4) as adopted, all 
swap transactions subject to part 43 \162\ in these unique currency 
combinations may be treated as blocks.\163\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \160\ As set out in Section II.A.1., the super-major currencies 
are the United States dollar (USD), European Union Euro Area euro 
(EUR), United Kingdom pound sterling (GBP), and Japan yen (JPY).
    \161\ As set out in Section II.A.1., the major currencies are 
the Australia dollar (AUD), Switzerland franc (CHF), Canada dollar 
(CAD), Republic of South Africa rand (ZAR), Republic of Korea won 
(KRW), Kingdom of Sweden krona (SEK), New Zealand dollar (NZD), 
Kingdom of Norway krone (NOK) and Denmark krone (DKK).
    \162\ As stated above, this section only applies to FX options 
and non-deliverable FX forwards. Treasury has exempted FX swaps and 
FX forwards from the definition of ``swap'' under the CEA. See 
Determination of Foreign Exchange Swaps and Foreign Exchange 
Forwards under the Commodity Exchange Act, 77 FR 69,694, Nov. 20, 
2012.
    \163\ See Table 10 for the enumerated swap categories 
established by Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The changes to Sec.  43.6(b)(4) will significantly reduce the 
number of swap categories, hence reducing complexity, but will still 
ensure coverage of the most liquid currency combinations.\164\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \164\ According to the BIS Triennial Central Bank Survey: 
Foreign Exchange and Derivatives Market Activity in April 2010 
(preliminary results, dated September 2010), the currency 
combinations enumerated under adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) comprise 
more than 80% of global FX market turnover.
    According to the Survey of North American Foreign Exchange 
Volume in October 2012, the proposed categories established by Sec.  
43.6(b)(4)(i) cover more than 86% of the notional value of total 
monthly volume of FX swaps that are priced or facilitated by traders 
in North America. The Survey of North American Foreign Exchange 
Volume is conducted by the Foreign Exchange Committee, which 
includes representatives of major financial institutions engaged in 
foreign currency trading in the United States and is sponsored by 
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The survey is designed to 
measure the level of turnover in the foreign exchange market. 
Turnover is defined as the gross value in U.S. dollar equivalents of 
purchases and sales entered into during the reporting period. The 
data covers a one-month period in order to reduce the likelihood 
that very short-term variations in activity might distort the data 
and include all transactions that are priced or facilitated by 
traders in North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico). 
Transactions concluded by dealers outside of North America are 
excluded even if they are booked to an office within North America. 
The survey also excludes transactions between branches, 
subsidiaries, affiliates, and trading desks of the same firm. The 
October 2012 data can be located at https://www.newyorkfed.org/fxc/2012/octfxsurvey2012.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While not affording block treatment to all swaps in the FX asset 
class subject to part 43, these modifications will increase the number 
of currency combinations which will be eligible to be blocks, many of 
which have limited liquidity.\165\ Yet, this modified approach still 
allows the Commission to set initial appropriate minimum block sizes 
for the most liquid categories based on the block trade size thresholds 
set by DCMs for economically-related futures contracts, as enumerated 
under adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i). The Commission believes that the 
categories established by proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) and kept under 
adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) provide the separate classification for 
EUR- and USD-denominated transactions recommended by Barclays.\166\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \165\ For example, the unique currency combination of the 
Australian Dollar (AUD) and the Canadian Dollar (CAD) had a minimum 
block threshold of 10,000,000 CAD in the Further Block Proposal. 
Under adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(4), all trades in this unique currency 
combination will be eligible for block treatment.
    \166\ The Commission emphasizes that the swap categories for the 
FX asset class are unique currency combinations between each of the 
super-major currencies, major currencies, and additional currencies 
listed. The classification of EUR and USD as super-major currencies 
simply means that both currencies are individually eligible for 
inclusion among the unique currency combinations used for swap 
categorization. In the FX asset class, there is no separate bucket 
for super-major currencies (such as the buckets in the interest rate 
swap asset class described above).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 32886]]

    The Commission will also modify Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(ii) to establish 
one swap category for the currency combinations not included in Sec.  
43.6(b)(4)(i). This category will encompass the other currency 
combinations proposed, but not adopted, by the Commission, as well as 
other non-futures related currency swaps. With the modifications to 
Sec.  43.6(b)(4), the euro (EUR) and the Canadian dollar (CAD) 
combination will still be one swap category as in the original proposal 
pursuant to Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i). However, the Swedish krona (SEK) and 
the Korean won (KRW) combination will be grouped with all the other 
swaps covered by Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(ii) into one swap category. As a 
further example, a swap of the Czech koruna (CZK) and the Brazilian 
real (BRL) will be in the same category as the SEK-KRW swap. While the 
swaps grouped into one category by Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(ii) may have 
different liquidity levels, these swaps will all be subject to the time 
delays provided to block trades and large notional off-facility swaps 
in both the initial and post-initial periods.
    The Commission notes that the adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) 
establishes 78 unique currency combinations, covering a vast majority 
of the notional value of FX swaps concluded by traders in North 
America. Creating additional swap categories, as suggested by Barclays 
and GFMA,\167\ would result in swap categories totaling a multiple of 
this already large number without drastically increasing the number of 
swaps that will be subject to real-time reporting without a delay. 
Establishing swap categories based upon unique currency combinations as 
in adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) meets the objectives of grouping swaps 
with economic similarity and reducing confusion for market participants 
in determining whether their swaps are classified within a particular 
swap category. The Commission believes that these changes will reduce 
the administrative burden to both market participants and to the 
Commission by reducing the number of swap categories for which 
appropriate minimum block sizes need to be calculated.\168\
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    \167\ CL-Barclays at 10; CL-GFMA at 2-3.
    \168\ In the Further Block Proposal, every unique currency 
combination would be considered a unique swap category, which means 
there would be hundreds of different swap categories for the FX 
asset class. Proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) alone established 231 swap 
categories. Many additional categories would have been established 
under proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(ii). The adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(4) 
creates 78 categories requiring the calculation of appropriate 
minimum block sizes in the post-initial period.

                                            Table 10--Swap Categories Established Under Sec.   43.6(b)(4)(i)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Super-major currencies
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Euro  (EUR)              British pound (GBP)           Japanese yen (JPY)           U.S. dollar (USD)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Pound (GBP).................  EUR-GBP                      ...........................  ...........................  ...........................
Japanese Yen (JPY)..................  EUR-JPY                      GBP-JPY                      ...........................  ...........................
U.S. Dollar (USD)...................  EUR-USD                      GBP-USD                      JPY-USD                      ...........................
Australian Dollar (AUD).............  AUD-EUR                      AUD-GBP                      AUD-JPY                      AUD-USD
Canadian Dollar (CAD)...............  CAD-EUR                      CAD-GBP                      CAD-JPY                      CAD-USD
Swiss Francs (CHF)..................  CHF-EUR                      CHF-GBP                      CHF-JPY                      CHF-USD
Denmark Krone (DKK).................  DKK-EUR                      DKK-GBP                      DKK-JPY                      DKK-USD
Korean Won (KRW)....................  KRW-EUR                      KRW-GBP                      KRW-JPY                      KRW-USD
Swedish Krona (SEK).................  SEK-EUR                      SEK-GBP                      SEK-JPY                      SEK-USD
Norwegian Krone (NOK)...............  NOK-EUR                      NOK-GBP                      NOK-JPY                      NOK-USD
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)............  NZD-EUR                      NZD-GBP                      NZD-JPY                      NZD-USD
South African Rand (ZAR)............  ZAR-EUR                      ZAR-GBP                      ZAR-JPY                      ZAR-USD
Brazilian Real (BRL)................  BRL-EUR                      BRL-GBP                      BRL-JPY                      BRL-USD
Czech Koruna (CZK)..................  CZK-EUR                      CZK-GBP                      CZK-JPY                      CZK-USD
Hungarian Forint (HUF)..............  HUF-EUR                      HUF-GBP                      HUF-JPY                      HUF-USD
Israeli Shekel (ILS)................  ILS-EUR                      ILS-GBP                      ILS-JPY                      ILS-USD
Mexican Peso (MXN)..................  MXN-EUR                      MXN-GBP                      MXN-JPY                      MXN-USD
Polish Zloty (PLN)..................  PLN-EUR                      PLN-GBP                      PLN-JPY                      PLN-USD
Chinese Renminbi (RMB)..............  RMB-EUR                      RMB-GBP                      RMB-JPY                      RMB-USD
Russian Ruble (RUB).................  RUB-EUR                      RUB-GBP                      RUB-JPY                      RUB-USD
Turkish Lira (TRY)..................  TRY-EUR                      TRY-GBP                      TRY-JPY                      TRY-USD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Swap Categories in the Other Commodity Asset Class
    The Commission proposed to determine swap categories in the other 
commodity asset class based on three sets of groupings. The first two 
sets of groupings create categories of swaps which are economically 
related to specific futures contracts (i.e., futures-related swaps 
\169\) or swap contracts under proposed Sec. Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i) and 
(ii). The third set of groupings creates categories based on swaps 
sharing a common product type under proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(iii).
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    \169\ Proposed Sec.  43.2 defines a futures-related swap as a 
swap (as defined in section 1a(47) of the Act and as further defined 
by the Commission in implementing regulations) that is economically 
related to a futures contract. The Commission is adopting this 
definition as proposed.
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    The Commission proposed defining ``economically related'' \170\ in 
Sec.  43.2 as a direct or indirect reference to the same commodity at 
the same delivery location or locations,\171\ or with the

[[Page 32887]]

same or substantially similar cash market price series.\172\ The 
Commission noted that this definition would (1) ensure that swap 
contracts with shared reference price characteristics indicating 
economic substitutability (i.e., swaps in the category can be used to 
offset some or all of the risks associated with positions in the 
underlying commodity) are grouped together within a common swap 
category; \173\ and (2) provide further clarity as to which swaps are 
described in Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii)(B), which was previously finalized 
under the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule.\174\
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    \170\ In the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission 
explained: ``For the purposes of part 43, swaps are economically 
related, as described in Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii)(B), if such contract 
utilizes as its sole floating reference price the prices generated 
directly or indirectly from the price of a single contract described 
in appendix B to part 43.'' 77 FR 1211. Further, the Commission 
explained that ``an `indirect' price link to an Enumerated Physical 
Commodity Contract or an Other Contract described in appendix B to 
part 43 includes situations where the swap reference price is linked 
to prices of a cash-settled contract described in appendix B to part 
43 that itself is cash-settled based on a physical-delivery 
settlement price to such contract.'' Id. at n.289.
    \171\ For example, a swap utilizing the Platts Gas Daily/Platts 
IFERC reference price is economically related to the Henry Hub 
Natural Gas (NYMEX) (futures) contract because it is based on the 
same commodity at the same delivery location as that underlying the 
latter contract.
    \172\ For example, a swap utilizing the Standard and Poor's 
(``S&P'') 500 reference price is economically related to the S&P 500 
Stock Index futures contract because it is based on the same cash 
market price series.
    \173\ The Commission proposed to amend Sec.  43.2 to define 
``reference price'' as a floating price series (including 
derivatives contract and cash market prices or price indices) used 
by the parties to a swap or swaption to determine payments made, 
exchanged or accrued under the terms of a swap contract. The 
Commission proposed to use this term in connection with the 
establishment of a method through which parties to a swap 
transaction may elect to apply the lowest appropriate minimum block 
size applicable to one component swap category of such swap 
transaction. See infra Section II.B(6)(b). The Commission is 
adopting this definition as proposed.
    \174\ The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule previously finalized 
Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii)(B), which requires a registered SDR to publicly 
disseminate any publicly reportable swap transaction in the other 
commodity asset class that is ``economically related'' to one of the 
contracts described in appendix B to part 43, but did not define 
``economically related.'' This definition, as proposed and to be 
adopted here, would apply to the use of this term throughout all of 
part 43 of the Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The first set of swap categories, covered under proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(i), would establish separate swap categories for swaps that 
are economically related to one of the contracts listed in appendix B 
to part 43. Therefore, proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i) would establish one 
swap category for each contract listed in appendix B to part 43. The 
Real-Time Reporting Final Rule previously finalized appendix B to part 
43, which lists 29 Enumerated Physical Commodity Contracts and Other 
Contracts (i.e., Brent Crude Oil (ICE)).\175\ In the Further Block 
Proposal, the Commission proposed to add 13 electricity and natural gas 
swap contracts to appendix B to part 43.\176\ Therefore, proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(i) would establish 42 swap categories such that each 
contract would be the basis for its own other commodity swap category, 
and all swaps that are economically related to that contract would be 
included in that swap category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \175\ As noted by the Commission in the Real-Time Reporting 
Final Rule, the 28 Enumerated Physical Commodity Contracts are 
traded on U.S. DCMs, while Brent Crude Oil (ICE) futures contracts 
are primarily traded in Europe. 77 FR 1211 n. 288.
    \176\ See infra Section II.B5(d)(i). The Commission had 
previously issued orders deeming these contracts as ``significant 
price discovery contracts'' in connection with trading on exempt 
commercial markets (``ECMs''), based on, among other factors, their 
material liquidity and price discovery function. See infra Section 
III.C(4)(a). These contracts included: AECO Financial Basis Contract 
(``AEC'') traded on the IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (``ICE'') 
(See 75 FR 23697); NWP Rockies Financial Basis Contract (``NWR'') 
traded on ICE (See 75 FR 23704); PG&E Citygate Financial Basis 
Contract (``PGE'') traded on ICE (See 75 FR 23710); Waha Financial 
Basis Contract (``WAH'') traded on ICE (See 75 FR 24655); Socal 
Border Financial Basis Contract (``SCL'') traded on ICE (See 75 FR 
24648); HSC Financial Basis Contract (``HXS'') traded on ICE (See 75 
FR 24641); ICE Chicago Financial Basis Contract (``DGD'') traded on 
ICE (See 75 FR 24633); SP-15 Financial Day-Ahead LMP Peak Contract 
(``SPM'') traded on ICE (See 75 FR 42380); SP-15 Financial Day-Ahead 
LMP Off-Peak Contract (``OFP'') traded on ICE (See 75 FR 42380); PJM 
WH Real Time Peak Contract (``PJM'') traded on ICE (See 75 FR 
42390); PJM WH Real Time Off-Peak Contract (``OPJ'') traded on ICE 
(See 75 FR 42390); Mid-C Financial Peak Contract (``MDC'') traded on 
ICE (See 75 FR 38469); Mid-C Financial Off-Peak Contract (``OMC'') 
traded on ICE (See 75 FR 38469).
    As discussed further below, as of October 12, 2012, ICE withdrew 
its listing of these contracts as a result of converting its cleared 
OTC swap contracts and related options to futures listed at ICE 
Futures U.S. and ICE Futures Europe. Accordingly, ICE converted 
these contracts into economically equivalent futures contracts and 
has listed them for trading. See ICE--Swaps to Futures Transition, 
https://www.theice.com/S2F.jhtml (last visited May 7, 2013). 
Therefore, as discussed further below, the Commission has determined 
in this final rule to add the converted contracts to appendix B to 
part 43, such that each contract will serve as a basis for an other 
commodity swap category. See infra Section II.A(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has separately enumerated these contracts since it 
previously has identified these commodity contracts as: (1) Having high 
levels of open interest and significant cash flow; and (2) serving as a 
reference price for a significant number of cash market transactions. 
Moreover, the Commission has also previously determined that any swap 
that references or is economically related to these contracts (along 
with the Brent Crude Oil (ICE) contract or any contract that is 
economically related to it) has sufficient liquidity to ensure that the 
public dissemination of swap transaction and pricing data for swaps 
based on this reference asset poses little risk of disclosing 
identities of parties, business transactions, or market positions.\177\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \177\ 77 FR 1211.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The second set of swap categories, covered under proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(ii), would establish swap categories based on swaps in the 
other commodity asset class that are: (1) Not economically related to 
one of the futures or swap contracts listed in appendix B to part 43; 
and (2) economically related to a relevant futures contract that is 
subject to the block trade rules of a DCM. Proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(ii) listed the 18 futures contracts to which these swaps are 
economically related, and hence, establishes 18 swap categories.\178\ 
These swap categories would include any swap that is economically 
related to such contracts. The swap categories established by proposed 
Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i) differ from the swap categories established by 
proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(ii) in that the former may be economically 
related to futures or swap contracts that are not subject to the block 
trade rules of a DCM, whereas the latter are economically related to 
futures contracts that are subject to the block trade rules of a 
DCM.\179\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \178\ As proposed, these additional other commodity swap 
categories would be based on the following futures contracts: CME 
Cheese; CBOT Distillers' Dried Grain; CBOT Dow Jones-UBS Commodity 
Index Excess Return; CBOT Ethanol; CME Frost Index; CME Goldman 
Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI) (GSCI Excess Return Index); NYMEX Gulf 
Coast Gasoline; NYMEX Gulf Coast Sour Crude Oil; NYMEX Gulf Coast 
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel; CME Hurricane Index; CME International 
Skimmed Milk Powder; NYMEX New York Harbor Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel; 
CBOT Nonfarm Payroll; CME Rainfall Index; CME Snowfall Index; CME 
Temperature Index; CME U.S. Dollar Cash Settled Crude Palm Oil; and 
CME Wood Pulp.
    \179\ This distinction is noteworthy because proposed Sec.  
43.6(e)(3) provides that ``[p]ublicly reportable swap transactions 
described in Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i) that are economically related to a 
futures contract in appendix B to this part [43] shall not qualify 
to be treated as block trades or large notional off-facility swaps 
(as applicable) [during the initial period], if such futures 
contract is not subject to a designated contract market's block 
trading rules.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The third set of swap categories, covered under proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(iii), would establish swap categories for all other 
commodity swaps that are not categorized under proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(i) or (ii). These swaps are not economically related to any 
of the contracts listed in appendix B to part 43 or any of the 
contracts listed in proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(ii). For these other 
commodity swaps, the Commission would determine the appropriate swap 
category based on the product types described in appendix D to part 43 
to which the underlying asset(s) of the swap would apply or otherwise 
relate. Proposed appendix D to part 43 establishes ``Other Commodity 
Groups'' and certain ``Individual Other Commodities'' within those 
groups. To the extent that there is an ``Individual Other Commodity'' 
listed, the Commission would deem the ``Individual Other Commodity'' as 
a separate swap category. For example, regardless of whether the 
underlying asset to an off-facility swap is ``Sugar No. 14'' or ``Sugar 
No. 5,'' the underlying asset would be grouped as ``Sugar.'' The 
Commission thereafter

[[Page 32888]]

would set the appropriate minimum block size for each of the swap 
categories listed in appendix D to part 43.
    In circumstances where a swap does not apply or otherwise relate to 
a specific ``Individual Other Commodity'' listed under the ``Other 
Commodity Group'' in appendix D to part 43, the Commission would 
categorize such swap as falling under the respective ``Other'' swap 
categories. For example, an emissions swap would be categorized as 
``Emissions,'' while a swap in which the underlying asset is aluminum 
would be categorized as ``Base Metals--Other.'' Additionally, in 
circumstances where the underlying asset of swap does not apply or 
otherwise relate to an ``Individual Other Commodity'' or an ``Other'' 
swap category, the Commission would categorize such swap as either 
``Other Agricultural'' or ``Other Non-Agricultural.''
    Comments on the proposed swap categories in the other commodity 
asset class varied. CME Group agreed with the proposed approach to 
establishing swap categories in the other commodity asset class in the 
initial period because it would allow appropriate minimum block level 
sizes to be set based on the minimum block sizes set by DCMs.\180\ ICI, 
however, recommended that the Commission obtain and analyze trading 
data from SDRs first before determining whether the proposed swap 
categories are appropriate.\181\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \180\ CL-CME 3-4. Proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(1) established 
appropriate minimum block sizes in the initial period for swap 
categories in proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i)-(ii) based on the block 
sizes for related futures contracts set by DCMs, except for natural 
gas and electricity swaps proposed to be added to appendix B of part 
43.
    \181\ CL-ICI at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters commented on the granularity of the proposed 
swap categories. Some commenters recommended more granular categories 
to account for the differences in liquidity and execution risk between 
shorter- and longer-dated contracts.\182\ Similarly, Barclays also 
commented that swap categories in the other commodity asset class 
should consider that products typically experience a reduction in 
liquidity beyond the first or second year.\183\ Other commenters, 
however, opposed the proposed categories as too narrow and recommended 
broadening the definition of ``economically related'' and reducing the 
number of swap categories to reflect increasing price correlation 
between different categories of commodities as well as existing hedging 
practices by market participants.\184\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \182\ CL-ICAP Energy at 4; CL-fia at 3.
    \183\ CL-Barclays at 9.
    \184\ CL-Better Markets at 6-7; CL-AFR at 6-7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Parity Energy requested that the Commission establish a separate 
category for swaps that are economically related to crude oil options 
because transactions in crude oil options are typically fewer and 
larger in size than transactions in crude oil futures contracts.\185\ 
Parity Energy also agreed with the proposed distinction in swap 
categories between swaps that are economically related to natural gas 
swaps and swaps that are economically related to natural gas swap 
options.\186\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \185\ CL-Parity at 4-5.
    \186\ Id. As proposed, the initial minimum block size for swaps 
that are economically related to Henry Hub Natural Gas futures was 
set at 1,000,000 mmBtu; the initial minimum block size for Henry Hub 
Natural Gas options was set at 5,500,000 mmBtu.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission is adopting the definition of ``economically 
related'' as proposed. The Commission believes that broadening the 
definition, as suggested by some commenters, would reduce the precision 
with which swaps in the other commodity asset class can be properly 
categorized. As proposed, the definition of ``economically related'' is 
sufficient in that it (1) ensures that swap contracts with shared 
reference price characteristics (indicating economic substitutability) 
are grouped together within a common swap category and (2) provides 
further clarity as to which swaps are described in Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(ii)(B).
    Furthermore, the Commission believes that its general approach to 
establishing swap categories under Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i)-(iii) is 
appropriate and is adopting the text of Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i)-(iii) 
largely as proposed, with the exception of some proposed swap 
categories in Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(ii).\187\ With the conversion of the 13 
electricity and natural gas swap contracts proposed to be added to 
appendix B to part 43 into DCM-listed, economically equivalent futures 
contracts,\188\ the Commission is making one modification by 
establishing swap categories and adopting initial appropriate minimum 
block sizes corresponding to those set by a DCM for those futures 
contracts. With respect to the swap categories established under Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(i), the Commission believes that establishing categories for 
swaps that are economically related to one of the referenced futures 
contracts is appropriate because these contracts have previously been 
identified as (1) having high levels of open interest and significant 
cash flow; and (2) serving as a reference price for a significant 
number of cash market transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \187\ The Commission is not adopting separate swap categories 
that it proposed in the Further Block Proposal for swaps that are 
economically related to the following NYMEX futures contracts: Gulf 
Coast Gasoline; Gulf Coast Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel; and New York 
Harbor Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. As of October 15, 2012, NYMEX 
eliminated block trading in these contracts because they have no 
open interest. The Commission is also removing the swap category for 
swaps that reference or are economically related to Non-Farm Payroll 
futures contract, the International Skimmed Milk Powder, and Wood 
Pulp as these contracts are no longer listed for trading.
    \188\ See supra note 176.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the swap categories established under Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(i)-(ii), the Commission is establishing swap categories and 
adopting initial appropriate minimum block sizes which correspond with 
those set by a DCM for economically related futures contracts in the 
initial period.\189\ Hence, to the extent possible, the Commission is 
relying upon the DCMs' knowledge of and experience with liquidity in 
related futures markets until additional data becomes available. With 
respect to the swap categories established under Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(iii), 
the Commission believes that setting swap categories by product type 
would allow the Commission to set appropriate minimum block sizes for 
groups of transactions that have similar underlying physical commodity 
market characteristics. Accordingly, the Commission does not believe 
that establishing swap categories that are broader than proposed is 
necessary to enhance market transparency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \189\ See infra Section II.B(5)(d).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 32889]]

    Furthermore, the Commission is not using additional criteria to 
create more granular swap categories in the other commodity asset 
class. While commodity swaps within a particular swap category may 
feature different liquidity and risk profiles based on their tenor, the 
Commission is not aware of any data that would warrant additional swap 
categories. As swaps trading data becomes available, the Commission 
will examine such data to determine whether establishing additional 
swap categories would be appropriate.
    The other main modification to the swap categories established 
under Sec.  43.6(b)(5) is that the Commission is not adopting separate 
swap categories for swaps that are economically related to the options 
contracts listed in appendix F of the Further Block Proposal.\190\ 
Consistent with the Commission's definitions of ``economically-
related'' and ``futures-related swap,'' the Commission considers such 
swaps, which feature an optionality component, to be economically 
related to the corresponding futures contracts adopted in appendix F of 
this final rule for purposes of determining swap categories. This 
approach to categorizing such swaps is consistent with the Commission's 
methodology to establish initial appropriate minimum block size for 
swaps with optionality for all asset classes.\191\ Under this 
methodology, the notional size of swaps with optionality in the initial 
period will be equal to the notional size of the swap component without 
the optional component. As discussed further below, the Commission is 
adopting this methodology as proposed, and therefore will not consider 
optionality in the determination of a swap contract's notional size--
allowing block sizes to be established based on the block sizes set by 
DCMs for options contracts would contradict this approach.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \190\ These options contracts listed in proposed Appendix F, 
which are subject to a minimum DCM block size rule, included Cocoa 
(ICE); Coffee (ICE); Cotton No. 2 (ICE); Frozen Concentrated Orange 
Juice (ICE); Gold (COMEX and NYSE Liffe); New York Harbor No. 2 
Heating Oil (NYMEX); Silver (COMEX and NYSE Liffe); Sugar 
11 (ICE); and Sugar 16 (ICE).
    \191\ See infra Section II.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Comments Regarding Swap Categories Across Asset Classes
    The Commission received a number of comments suggesting that, for 
all asset classes, the Commission establish separate swap categories, 
with separate appropriate minimum block sizes, for infrequently traded 
or illiquid swaps. Javelin and SDMA did not think infrequently-traded 
swaps posed an obstacle and recommended swap categorization that would 
account for hedging for illiquid swaps through synthetic/portfolio 
hedging through liquidity of economically equivalent swaps.\192\ 
Barclays suggested that all swaps made available to trade that trade 
less than three times a day should be treated as blocks, as market 
makers otherwise will be reluctant to quote prices.\193\ Alternatively, 
Barclays suggested removing such swaps from the ``available to trade'' 
category and thereby exempting them from post-trade reporting.\194\ 
ISDA/SIFMA requested block treatment for all infrequently traded swaps 
and suggested a benchmark tied to precise daily trading frequency 
including a time delay for illiquid products generally.\195\ To support 
this approach, ISDA/SIFMA cited a Commission study showing that market 
participants prefer off-exchange bilateral execution for illiquid 
instruments because of liquidity concerns.\196\ ISDA/SIFMA suggested 
that a single transaction, regardless of size, in such infrequently-
traded or illiquid swaps may move the market.\197\ GFMA suggested 
treating all infrequently-traded swaps as blocks and defines such 
transactions as exhibiting all or some of the following features: (1) 
The constituent swap or swaps to which they are economically related 
are not executed on, or pursuant to the rules of, a SEF or DCM; (2) few 
market participants have transacted in these swaps or in economically-
related swaps; or (3) few swap transactions are executed during a 
historic period in these swaps or in economically-related swaps.\198\ 
Parascandola recommended block treatment for small notional and odd-lot 
trades, particularly in index products where the notional amount is 
below $10 million.\199\ Kinetix suggested that transactions in any 
product with fewer than 250 transactions annually should receive 
treatment as block trades.\200\ Vanguard urged a more granular approach 
to swap categories and thresholds to ``recognize distinct liquidity 
pools.'' \201\ Vanguard and SIFMA suggested that swaps that trade fewer 
than 14 trades per day should be blocks.\202\ AII suggested block 
treatment for swaps that trade less than 5 times per day.\203\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \192\ CL-Javelin at 5-6; CL-SDMA at 6.
    \193\ CL-Barclays at 4.
    \194\ Id.
    \195\ ISDA/SIFMA recommended that every transaction (regardless 
of size) in a swap category for which there are no more than 14 
swaps traded per business day receive block treatment for a period 
of 1 year. CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 12.
    \196\ According to ISDA/SIFMA, ``[f]orcing the same transparency 
standards on market participants for both liquid and illiquid 
products will be detrimental. Instantaneous trade disclosure for 
highly illiquid products, combined with the potential for SEF or DCM 
execution, is likely to erode their liquidity further and to do 
severe damage to the safety and soundness of the system as a 
whole.'' Id.
    \197\ Id.
    \198\ CL-GFMA at 3.
    \199\ CL-Parascondola at 1.
    \200\ CL-Kinetix at 1.
    \201\ CL-Vanguard at 5.
    \202\ CL-SIFMA at 10; CL-Vanguard at 7.
    \203\ CL-AII at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting the swap categories described in the sections above. The 
Commission believes that the trade frequency of a single instrument is 
but one measure of liquidity for such a swap and does not factor in the 
pool of instruments that are capable of providing an economically 
equivalent position, either individually or on a portfolio basis.

B. Appropriate Minimum Block Size Methodologies for the Initial and 
Post-Initial Periods

    The Commission proposed a tailored approach for determining 
appropriate minimum block sizes during the initial and post-initial 
periods for each asset class. In the subsections below, the Commission 
sets out a more detailed discussion of the appropriate minimum block 
size methodologies for swaps within: (1) Swap categories in the 
interest rate and credit asset classes; (2) the single swap category in 
the equity asset class; (3) swap categories in the FX asset class; and 
(4) swap categories in the other commodity asset class. Thereafter, the 
Commission discusses special rules for determining the appropriate 
minimum block sizes across asset classes.

[[Page 32890]]

1. Phase-In of Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes
    As discussed in Section I.C.2. above, the Commission proposed a 
phase-in of its regulations regarding appropriate minimum block size 
methodologies so that market participants could better adjust their 
swap trading strategies to manage risk, secure new technologies, and 
make necessary arrangements to comply with part 43. Thus, the 
Commission proposed two provisions relating to the Commission's 
determination of appropriate minimum block sizes: (1) Initial 
appropriate minimum block sizes under proposed Sec.  43.6(e); and (2) 
post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes under proposed Sec.  
43.6(f).
    The Commission received ten comments regarding the proposed phase-
in of its appropriate minimum block size methodologies. Four 
commenters, AII, EEI, SIFMA, and Vanguard, requested that the 
Commission apply block status to all swaps during the initial 
period.\204\ AII stated that removing (or lowering) block thresholds 
would appropriately transition the market and avoid harming 
liquidity.\205\ SIFMA recommended collecting SDR data during the 
initial period and gradually and iteratively phasing in block 
thresholds.\206\ Vanguard also expressed concern regarding the 
liquidity impacts of setting block thresholds without more data.\207\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \204\ CL-AII at 3; CL-EEI at 5; CL-SIFMA at 3; CL-Vanguard at 7.
    \205\ CL-AII at 3.
    \206\ CL-SIFMA at 3.
    \207\ CL-Vanguard at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Eight commenters suggested that the Commission establish a more 
conservative threshold during the initial period. AII recommended that 
the Commission either remove block trading thresholds during the 
initial period or lower the thresholds below the proposed levels to 
appropriately transition the market and avoid unnecessarily harming 
liquidity.\208\ Barclays recommended introducing block levels that 
allow for empirical analysis of the transaction data and sequentially 
increasing block sizes until such point as the desired equilibrium 
between transparency and liquidity is reached.\209\ GFMA stated that, 
if the Commission used a percentage notional test, then it should 
introduce it in a phased manner to assess the impact on the market over 
time and ensure it has sufficient flexibility to amend the notional 
percentage.\210\ ICAP Energy proposed specific initial block thresholds 
for PJM at 50 MW/Hr and for SP-15 and Mid-C at 30 MW/Hr, and for 
natural gas basis swaps at 2500 MMBTUs/day.\211\ ICI, while supporting 
a 50 percent notional amount calculation, urged the Commission to 
phase-in the calculation for very illiquid instruments (less than 3 or 
4 trades per week) by first implementing a 25 percent notional amount 
calculation, in order to alleviate potential harmful effects of 
disclosure of large block sizes on liquidity, particularly in illiquid 
swaps markets.\212\ ISDA/SIFMA stated that the Commission should phase 
in the block threshold in order to allow trading on SEFs and DCMs to 
develop and suggested setting the threshold based on a 25-percent 
notional amount calculation.\213\ SIFMA proposed a multi-phase process 
for establishing block levels, starting with a one-year data collection 
phase, followed by an initial period with low block levels.\214\ The 
block levels would then be decreased if the Commission found that 
liquidity significantly decreased or bid-ask spreads significantly 
increased over the quarter for swaps close to, but below, the block 
threshold.\215\ WMBAA encouraged the Commission to implement lower 
block trade thresholds while the post-trade reporting requirements are 
implemented and market participants begin providing data to SDRs for 
cleared and uncleared swaps.\216\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \208\ CL-AII at 3.
    \209\ CL-Barclays at 11.
    \210\ CL-GFMA at 3.
    \211\ CL-ICAP Energy at 3.
    \212\ CL-ICI at 7.
    \213\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 13.
    \214\ CL-SIFMA at 3.
    \215\ Id.
    \216\ CL-WMBAA at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments above, the Commission is 
adopting a phased-in approach as proposed, but with modifications in 
response to the comments above regarding phasing, as more fully 
described below.
2. Overview of Proposed Approach
    The chart below summarizes swap categories and calculation 
methodologies that the Commission proposed for each asset class in both 
the initial period and the post-initial period.

[[Page 32891]]



                                                Proposed Approach
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              Post-initial
           Asset class               Swap category criteria    Initial implementation     implementation period
                                                                       period                     \217\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest Rates...................  By unique currency and     67-percent notional       67-percent notional
Credit...........................   tenor grouping \218\       amount calculation by     amount calculation by
                                   By tenor and conventional   swap category \219\       swap category \220\
                                    spread grouping \221\.
FX...............................  By numerated FX currency   Based on DCM futures
                                    combinations (i.e.,        block size by swap
                                    futures related) \222\     category \223\
                                   By non-enumerated FX       All trades may be
                                    currency combinations      treated as block trades
                                    (i.e., non-futures         \225\
                                    related) \224\
Other Commodity..................  By economically-related    Based on DCM futures
                                    Appendix B to part 43      block size by swap
                                    contract if the swap is    category \227\
                                    (1) futures related and
                                    (2) the relevant futures
                                    contract is subject to
                                    DCM block trade rules
                                    \226\
                                   By economically-related    No trades may be treated
                                    Appendix B to part 43      as blocks \229\
                                    contract if the swap is:
                                    (1) futures related and
                                    (2) the relevant futures
                                    contract is not subject
                                    to DCM block trade rules
                                    \228\
                                   By economically-related    Appropriate minimum
                                    Appendix B to part 43      block size equal to $25
                                    contract if the swap is    million \231\
                                    (1) a listed natural gas
                                    or electricity swap
                                    contract and (2) the
                                    relevant Appendix B
                                    contract is not futures
                                    related \230\
                                   By swaps that are          Based on DCM futures
                                    economically related to    block size by swap
                                    the list of 18 contracts   category \233\
                                    listed in Sec.
                                    43.6(b)(5)(ii) \232\
                                   By Appendix D to part 43   All trades may be
                                    commodity group, for       treated as block trades
                                    swaps not economically     \235\
                                    related to a contract
                                    listed in Appendix B to
                                    part 43 or to the list
                                    of 18 contracts listed
                                    in Sec.   43.6(b)(5)(ii)
                                    \234\
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Equity...........................  All equity swaps \236\...       No trades may be treated as blocks \237\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. The 67-Percent Notional Amount Calculation for Determination of 
Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes
    The Commission proposed using a 67-percent notional amount 
calculation to determine initial and post-initial appropriate minimum 
block sizes for swaps in the interest rate and credit asset classes 
pursuant to proposed Sec. Sec.  43.6(c)(1), 43.6(e)(1), and 
43.6(f)(1).\238\ The Commission also proposed using a 67-percent 
notional amount calculation to determine post-initial appropriate 
minimum block sizes for swaps in the FX and other commodity asset 
classes pursuant to Sec.  43.6(f)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \217\ This post-initial implementation period would commence 
after an initial period, lasting at least one year. Thereafter, the 
Commission would determine appropriate minimum block sizes a minimum 
of once annually. See proposed Sec.  43.6(f)(1).
    \218\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(1).
    \219\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(1).
    \220\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(f)(2).
    \221\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(2).
    \222\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i).
    \223\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(1).
    \224\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(ii).
    \225\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(2).
    \226\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i).
    \227\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(1).
    \228\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i).
    \229\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(3).
    \230\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i).
    \231\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(3).
    \232\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(ii).
    \233\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(1).
    \234\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(iii) and the product types 
groupings listed in proposed appendix D to part 43.
    \235\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(2).
    \236\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(3).
    \237\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(d).
    \238\ Proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(1) describes the 67-percent 
notional amount calculation. Proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(1) provides the 
provisions relating to the methodology for determining appropriate 
minimum block sizes during the initial period for swaps in the 
interest rate and credit asset classes, inter alia.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The 67-percent notional amount calculation as proposed is a 
methodology under which the Commission would: (Step 1) select all of 
the publicly reportable swap transactions within a specific swap 
category using a rolling three-year window of data beginning with a 
minimum of one year's worth of data and adding one year of data for 
each calculation until a total of three years of data is accumulated; 
\239\ (step 2) convert to the same currency or units and use a 
``trimmed data set''; \240\ (step 3) determine the sum of the notional 
amounts of swaps in the trimmed data set; (step 4) multiply the sum of 
the notional amount by 67 percent; (step 5) rank order the observations 
by notional amount from least to greatest; (step 6) calculate the 
cumulative sum of the observations until the cumulative sum is equal to 
or greater than the 67-percent notional amount calculated in step 4; 
(step 7) select the notional amount associated with that observation; 
(step 8) round the notional amount of that observation to two 
significant digits, or if the notional amount associated with that 
observation is already significant to two digits, increase that 
notional amount to the next highest rounding

[[Page 32892]]

point of two significant digits; \241\ and (step 9) set the appropriate 
minimum block size at the amount calculated in step 8. An example of 
how the Commission would apply this proposed methodology is set forth 
in section VII of this final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \239\ See note 85 supra for the definition of publicly 
reportable swap transaction. Since the Commission proposed to 
determine all appropriate minimum block sizes based on reliable data 
for all publicly reportable swap transactions within a specific swap 
category, the Commission does not view the fact that more than one 
SDR may collect such data as raising any material concerns.
    \240\ See proposed amendment to Sec.  43.2 and the discussion 
infra in this section.
    \241\ For example, if the observed notional amount is 
$1,250,000, the amount should be increased to $1,300,000. This 
adjustment is made to assure that at least 67 percent of the total 
notional amount of transactions in a trimmed data set are publicly 
disseminated in real time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Twenty-eight commenters provided general comments on the resulting 
proposed block sizes or on the general approach of using a notional 
amount calculation. Out of the 28 commenters, 14 opposed the 67 percent 
notional amount calculation and/or supported lower appropriate minimum 
block sizes,\242\ 12 supported the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation and/or supported higher appropriate minimum block 
sizes,\243\ 1 commenter felt unable to comment on the 67 percent 
notional amount calculation without actual swap data,\244\ and 1 
commenter opposed the 67 percent notional calculation for the other 
commodity asset class, but also felt that the 50 percent notional 
calculation was too low for interest rates.\245\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \242\ Commenters in this category include AII, Barclays, CME, 
Freddie Mac, ICAP Energy, ICAP North America, ICI, ISDA/SIFMA, MFA, 
Morgan Stanley, Pierpont, SIFMA, Vanguard, WMBAA.
    \243\ Commenters in this category include Arbor, AFR, Barnard, 
Better Markets, CRT, Currenex, Javelin, Jefferies, ODEX, RJ O'Brien, 
SDMA, Spring Trading.
    \244\ CL-GFMA at 3.
    \245\ CL-FIA at 2-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Of the 14 commenters who opposed the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation and/or supported lower appropriate minimum block sizes, two 
commenters, CME and Barclays, opposed the notional amount calculation 
generally, but not necessarily the resulting block sizes.\246\ CME 
stated that the rule is arbitrary and unrelated to the explicit goals 
of Dodd-Frank with respect to setting appropriate minimum block 
sizes.\247\ Barclays stated that the calculation is not based on any 
analysis of the impact that these thresholds will have on liquidity or 
on the corresponding costs to market participants.\248\ The other 
commenters in this group generally expressed concern that the 
appropriate minimum block sizes were too large and would reduce 
liquidity and/or disrupt markets. For example, AII stated that ``we 
believe that if the CFTC utilizes the 67 percent notional calculation 
required under the Proposed Rules, the CFTC will sacrifice liquidity 
for certain swap products and alter the proper functioning of the 
marketplace in the name of transparency.'' \249\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \246\ CL-CME at 2; CL-Barclays at 10.
    \247\ CL-CME at 2.
    \248\ CL-Barclays at 10.
    \249\ CL-AII at 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several of the commenters who opposed the 67 percent notional 
amount calculation and/or supported lower appropriate minimum block 
sizes specifically discussed the 50 percent notional amount 
calculation. These commenters generally expressed concern that the 67 
percent notional amount calculation resulted in appropriate minimum 
block sizes that are too high and would result in reduced liquidity in 
these markets. Freddie Mac and ICI expressly supported a 50 percent 
notional amount calculation.\250\ Pierpont and WMBAA recommended a 
notional amount calculation of no greater than 50 percent.\251\ ICAP 
Energy and SIFMA recommended a notional amount calculation below 50 
percent, but preferred a 50 percent notional amount calculation to a 67 
percent notional amount calculation.\252\ AII and ICAP recommended not 
using a notional amount calculation at all, but preferred a 50 percent 
notional amount calculation to a 67 percent notional amount 
calculation.\253\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \250\ CL-Freddie at 2; CL-ICI at 6-7.
    \251\ CL-Pierpont at 3; CL-WMBAA at 3.
    \252\ CL-ICAP Energy at 3; CL-SIFMA at 10.
    \253\ CL-AII at 6; CL-ICAP Energy at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Some of the commenters who opposed the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation and/or supported lower appropriate minimum block sizes did 
so conditionally. MFA preferred the 50 percent notional amount 
calculation over the 67 percent primarily in the initial period--``if 
swap categories are not properly distinguished, and the Commission 
cannot ensure a calibration of the initial minimum block sizes to 
current market conditions, we hesitate to endorse the 67 percent 
notional amount calculation in the final rulemaking and prefer instead 
that the Commission use a 50 percent notional amount calculation, 
particularly in the initial period, with a phase-in to a 67 percent 
notional amount calculation over time.'' \254\ Two other commenters 
supported the 50 percent notional amount calculation, but in the 
context of specific asset classes--Freddie Mac for the interest rate 
asset class and ICAP Energy for the other commodity asset class ``for 
year two and beyond.'' \255\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \254\ CL-MFA at 3-4.
    \255\ CL-Freddie at 2; CL-ICAP Energy at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Of the 12 commenters who supported the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation and/or higher appropriate minimum block sizes, several 
argued that lower appropriate minimum block sizes were inconsistent 
with congressional intent. Barnard and SDMA specifically stated that a 
50 percent notional amount calculation would not constitute a ``vast 
majority'' of swap transactions as intended by Congress.\256\ Moreover, 
commenters also suggested that the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation supported the statutory requirements of section 2(a)(13) of 
the CEA as well as congressional intent. For example, Arbor stated that 
``the 67% rule and the Market Depth test are consistent with 
[c]ongressional [i]ntent, promotes transparency and trading of SEFs, 
provides better market data, and is a conservative approach given the 
market's size.'' \257\ CRT and Currenex stated that the 67 percent 
notional amount calculation would achieve a proper balance between 
market transparency and market liquidity.\258\ Jefferies stated that 
the 67 percent notional amount calculation was consistent with 
congressional intent.\259\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \256\ The ``guiding principle in setting appropriate block trade 
levels [is that] the vast majority of swap transactions should be 
exposed to the public market through exchange trading.'' 
Congressional Record--Senate, S5902, S5922 (July 15, 2010); CL-
Barnard at 3; CL-SDMA at 2.
    \257\ CL-Arbor at 1.
    \258\ CL-CRT at 1-2; CL-Currenex at 2.
    \259\ CL-Jefferies at 1-2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Seven commenters expressed a preference for the 67 percent notional 
amount calculation, but also supported another alternative.\260\ ODEX, 
RJ O'Brien, and Spring Trading expressed support for the 67 percent 
notional amount calculation, but also suggested that a higher notional 
amount calculation would be preferable, particularly in the post-
initial period.\261\ AFR, Better Markets, Javelin, and SDMA all 
recommended a 75 percent or higher notional amount calculation and a 
market depth and market breadth test.\262\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \260\ CL-AFR at 8-9; CL-Better Markets at 7-8; CL-Spring Trading 
at 2; CL-ODEX at 1; CL-RJ O'Brien at 1; CL-AFR at 8-9; CL-Better 
Markets at 7-8; CL-Javelin at 2; CL-SDMA at 2.
    \261\ CL-ODEX at 1; CL-RJ O'Brien at 1; CL-Spring Trading at 2.
    \262\ CL-AFR at 8-9; CL-Better Markets at 7-8; CL-Javelin at 2; 
CL-SDMA at 2. For a discussion of market depth and market breadth, 
see infra note 271 and accompanying text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A number of commenters also expressed concern regarding imposing 
the proposed 67 percent notional amount calculation prior to analysis 
of swap data collected by SDRs. AII recommended lowering or eliminating 
block thresholds until complete data has been reported to SDRs so as 
not to

[[Page 32893]]

impair market liquidity.\263\ Barclays recommended introducing block 
levels that allow for empirical analysis of the transaction data and 
sequentially increasing block sizes until such point as the desired 
equilibrium between transparency and liquidity is reached.\264\ Better 
Markets suggested transitioning to a market depth and market breadth 
test after the Commission has collected a year of SDR data.\265\ GFMA 
could not comment on the 67 percent notional amount calculation in the 
absence of swap data.\266\ ICAP Energy stated that once post-
implementation swap data is obtained, then the Commission and industry 
will be in better position to assess liquidity and propose block 
levels.\267\ ICI stated that, for those asset classes where no data is 
available, it is impossible to determine whether the Commission has 
identified the most relevant criteria for swap categories.\268\ ISDA/
SIFMA suggested that for new interest rate swap products the Commission 
should allow for block treatment until sufficient data is 
available.\269\ Vanguard stated that block thresholds cannot be 
established absent an adequate data source and time for 
assessment.\270\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \263\ CL-AII at 6.
    \264\ CL-Barclays at 11.
    \265\ CL-Better Markets at 9-10.
    \266\ CL-GFMA at 3.
    \267\ CL-ICAP Energy at 2.
    \268\ CL-ICI at 4.
    \269\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 14.
    \270\ CL-Vanguard at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the Further Block Proposal, the Commission specifically 
requested comment regarding other potential methods for determining 
appropriate minimum block thresholds. While the Commission received 
numerous comments regarding the efficacy of a notional amount 
calculation and the appropriate percentage to use in making such a 
calculation, the Commission only received significant comments 
regarding one other method. The Commission received a number of 
comments regarding whether the Commission should use a market depth and 
market breadth test, instead of the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation methodology, to calculate the relevant initial minimum 
block sizes and the post-initial minimum block sizes.\271\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \271\ Market depth and market breadth was proposed to be 
calculated as follows: (step 1) Identify swap contracts with pre-
trade price transparency within a swap category; (step 2) calculate 
the total executed notional volumes for each swap contract in the 
set from step 1 and calculate the sum total for the swap category 
over the look back period; (step 3) collect a market depth snapshot 
of all of the bids and offers once each minute for the pre-trade 
price transparency set of contracts identified in step 1; (step 4) 
identify the four 30-minute periods that contain the highest amount 
of executed notional volume each day for each contract of the pre-
trade price transparency set identified in step 1 and retain 120 
observations related to each 30-minute period for each day of the 
look-back period; (step 5) determine the average bid-ask spread over 
the look-back period of one year by averaging the spreads observed 
between the largest bid and executed offer for all the observations 
identified in step 3; (step 6) for each of the 120 observations 
retained in step 4, calculate the sum of the notional amount of all 
orders collected from step 3 that fall within a range, calculate the 
average of all of these observations for the look-back period and 
divide by two; (step 7) to determine the trimmed market depth, 
calculate the sum of the market depth determined in step 6 for all 
swap contracts within a swap category; (step 8) to determine the 
average trimmed market depth, use the executed notional volumes 
determined in step 2 and calculate a notional volume-weighted 
average of the notional amounts determined in step 6; (step 9) using 
the calculations in steps 7 and 8, calculate the market breadth 
based on the following formula: market breadth = averaged trimmed 
market depth + (trimmed market depth - average trimmed market depth) 
x .75; (step 10) set the appropriate minimum block size equal to the 
lesser of the values from steps 8 and 9. 77 FR 15,482.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Many commenters expressed support for adopting the market depth 
test \272\ and other commenters additionally supported utilizing the 
market breadth test.\273\ Several commenters stated that such tests 
would provide a more accurate depiction of overall liquidity in 
specific markets, and thus would produce more appropriate minimum block 
sizes.\274\ Other commenters stated that employing the tests would be 
consistent with congressional intent expressed in the Dodd-Frank 
Act.\275\ MFA, however, cautioned that current market depth may be an 
unreliable indicator because it may vary over time and be subject to 
manipulation.\276\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \272\ CL-CME at 2; CL-ODEX at 2; CL-Spring Trading at 2; CL-MFA 
at 7; CL-FIA at 2.
    \273\ CL-Arbor at 1; CL-AFR at 8-9; CL-Jeffries at 2; CL-SDMA at 
3-6; CL-Javelin at 4-6; CL-RJ O'Brien at 1; CL-Better Markets at 9-
10; CL-CRT at 2; CL-FIA at 2.
    \274\ CL-AFR at 9; CL-Spring Trading at 2; CL-FIA at 2; CL-SDMA 
at 8.
    \275\ CL-Arbor at 1; CL-CME at 2; CL-AFR at 3.
    \276\ CL-MFA at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters supported using the market depth and market 
breadth test in conjunction with the proposed notional amount 
calculation methodology and proposed different approaches. Some 
commenters recommended using the market depth test during the initial 
period as a cross-check against the Commission's notional amount 
calculations.\277\ SDMA and Javelin argued that a market depth and 
market breadth analysis would justify adoption of a 75-percent notional 
amount threshold in the initial period; \278\ AFR suggested, however, 
that such a threshold could be set as a floor, with higher thresholds 
available based on liquidity levels.\279\ Spring Trading suggested 
using the market depth test on a quarterly basis to refine the 67-
percent threshold during the initial period.\280\ Jefferies recommended 
using the test in the post-initial period to complement the 67-percent 
notional amount calculation in the initial period for interest rate and 
credit swaps.\281\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \277\ CL-MFA at 7; CL-SDMA at 7; CL-Spring Trading at 2.
    \278\ CL-SDMA at 5; CL-Javelin at 2.
    \279\ CL-AFR at 9.
    \280\ CL-Spring Trading at 2.
    \281\ CL-Jefferies at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Some commenters noted the need for available and sufficient data to 
adopt the market depth and market breadth tests. AFR commented that 
sufficient data was already available based on information provided on 
trading screens of trading venues.\282\ Other commenters, however, 
stated that additional market data would allow the tests to produce a 
more adequate snapshot of liquidity.\283\ For example, SDMA recommended 
adopting the tests after obtaining six months of data; Vanguard and 
Better Markets recommended a year.\284\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \282\ CL-AFR at 9.
    \283\ CL-Jefferies at 2; CL-Javelin at 6; CL-Arbor at 1; CL-RJ 
O'Brien at 1; CL-CRT at 2.
    \284\ CL-Better Markets at 10; CL-SDMA at 7; CL-Vanguard at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received in regard to phasing-
in the appropriate minimum block size and the 67-percent notional 
amount calculation, the Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(e)(1) with 
the following modifications. For the initial period, the Commission is 
adopting the 50 percent notional amount calculation to determine 
appropriate minimum block sizes in the interest rate swaps and credit 
asset classes. The Commission is of the view that this approach 
provides for a more gradual phase-in of minimum block sizes as 
recommended by numerous commenters. Moreover, this will allow SDRs to 
collect at least one year of reliable data for each swap category prior 
to the application of the higher 67-percent notional amount calculation 
to determine appropriate minimum block sizes in the post initial 
period, which the Commission is adopting as discussed below.
    For the post-initial period, the Commission is adopting Sec.  
43.6(f)(1) as proposed. The 67-percent notional amount calculation is 
intended to ensure that within a swap category, approximately two-
thirds of the sum total of all notional amounts are reported on a real-
time basis. This approach would ensure that market participants have a 
timely view of a substantial portion of swap transaction and pricing 
data to assist them in determining, inter alia, the competitive

[[Page 32894]]

price for swaps within a relevant swap category. The Commission 
anticipates that enhanced price transparency would encourage market 
participants to provide liquidity (e.g., through the posting of bids 
and offers), particularly when transaction prices move away from the 
competitive price. The Commission also anticipates that enhanced price 
transparency would improve market integrity and price discovery, while 
reducing information asymmetries enjoyed by market makers in 
predominately opaque swap markets.\285\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \285\ The proposed calculation stands in contrast to the 
proposed 95th percentile-based distribution test set out in the 
Initial Proposal. See the discussion in section I.B. of the Further 
Block Proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the Commission's view, using the 67-percent notional amount 
calculation in the post-initial period also would minimize the 
potential impact of real-time public reporting on liquidity risk. The 
Commission views this calculation methodology as an incremental 
approach to achieve real-time price transparency in swaps markets. The 
Commission believes that its methodology, in conjunction with the 50-
percent notional amount calculation during the initial period, 
represents a tailored approach towards achieving the goal of subjecting 
``a vast majority'' of swap transactions to real-time public 
reporting.\286\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \286\ See note 41 supra. This phased-in approach seeks to 
improve transparency while not having a negative impact on market 
liquidity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted above, CEA section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv) directs the Commission 
to take into account whether the public disclosure of swap transaction 
and pricing data ``will materially reduce market liquidity.'' \287\ If 
market participants conclude that the Commission has set appropriate 
minimum block sizes for a specific swap category in a way that will 
materially reduce market liquidity, then those participants are 
encouraged to submit data to support their conclusion. In addition, 
through its own surveillance of swaps market activity, the Commission 
may become aware that an appropriate minimum block size would reduce 
market liquidity for a specific swap category.\288\ In response to 
either a submission or its own surveillance of swaps market activity 
the Commission may exercise its legal authority to take action by rule 
or order to mitigate the potential effects on market liquidity with 
respect to swaps in a particular swap category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \287\ 7 U.S.C. 2(a)(13)(E)(iv).
    \288\ The Commission received two comments supporting the 
Commission's authority to set appropriate minimum block sizes 
outside of the proposed annual look-back period. MFA argued that the 
Commission's goal to balance transparency and liquidity would be 
better achieved with the flexibility to adjust minimum block sizes 
quickly to respond to material market changes. CL-MFA at 8. MFA 
recommended that the Commission should have the authority to update 
post-initial minimum block sizes in extraordinary circumstances and 
on a case-by-case basis, based on SDR data that it receives for 
individual or across multiple swap categories. Id. GFMA stated that 
if the Commission establishes a notional calculation test, then it 
should ensure that it has sufficient flexibility to amend minimum 
block sizes. CL-GFMA at 4. GFMA recommended that the Commission 
should be able to ``swiftly alter'' block trade levels to enable 
some trading to be conducted in a newly illiquid market, without the 
benefit of reference to a data set. Id. The Commission notes that 
Sec.  43.6(f)(1) provides that the Commission shall update post-
initial appropriate minimum block levels ``[n]o less than once each 
calendar year.'' Accordingly, the Commission notes that it has the 
ability to adjust post-initial minimum block sizes under the types 
of extraordinary circumstances raised by commenters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the market depth and market breadth test, the 
Commission is declining to adopt this approach to determine appropriate 
minimum block sizes at this time. The Commission considers the test a 
viable alternative to the notional amount calculation methodology, but 
also recognizes several prerequisites to implementing such a test. For 
example, the Commission would need to determine which contracts within 
a swap category offer pre-trade price transparency--electronically 
displayed and executable bids and offers as well as displayed available 
volumes for execution. As noted by commenters, adequate market trading 
data also must be available to collect a market depth snapshot of all 
of the bids and offers for the pre-trade price transparency set of 
applicable contracts. The Commission is also cognizant of MFA's 
concerns regarding the potential for manipulation of market depth. 
Given the time needed for trading infrastructure to develop and the 
significant time and cost considerations involved in collecting such 
data from SEFs and DCMs, the Commission will continue to examine the 
merits of adopting the market depth and market breadth test.
    The Commission is currently of the view that data is per se 
reliable if it is collected by an SDR for an asset class after the 
respective compliance date for such asset class as set forth in part 45 
of the Commission's regulations or by other Commission action. The 
Commission notes that SDRs have been collecting data pursuant to the 
compliance dates for certain market participants and asset classes 
since December 2012. DCMs and Swap Dealers (``SDs'') began reporting 
swap transactions in the interest rate and credit default swap asset 
classes on December 31, 2012.\289\ DCMs and SDs began reporting swap 
transactions in the FX, equity, and other commodity asset classes on 
February 28, 2013.\290\ Major Swap Participants (``MSPs'') began 
reporting swap transactions in all five asset classes on February 28, 
2013.\291\ Financial Entities began reporting swap transactions in the 
interest rate and credit default swap asset classes on April 10, 
2013.\292\ Financial Entities begin reporting swap transactions for 
swaps executed starting April 10, 2013, in the FX, equity, and other 
commodity asset classes on May 29, 2013.\293\ Non-SDs, non-MSPs, and 
non-Financial Entities begin reporting swap transactions for swaps 
executed starting April 10, 2013, in the interest rate and credit 
default swap asset classes on July 1, 2013.\294\ Non-SDs, non-MSPs, and 
non-Financial Entities begin reporting swap transactions for swaps 
executed starting April 10, 2013, in the FX, equity, and other 
commodity asset classes on August 19, 2013.\295\ Accordingly, the 
Commission and SDRs will have one year of reliable data as of April 10, 
2014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \289\ See ``Commission Q & A--On the Start of Swap Data 
Reporting'' (Oct. 9, 2012).
    \290\ See ``No-Action Relief for Swap Dealers from Certain Swap 
Data Reporting Requirements of Part 43, Part 45, and Part 46 of the 
Commission's Regulations Due to Effects of Hurricane Sandy,'' 
Commission Letter No. 12-41 (Dec. 5, 2012).
    \291\ See id.
    \292\ See ``Time-Limited No-Action Relief for Swap 
Counterparties that are not Swap Dealers or Major Swap Participants, 
from Certain Swap Data Reporting Requirements of Parts 43, 45 and 46 
of the Commission's Regulations,'' Commission Letter No. 13-10 (Apr. 
9, 2013).
    \293\ See id.
    \294\ See id.
    \295\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission notes that in response to either a submission or its 
own surveillance of swaps market activity, the Commission may exercise 
its legal authority to take action by rule or order to delay the 
imposition of post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes, 
particularly with respect to swap categories in the other commodity 
asset class.
4. Data for Determination of Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes in the 
Post-Initial Period
    As referenced above in Sec.  43.6(f)(2), the Commission proposed 
determining post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes utilizing a 
three-year rolling window (beginning with a minimum of one year and 
adding one year of data for each calculation until a total of three 
years of data is accumulated) of swap transaction and pricing data.
    The Commission received eight comments regarding the use of a 
three-

[[Page 32895]]

year rolling window of data. AII believed it would be more prudent for 
the Commission to base block trading thresholds on a shorter time 
frame, using newer data. AII recommended that the Commission should 
only use the highest of the three-year, one-year, or one-quarter data 
collected in the determinations.\296\ GFMA stated that the three-year 
rolling data set is unlikely to be sensitive enough to shorter term 
changes in market liquidity and therefore risks setting block sizes 
that do not reflect current market conditions.\297\ ICI believed that a 
three-year window may not provide an appropriate data set to calculate 
the block threshold, and encouraged the Commission to look at a one-
year set of data and a one-quarter set of data to determine whether the 
calculation would produce more accurate results.\298\ ISDA/SIFMA 
recommended a 6-month window for determining appropriate minimum block 
sizes, as a three-year rolling window is over-inclusive, particularly 
in CDS.\299\ Kinetix expressed concern that historical data may not be 
indicative of current market conditions.\300\ MFA was concerned that 
the three-year window would constrain the ability to shorten the look-
back period if material changes in market conditions warranted a 
smaller data set, and recommended retaining the option to shorten the 
look-back window for the observed data set.\301\ SIFMA believed that 
block reassessments should look to data on swaps executed since the 
previous reassessment, rather than from a three-year data window as 
proposed by the Commission.\302\ Vanguard believed the assessment 
should be made on the basis of data recorded over a rolling three-month 
period for each swaps category.\303\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \296\ CL-AII at 11.
    \297\ CL-GFMA at 4.
    \298\ CL-ICI at 7-8.
    \299\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 14.
    \300\ CL-Kinetix at 1.
    \301\ CL-MFA at 8.
    \302\ CL-SIFMA at 6-7.
    \303\ CL-Vanguard at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(f)(2) with modifications. Based upon the numerous 
comments recommending a data set covering a shorter time frame, the 
Commission will determine post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes 
under Sec.  43.6(f)(2) utilizing a one-year window of swap transaction 
and pricing data. This approach will allow the Commission to better 
calibrate block thresholds to changes in market liquidity, while at the 
same time providing enough data to smooth out fluctuations in data such 
as those that may result from, for example, seasonality.
    As referenced above, the Commission proposed to amend Sec.  43.2 of 
the Commission's regulations to define the term ``trimmed data set'' as 
a data set that has had extraordinarily large notional transactions 
removed by transforming the data into a logarithm with a base of ten 
(Log10), computing the mean, and excluding transactions that 
are beyond four standard deviations above the mean. Proposed Sec.  
43.6(c) uses this term in connection with the calculations that the 
Commission would undertake in determining appropriate minimum block 
sizes and cap sizes.
    The Commission received five comments regarding the proposed use of 
a trimmed data set. Three commenters supported the use of a trimmed 
data set, but suggested alternative approaches. ISDA/SIFMA opposed the 
proposed methodology and believed that it would establish a threshold 
that is too high to exclude large transactions.\304\ Therefore, ISDA/
SIFMA recommended that the Commission look instead at the raw block 
size (calculated based on all transactions in the relevant swap 
category) and eliminate any trades more than five times larger than the 
block threshold.\305\ ISDA/SIFMA alternatively recommended that the 
Commission only exclude transactions that are three standard deviations 
beyond the mean because the proposed methodology (excluding 
transactions that are four standard deviations beyond the mean) would 
capture large transactions that would otherwise skew the data.\306\ For 
purposes of applying a market depth and market breadth test, Javelin 
and SDMA recommended trimming each data set to focus only on bids or 
offers at the ``current price''--the Commission would (1) determine the 
mid-point of the bid-offer spread; (2) capture orders between the bid 
and this value; and (3) capture orders between the offer and this 
value.\307\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \304\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 14.
    \305\ Id.
    \306\ Id.
    \307\ CL-Javelin at 5; CL-SDMA at 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Two commenters opposed data trimming on the grounds that it is 
irrelevant to the purpose of determining minimum block trade sizes. AFR 
and Better Markets believed that trimming the data set would ultimately 
skew minimum block size calculations, such that certain-sized trades 
would be classified as block trades.\308\ Better Markets stated that 
the Commission should disclose the discrepancies between using a 
trimmed data set versus an unfiltered data set to calculate the block 
size threshold because the public lacks the data to make this 
determination on its own.\309\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \308\ CL-AFR at 7; CL-Better Markets at 9.
    \309\ CL-Better Markets at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.2 as proposed and applying the concept of a trimmed 
data set in Sec.  43.6(c) as proposed. The Commission believes that 
removing the largest transactions, but not the smallest transactions, 
may provide a better data set for establishing the appropriate minimum 
block size, given that the smallest transactions may reflect liquidity 
available to offset large transactions. Moreover, in the context of 
setting a block trade level (or large notional off-facility swap 
level), a method to determine relatively large swap transactions should 
be distinguished from a method to determine extraordinarily large 
transactions; the latter may skew measures of the central tendency of 
transaction size (i.e., transactions of usual size) away from a more 
representative value of the center.\310\ Therefore, trimming the data 
set increases the power of these statistical measures. In response to 
the commenters who oppose data trimming, the Commission emphasizes that 
trimming the data set is necessary to avoid the skewing of these 
measures, which could lead to the establishment of inappropriately high 
minimum block sizes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \310\ A measure of central tendency, also known as a measure of 
location, in a distribution is a single value that represents the 
typical transaction size. Two such measures are the mean and the 
median. For a general discussion of statistical methods, see e.g., 
Wilcox, R. R., Fundamentals of Modern Statistical Methods (Springer 
2d ed. 2010), (2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Methodology for Determining the Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes by 
Asset Class
a. Interest Rate and Credit Default Swaps
    As described above, the Commission proposed using a 67-percent 
notional amount calculation to determine appropriate minimum block 
sizes for swaps in the interest rate and credit asset classes in both 
the initial and post-initial periods pursuant to Sec. Sec.  43.6(c)(1), 
43.6(e)(1), and 43.6(f)(1). There was an exception to the use of the 
67-percent notional amount calculation for the initial period in three 
swap categories in the interest rate and credit asset classes which 
contained less than 30 transactions that would meet the definition of 
publicly reportable swap transaction: (1) Interest rate swap

[[Page 32896]]

category--major currency/30 years +; (2) interest rate swap category--
non-major currency/30 years +; and (3) CDScategory--350 bps +/6 to 8.5 
years. If the Commission were to use the proposed 67 percent notional 
calculation method, then two of the three swap categories would have 
resulted in appropriate minimum block sizes higher than those proposed. 
The remaining swap category contained no data. Accordingly, for these 
three swap categories in the initial period, the Commission proposed 
using the lowest appropriate minimum block size for their respective 
asset classes based on the respective data set.\311\ In the interest 
rate asset class, the swap category with the lowest block size was the 
non-major currency/5 to 10 years, with an appropriate minimum block 
size of $22 million (USD). In the credit asset class, the swap category 
with the lowest block size was the category 350 bps +/8.5 to 12.5 
years, with an appropriate minimum block size of $21 million (USD). 
Hence, the appropriate minimum block size was proposed to be set at $22 
million (USD) for the two interest rate swap categories with 
insufficient data and at $21 million (USD) for the corresponding CDS 
category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \311\ 77 FR at 15480.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For interest rate swaps specifically, the Commission received eight 
comments regarding the application of the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation to determine initial and post-initial minimum block sizes. 
Jefferies supported the Commission's proposal, stating that the 67 
percent notional amount calculation was consistent with congressional 
intent and observed liquidity.\312\ FIA did not explicitly support the 
67 percent notional amount calculation, but stated that a 50 percent 
notional amount calculation for interest rate swaps would be 
significantly too low.\313\ Javelin, ODEX, SDMA, and Spring Trading all 
recommended that the Commission maintain the proposed 67 percent 
notional amount calculation or raise the threshold higher.\314\ Javelin 
and SDMA both suggested a 75 percent notional amount calculation in 
conjunction with a market breadth and market depth approach.\315\ Other 
commenters, however, suggested lower values for the notional amount 
calculation--Freddie recommended a 50 percent notional calculation in 
the absence of more comprehensive data about liquidity and depth of 
swaps markets.\316\ Pierpont commented that, for instances where one 
counterparty to a swap is not a registered swap dealer, the Commission 
should determine block levels based on a 25 percent notional amount 
calculation.\317\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \312\ CL-Javelin at 1-2.
    \313\ CL-FIA at 2.
    \314\ CL-Javelin at 2; CL-ODEX at 1; CL-SDMA at 2; CL-Spring 
Trading at 2.
    \315\ CL-Javelin at 2; CL-SDMA at 2.
    \316\ CL-Freddie at 2.
    \317\ CL-Pierpont at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For credit default swaps, the Commission received four comments 
regarding the application of the 67 percent notional amount calculation 
to determine initial and post-initial minimum block sizes. Jefferies 
supported the Commission's proposal, stating that the 67 percent 
notional amount calculation was consistent with congressional intent 
and observed liquidity.\318\ Javelin recommended that the Commission 
maintain the proposed 67 percent notional amount calculation or raise 
the threshold higher, to a 75 percent notional amount calculation.\319\ 
Four commenters supported a market depth and market breadth test for 
CDS.\320\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \318\ CL-Javelin at 1-2.
    \319\ CL-Javelin at 2.
    \320\ CL-CRT at 1-2; CL-Javelin at 5-6; CL-Jefferies at 2; CL-
SDMA at 2-7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also received seven comments specifically regarding 
the interest rate swaps and CDS data sets used for determining swap 
categories and establishing appropriate minimum block thresholds in the 
initial period. AII commented that the data for interest rate swaps and 
CDS is no longer reflective of the market, nor is it reflective of the 
market that will result once the Commission's regulations are 
implemented in full, and urged the Commission not to rely on minimal 
and outdated data.\321\ ICI stated that the historical data on which 
the Commission relies may not be reflective of the swaps market once 
the Dodd-Frank Act requirements are fully implemented.\322\ Freddie 
stated that the interest rate data set may not be comprehensive enough 
to form the basis of the proposed minimum block sizes, particularly 
where the proposed post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes are 
determined after transaction and pricing data has been collected for a 
year.\323\ ICAP recommended that, if the Commission relies on 
historical market data, then it should use data that is more current 
and demonstrated to be representative of the market.\324\ MFA stated 
that, given limitations related to the size, composition, and 
timeliness of the data set that the Commission used for the initial 
period, the Commission should calibrate initial minimum block sizes 
against current market conditions.\325\ Vanguard stated that block 
thresholds cannot be established absent an adequate data source and 
time for assessment.\326\ WMBAA believed that, in basing rules on three 
months of data from over two years ago, the Commission has failed to 
``examine the relevant data and articulate a satisfactory explanation 
for its action including a rational connection between the facts found 
and the choices made'' as well as ``determine as best it can the 
economic implications of the rule.'' \327\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \321\ CL-AII at 7.
    \322\ CL-ICI at 5.
    \323\ CL-Freddie at 2.
    \324\ CL-ICAP at 8.
    \325\ CL-MFA at 6-7.
    \326\ CL-Vanguard at 7.
    \327\ CL-WMBAA at 4-5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As described more fully above, in response to comments regarding 
the data sets used for interest rate and credit default swaps, the use 
of an incremental approach, and the comments regarding phasing and the 
67-percent notional amount calculation regardless of asset class, the 
Commission is adopting a phased-in approach to notional amount 
calculation. The Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(e)(1) and (f)(1) as 
proposed, with modifications. In the initial period, the Commission is 
adopting the 50-percent notional amount calculation to determine 
appropriate minimum block sizes in the interest rate and credit asset 
classes. The Commission believes that this approach provides for a more 
gradual phase-in of minimum block sizes, as explained more fully 
above.\328\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \328\ See supra Section II.B(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission did not receive any comments regarding the exception 
to the 67 percent notional amount calculation for swap categories 
containing fewer than 30 transactions. Accordingly, the Commission will 
continue to apply this exception in instances where the a Interest Rate 
or Credit swap category contains fewer than 30 transactions in 
calculating appropriate minimum block thresholds for the initial 
period.
b. Equity
    The Commission proposed under Sec.  43.6(d) that all swaps in the 
equity asset class would not qualify for treatment as a block trade or 
large notional off-facility swap (i.e., these swaps would not be 
subject to a reporting time delay under part 43). As noted above, the 
Commission proposed this approach based on (1) the existence of a 
highly liquid underlying cash market; (2) the absence of time delays 
for reporting block trades in the underlying equity cash market; (3) 
the

[[Page 32897]]

small relative size of the equity swaps market relative to the futures, 
options and cash equity index markets; and (4) the Commission's goal to 
protect the price discovery function of the underlying equity cash 
market and futures market.
    The Commission received six comments regarding swap categories in 
the equity asset class. One commenter, AFR, felt that no block trade 
treatment is appropriate as proposed for the equity asset class.\329\ 
Five other commenters recommended that the Commission treat equity 
swaps similarly to the other asset classes and establish swap 
categories based upon a range of criteria.\330\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \329\ CL-AFR at 6.
    \330\ CL-AII at 9; CL-Barclays at 9; CL-ICI at; ISDA/SIFMA at 
10-11; SIFMA at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AII disagreed with the Commission's proposal that no equity swaps 
should be treated as blocks and suggested harmonization with the SEC's 
approach for large equity trades.\331\ Barclays also disagreed with 
disallowing block levels for all equity swaps and recommended that the 
equity asset class should be treated similarly to the other asset 
classes, such that broad based indices should have separate block 
levels based upon futures market levels.\332\ Barclays also suggested 
that the Commission coordinate with the SEC in setting minimum block 
levels.\333\ ICI recommended interim time delays for all equity swaps 
until a closer study of data on equity swap transactions is completed, 
due to potential differences in liquidity in the underlying equity cash 
market.\334\ ISDA/SIFMA requested that the Commission reconsider its 
proposal and suggested that the Commission establish block sizes based 
on the consideration of total trading volume of swaps linked to the 
relevant underlying index or basket of equity securities.\335\ SIFMA 
stated that the Commission should establish appropriate minimum block 
sizes for equity swaps based upon liquidity of the underlying 
indices.\336\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \331\ CL-AII at 9.
    \332\ CL-Barclays at 9.
    \333\ Id.
    \334\ CL-ICI at 5.
    \335\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 10-11.
    \336\ CL-SIFMA at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(d) as proposed. While a number of the commenters 
pointed out differences in liquidity in the underlying equity indices 
as a justification for swap categorization, these differences do not 
alter the premises underlying the Commission's proposal. Even taking 
these differences into account, there is still (1) a highly liquid 
underlying cash market; and (2) a small equity swaps market relative to 
the futures, options, and cash equity index markets. These 
characteristics, combined with the fact that there are no time delays 
for reporting block trades in the underlying equity cash market, makes 
establishment of swap categories and block thresholds for equity swaps 
inappropriate.\337\ Accordingly, the Commission is adopting Sec.  
43.6(d) as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \337\ In the event that time delays are established for 
reporting block trades in the underlying equity cash market, the 
Commission may consider establishing swap categories and block 
thresholds for equity swaps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. FX
    The Commission proposed to use different methodologies for the 
initial and post-initial periods to determine appropriate minimum block 
sizes for swaps categories in the FX asset class. The Commission's 
proposed approach is premised on the absence of actual market data on 
which to determine appropriate minimum block sizes in the initial 
period. Subsection a. below includes a discussion of the initial period 
methodology. Subsection ii. below includes a discussion of the post-
initial period methodology.
i. Initial Period Methodology
    The Commission proposed under Sec.  43.6(e)(1) to set the 
appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps in the FX asset class during 
the initial period based on whether such swap is economically related 
to a futures contract, i.e., a futures-related swap.\338\ For futures-
related swaps in the FX asset class, proposed Sec.  43.6(e)(1) provides 
that the Commission would establish the appropriate minimum block sizes 
based on the block trade size thresholds set by DCMs for economically-
related futures contracts.\339\ The Commission set forth the initial 
appropriate minimum block sizes in proposed appendix F to part 43 of 
the Commission's regulations.\340\ For non-futures related swaps in the 
FX asset class in the initial period, the Commission proposed under 
Sec.  43.6(e)(2) that all such swaps would qualify to be treated as 
block trades or large notional off-facility swaps (i.e., these swaps 
would be subject to a time delay under part 43 of the Commission's 
regulations). The Commission expected that this provision, as provided, 
only would apply to the most illiquid swaps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \338\ See supra note 169.
    \339\ For example, if swap A is economically related to futures 
F, and futures F is subject to the block trade rules of a DCM that 
applies at a notional amount of $1 million, then swap A would 
qualify for treatment as a block trade or large notional off-
facility swap if the notional amount of swap A exceeds $1 million.
    \340\ In situations when two or more DCMs offer for trading 
futures contracts that are economically related, the Commission has 
selected the lowest applicable non-zero futures block size as the 
initial appropriate minimum block size. The Commission believes that 
this approach would reduce the chance that the appropriate minimum 
block size established by the Commission in the initial period would 
have an unintended adverse effect on market liquidity for the 
relevant swap category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received three comments specifically related to the 
proposed methodology for determining appropriate minimum block sizes 
for swap categories in the FX asset class during the initial period. 
SDMA supported the Commission's proposed block trade thresholds for the 
FX asset class.\341\ AII, however, urged the Commission to consider 
removing the block trading threshold during the initial period for the 
FX asset class, so as to allow the Commission to use SDR data to 
properly evaluate the market.\342\ ICAP recommended an initial block 
level of $10 million in the 1-month contract on a variety of FX non-
deliverable forward contracts.\343\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \341\ CL-SDMA at 2.
    \342\ CL-AII at 3 n.10.
    \343\ CL-ICAP at 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission notes that, since the Further Block Proposal, 
Treasury has issued a Final Determination, pursuant to sections 
1a(47)(E)(i) and 1b of the CEA, that exempts FX swaps and FX forwards 
from the definition of ``swap'' under the CEA. Therefore, the 
requirements of section 2(a)(13) of the CEA would not apply to those 
transactions, and such transactions would not be subject to part 43 of 
the Commission's regulations.\344\ Nevertheless, section 1a(47)(E)(iii) 
of the CEA provides that FX swaps and FX forwards transactions still 
are not excluded from regulatory reporting requirements to an SDR. 
Further, the Commission notes that Treasury's final determination 
excludes FX swaps and FX forwards, but does not apply to FX options or 
non-deliverable FX forwards. As such, FX instruments that are not 
covered by Treasury's final determination are subject to part 43 of the 
Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \344\ See Determination of Foreign Exchange Swaps and Foreign 
Exchange Forwards under the Commodity Exchange Act, 77 FR 69694, 
Nov. 20, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(e)(1) and (2) as proposed. However, given the 
changes to proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i), which significantly reduce the 
number of swap categories, the Commission believes that this approach 
encompasses the most liquid FX swaps and instruments, including all

[[Page 32898]]

super-major currency combinations, as well as all super-major and major 
currency combinations. This approach further encompasses many important 
super-major and non-major currency combinations, many of which already 
have block trade size thresholds set by DCMs for economically-related 
futures contracts.\345\ The Commission believes that this approach is 
appropriate during the initial period in the absence of actual swap 
data. The approach during the initial period would draw upon the 
experience of DCMs in considering the potential impacts on liquidity 
risk that enhanced transparency may cause in connection with futures 
contract execution.\346\ The Commission understands that DCMs have set 
block sizes primarily in consideration of the objectives of enhancing 
pre-trade transparency and reducing liquidity risk.\347\ The Commission 
notes that DCMs are required to set block sizes for futures in 
compliance with relevant core principles (including Core Principle 9) 
\348\ and Commission regulations.\349\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \345\ See Q18 of the Further Block Proposal, which sets forth an 
alternative approach to proposed swap categories based on unique 
currency combinations. 77 FR 15476.
    \346\ The Commission notes further that DCMs historically have 
had the appropriate incentive to balance these considerations 
because they benefit from liquidity generally (i.e., commissions 
from transaction volume in block and non-block trades provides DCMs 
with their primary source of revenue).
    \347\ The Commission is of the view that the pre-trade and post-
trade contexts are sufficiently similar such that policies directed 
at balancing transparency and liquidity concerns in a pre-trade 
context are relevant in considering what an appropriate balance is 
in the post-trade context. In the pre-trade context, block sizes are 
set near or at the point where a trader would be able to offset the 
risk of an equally large transaction without bearing liquidity risk.
    \348\ Core Principle 9 of section 5(d) of the CEA provides that 
a DCM ``shall provide a competitive, open, and efficient market and 
mechanism for executing transactions. . . . '' 7 U.S.C. 7(d)(9). 
Current appendix B to part 38 of the Commission's regulations 
provides that in order to maintain compliance with Core Principle 9, 
DCMs allowing block trading ``should ensure that the block trading 
does not operate in a manner that compromises the integrity of 
prices or price discovery on the relevant market.'' See 17 CFR 38 
app. B.
    \349\ For example, section 40.6 of the Commission's regulations 
include a process by which registered entities may certify rules or 
rule amendments that establish or change block trade sizes for 
futures contracts. See 17 CFR 40.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ii. Post-Initial Period Methodology
    In the post-initial period, the Commission proposed under Sec.  
43.6(f)(2) to utilize the 67 percent notional amount calculation to 
determine appropriate minimum block sizes for swap categories in the FX 
asset class. The Commission would group all publicly reportable swap 
transactions in the FX asset class into their respective swap 
categories and then apply the 67 percent notional amount calculation to 
determine the appropriate minimum block sizes.
    The Commission received three comments specific to the proposed 
methodology for determining appropriate minimum block sizes for swap 
categories in the FX asset class during the post-initial period. SDMA 
supported the Commission's proposed block trade thresholds for the FX 
asset class.\350\ Barclays and GFMA, however, expressed concern that 
the 67 percent notional amount calculation was proposed without actual 
swap data regarding the FX asset class.\351\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \350\ CL-SDMA at 2.
    \351\ CL-Barclays at 10; CL-GFMA at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(f)(2) with the modification that only those swap 
categories established in Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(i) will have minimum block 
sizes set using this methodology in the post-initial period, while the 
remainder of the swaps covered by Sec.  43.6(b)(4)(ii) will continue to 
be treated as blocks. The Commission believes that applying the 67 
percent notional amount calculation will ensure that the vast majority 
of swap transactions are subject to real-time reporting.\352\ In 
addition, applying the 67 percent notional amount calculation to all 
five asset classes in the post-initial period provides a consistent, 
bright-line rule regarding how appropriate minimum block thresholds 
will be calculated, thus providing clarity to market participants 
engaging in swap transactions. By allowing all swaps covered by Sec.  
43.6(b)(4)(ii) to be treated as blocks, the Commission is being 
conservative in its approach in potentially less liquid markets where 
the impacts to market participants of inappropriate block trades could 
be substantial. The Commission believes that this approach provides 
additional time to analyze data in order to establish improved swap 
categories as suggested by commenters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \352\ See supra note 256.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

d. Other Commodity
    The Commission proposed using different methodologies for the 
initial and post-initial periods to determine appropriate minimum block 
sizes for swaps categories in the other commodity asset class. The 
proposed methodology for determining the appropriate minimum block 
sizes in the initial period differs based on the three types of other 
commodity swap categories: (1) Those swaps based on contracts listed in 
appendix B to part 43 of the Commission's regulations; \353\ (2) swaps 
that are economically related to certain futures contracts; \354\ and 
(3) other swaps.\355\ With regards to (1), the Commission proposed 
setting initial appropriate minimum block sizes for publicly reportable 
swap transactions in which the underlying asset directly references or 
is economically related to the natural gas or electricity swap 
contracts listed in appendix B to part 43 of the Commission's 
regulations.\356\ The proposed methodology for determining the 
appropriate minimum block sizes for other commodity swaps in the post-
initial period follows the same methodology--the 67 percent notional 
amount methodology--used for determining the post-initial appropriate 
minimum block sizes in the interest rate, credit and FX asset classes. 
A more detailed description of the methodologies during the initial and 
post-initial periods, as well as the rules for the special treatment of 
listed natural gas and electricity swaps are presented in the 
subsections below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \353\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i). The Commission is 
adopting most of the proposed categories in this final rule, subject 
to some modifications. See supra note 190 and accompanying text.
    \354\ As proposed under Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(ii), these futures 
contracts were: CME Cheese; CBOT Distillers' Dried Grain; CBOT Dow 
Jones-UBS Commodity Index Excess Return; CBOT Ethanol; CME Frost 
Index; CME Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI) (GSCI Excess Return 
Index); NYMEX Gulf Coast Gasoline; Gulf Coast Sour Crude Oil; NYMEX 
Gulf Coast Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel; CME Hurricane Index; CME 
International Skimmed Milk Powder; NYMEX New York Harbor Ultra Low 
Sulfur Diesel; CBOT Nonfarm Payroll; CME Rainfall Index; CME 
Snowfall Index; CME Temperature Index; CME U.S. Dollar Cash Settled 
Crude Palm Oil; and CME Wood Pulp. The Commission is adopting most 
of the proposed categories in this final rule, subject to some 
modifications. See supra note 187.
    \355\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(iii).
    \356\ The Commission notes that pursuant to proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(i), each of the listed natural gas and electricity swap 
contracts proposed to be listed in appendix B to part 43 would be 
considered its own swap category. As discussed further above, the 
Commission is adopting these categories in this final rule. See 
supra Section II.A(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

i. Initial Period Methodology
    With respect to swaps that reference or are economically related to 
one of the futures contracts listed in appendix B to part 43 \357\ or 
in Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(ii), the Commission proposed to set the appropriate 
minimum block size based on the block sizes for related futures

[[Page 32899]]

contracts set by DCMs.\358\ Similar to its rationale with respect to 
setting initial appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps in the FX 
asset class, the Commission believed that this approach would utilize 
the experience of DCMs in considering liquidity effects of enhancing 
pre-trade transparency in setting block sizes for these contracts. For 
swaps that reference or are economically related to a futures contract 
listed in appendix B to part 43 that is not subject to a DCM block 
trade rule, the Commission proposed in Sec.  43.6(e)(3) to disallow 
treatment as a block trade or large notional off-facility swap. The 
Commission based this approach on an inference that DCMs have not set 
block trade rules for certain futures contracts because of the degree 
of liquidity in those futures markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \357\ The futures contracts that are currently listed on 
appendix B to part 43 are the 28 Enumerated Reference Contracts plus 
Brent Crude Oil (ICE). The 13 electricity and natural gas swap 
contracts that the Commission had proposed to add to appendix B to 
part 43 of the Commission's regulations were not futures contracts. 
As noted above, however, these contracts have been converted into 
economically equivalent futures contracts that are listed on a DCM. 
See supra note 176.
    \358\ In situations when two or more DCMs offer for trading 
futures contracts that are economically related, the Commission has 
selected the lowest applicable non-zero futures block size among the 
DCMs as the initial appropriate minimum block size. The Commission 
believes that this approach would reduce the chance that the 
appropriate minimum block size established by the Commission in the 
initial period would have an unintended adverse effect on market 
liquidity for the relevant swap category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the initial period, the Commission proposed in Sec.  43.6(e)(2) 
to treat all non-futures-related swaps \359\ in the other commodity 
asset class as block trades or large notional off-facility swaps (i.e., 
these swaps would be subject to a reporting time delay under part 43, 
irrespective of notional amount). The Commission believed that non-
futures-related swaps in the other commodity asset class generally have 
lower liquidity in contrast to the more liquid interest rate, credit 
and equity asset classes, as well as other commodity swaps that are 
economically related to liquid futures contracts (i.e., those futures 
contracts listed in appendix B to part 43).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \359\ These non-futures related swaps are not economically 
related to one of the futures contracts listed in proposed appendix 
B to part 43 or in proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(ii). See proposed Sec.  
43.6(b)(5)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also proposed to amend appendix B to part 43 of the 
Commission's regulations to add 13 natural gas and electricity swap 
contracts, which the Commission previously has determined to be liquid 
contracts serving a price discovery function,\360\ with each contract 
serving as the basis for a swap category in the other commodity asset 
class. The Commission further proposed to set the initial appropriate 
minimum block size for each of these categories to $25 million (USD), 
which would apply to natural gas and electricity swaps that reference 
or are economically related to these natural gas and electricity swap 
contracts.\361\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \360\ See supra Section II.A(4).
    \361\ For swaps in which the underlying asset references or is 
economically related to one of the natural gas or electricity swaps, 
the Commission proposed to treat such natural gas and electricity 
swaps differently than other publicly reportable swap transactions 
in the other commodity asset class when setting the initial 
appropriate minimum block sizes. The Commission recognized that 
traders typically offset their positions in the natural gas and 
electricity markets through trading OTC forward contracts, swaps, 
plain vanilla options, non-standard options and other customized 
arrangements since existing futures contracts listed on DCMs only 
cover a limited number of electricity delivery points. The proposed 
$25 million initial minimum block level corresponded to the level of 
the interim and initial cap sizes. For a discussion of interim and 
initial cap sizes, see supra section III.A of the Further Block 
Proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SDMA expressed support for the proposed methodology for swaps in 
the other commodity asset class.\362\ With respect to the swaps in 
which the underlying asset references or is economically related to one 
of the natural gas or electricity swaps listed in appendix B to part 
43, EEI also expressed support for denominating the minimum block size 
in U.S. dollars, rather than by a quantity such as Mwh.\363\ EEI argued 
that denominating minimum block sizes in U.S. dollars would promote 
standardization across the various trading hubs in the electricity and 
natural gas markets.\364\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \362\ CL-SDMA at 2 n.1.
    \363\ CL-EEI at 11 n. 29.
    \364\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters, however, objected to certain aspects of the 
proposed $25 million (USD) initial appropriate minimum block size. Two 
commenters recommended setting the block sizes based on mmBtu/day and 
MW/hr for natural gas and electricity swaps, respectively, rather than 
setting the block sizes based on notional amount.\365\ ICAP Energy 
commented in particular that adopting the latter approach would be 
inappropriate, given that prices for such commodities fluctuate due to 
peak season usage or delivery location.\366\ ICAP Energy also commented 
that it was not clear as to how the notional value of swaps with 
optionality would be calculated; calculating notional value based on 
the premium of the option, for example, would adversely affect low-
premium options such as out-of-the-money calls and puts.\367\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \365\ CL-ICAP Energy at 4; CL-Barclays at 9.
    \366\ CL-ICAP Energy at 4.
    \367\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Two commenters opposed the proposed $25 million (USD) initial 
minimum block size with respect to the swap categories for the 
electricity swaps added to appendix B to part 43. ICAP Energy and EEI 
argued that the proposed limits were too high given the relative 
illiquidity of these markets.\368\ ICAP Energy recommended the 
following minimum block sizes: PJM WH (on-peak and off-peak)--50 MW/hr; 
SP-15 Financial Day-Ahead LMP (on-peak and off-peak)--30/MW/hr; Mid-C 
Financial (on-peak and off-peak--30 MW/hr).\369\ EEI requested that the 
Commission treat all electricity swaps transactions as block trades 
during the initial period or, in the alternative, set the initial 
minimum block size at no higher than $3 million.\370\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \368\ CL-ICAP Energy at 5; CL-EEI at 5.
    \369\ CL-ICAP Energy at 5.
    \370\ CL-EEI at 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICAP Energy and EEI also opposed the proposed $25 million initial 
minimum block size with respect to the swap categories for the natural 
gas swaps proposed to be added to appendix B to part 43. EEI requested 
that the Commission treat all natural gas swaps transactions as block 
trades during the initial period because of their relatively illiquid 
markets.\371\ In the alternative, EEI recommended setting the initial 
minimum block size at no higher than $3 million, which would 
approximately equate the proposed initial block size for the Henry Hub 
Natural Gas futures contract.\372\ ICAP Energy recommended setting the 
initial minimum block size at 2500 mmBtu.\373\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \371\ CL-EEI at 8.
    \372\ According to EEI, the proposed initial minimum block size 
of 1,000,000 mmBtu for the Henry Hub Natural Gas futures contract is 
approximately equal to a minimum block size of $3 million. EEI 
Comment Letter at 8-9.
    \373\ CL-ICAP Energy at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Parity Energy commented on the ambiguity of the term ``economically 
related'' and requested clarification that natural gas swaps with 
optionality that reference or are economically related to the Henry Hub 
Natural Gas options would be subject to the initial minimum block size 
proposed for that particular swap category (5,500,000 mmBtu), rather 
than the block size for Henry Hub Natural Gas futures (1,000,000 
mmBtu).\374\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \374\ CL-Parity at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Parity Energy opposed the proposed initial minimum block size of 
100,000 bbl. to crude oil swaps with optionality as too low and 
recommended that the Commission establish a separate initial minimum 
block size for such swaps at 1,000,000 bbl., which would be consistent 
with CME's minimum block size for Light Sweet Crude Oil options.\375\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \375\ Id. at 4-5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICAP Energy commented that swaps that reference or are economically

[[Page 32900]]

related to the NYMEX New York Harbor RBOB Gasoline futures contract, 
for which the Commission has not set an initial minimum block size 
under proposed appendix F, should be subject to a block size that is 
consistent with the one set by DCMs for the related futures 
contract.\376\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \376\ CL-ICAP Energy at 1-2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has considered the comments above regarding the 
appropriate unit of measurement and initial appropriate minimum block 
size for the natural gas and electricity swap categories in the other 
commodity asset class. Based on those comments and the other commodity 
swap categories adopted by the Commission in this final rule that are 
based on the converted natural gas and electricity futures 
contracts,\377\ the Commission is setting the appropriate minimum block 
sizes for these categories in the initial period based on the block 
sizes set by DCMs for these futures contracts. The Commission is 
adopting this approach for several reasons. This approach is consistent 
with the Commission's approach for swaps that reference or are 
economically related to one of the futures contracts previously listed 
in appendix B to part 43 or adopted Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(ii), which 
utilizes the experience of DCMs in setting block sizes for these 
contracts. The Commission also believes this approach is more 
conservative than the proposed $25 million initial minimum block size, 
which might adversely affect market liquidity for the electricity and 
natural gas swaps markets. Further, this approach responds to comments 
by setting the initial minimum block sizes based on underlying units, 
rather than notional amount, and would be more appropriate to avoid 
price fluctuations and to establish consistency with post-initial 
calculation methodology.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \377\ See supra note 176.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to Parity Energy and consistent with the Commission's 
adopted approach to swaps categories in the other commodity asset class 
under Sec.  43.6(b)(5)(i)-(ii), the Commission is not establishing 
initial appropriate minimum block sizes based on DCM block sizes for 
swaps that reference or are economically related to the options 
contracts listed in proposed appendix F.\378\ The Commission is 
establishing initial appropriate minimum block size for such swaps 
based on the adopted methodology for swaps with optionality, as 
discussed further below.\379\ The notional size of swaps with 
optionality in the initial period will be equal to the notional size of 
the swap component without the optional component; accordingly, the 
appropriate minimum block size will be based on the block sizes for 
economically related futures contracts set by DCMs.\380\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \378\ See supra note 187 and accompanying text.
    \379\ See infra Section II.C.
    \380\ See infra Section II.B.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission is otherwise adopting the rule generally as proposed 
under Sec.  43.6(e) with respect to swaps in the other commodity asset 
class, but also is updating initial appropriate minimum block sizes 
proposed in appendix F, consistent with block sizes set by DCMs for the 
relevant related futures contract.\381\ In response to ICAP Energy's 
request, the Commission is also setting an initial minimum block size 
for swaps that reference or are economically related to the NYMEX New 
York Harbor RBOB Gasoline futures contract that is based on the DCM 
block size set for that contract.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \381\ The Commission is also amending the initial minimum block 
size for swaps that reference or are economically related to the 
GSCI Excess Return Index, Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index, Gulf Coast 
Sour Crude Oil, and Palladium futures contract. The Commission is 
also removing the initial minimum block size for swaps that 
reference or are economically related to the Non-Farm Payroll, 
International Skimmed Milk Powder, and Wood Pulp futures contracts, 
as these contracts are no longer listed for trading. See supra note 
187.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ii. Post-Initial Period Methodology
    In the post-initial period, the Commission provided in proposed 
Sec.  43.6(f)(3) to determine appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps 
in the other commodity asset class by using the 67-percent notional 
amount calculation set forth in proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(1). The 67-
percent notional amount calculation would be applied to publicly 
reportable swap transactions in each swap category observed during the 
appropriate time period.
    Several commenters opposed the 67-percent notional amount 
calculation methodology for swaps in the other commodity asset class in 
the post-initial period.\382\ CME and WMBAA characterized the proposed 
methodology as overbroad and recommended a more tailored approach based 
on the trading profiles of each particular market.\383\ Barclays 
commented that the Commission has no data or evidence demonstrating 
that such a notional amount would properly balance liquidity and 
transparency considerations.\384\ ICAP Energy recommended a lower post-
initial notional amount--either 33 or 50 percent--that would account 
for the illiquid nature of the electricity and natural gas basis swaps 
market.\385\ Based on the non-standardized and bespoke nature of many 
electricity and natural gas swap transactions, EEI recommended that the 
Commission eliminate post-initial minimum block sizes for the 
electricity and natural gas swap categories for the swaps added to 
appendix B to part 43.\386\ EEI also recommended that the Commission 
eliminate minimum post-initial block sizes for the electricity swap 
category under appendix D.\387\ In the alternative, EEI recommended 
that the Commission set the minimum block sizes for each of these 
categories at no greater than $3 million.\388\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \382\ CL-Barclays at 10; CL-CME at 2, 4; CL-WMBAA at 2-3.
    \383\ CL-CME at 4; CL-WMBAA at 2-3.
    \384\ CL-Barclays at 10.
    \385\ CL-ICAP Energy at 3.
    \386\ CL-EEI at 8-9.
    \387\ Id. at 9.
    \388\ EEI requested that the Commission delay the adoption of 
minimum block sizes for the swaps in these categories for at least 
one year until it has obtained at least one year of data from an 
SDR; in the interim, all relevant transactions would be eligible for 
block trade treatment. CL-EEI at 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(f)(1) as proposed for swap categories in the other 
commodity asset class for the post-initial period. The reasons stated 
by the Commission above in support of this methodology in the post-
initial period also apply to swaps in this asset class. The Commission 
believes that this methodology will ensure that the vast majority of 
swap transactions are subject to real-time reporting.\389\ In addition, 
applying the same post-initial notional amount calculation to the other 
commodity asset class provides a consistent, bright-line rule regarding 
how appropriate minimum block thresholds will be calculated, thus 
providing clarity to market participants engaging in swap transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \389\ See note 41 supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Special Provisions for the Determination of Appropriate Minimum 
Block Sizes for Certain Types of Swaps
    The Commission recognizes the complexity of the swaps market may 
make it difficult to determine appropriate minimum block sizes for 
particular types of swaps under the methodologies discussed above. For 
that reason, the Commission proposed Sec.  43.6(h), which sets out a 
series of special rules that apply to the determination of the 
appropriate minimum block sizes for particular types of swaps. The 
Commission proposed special rules with respect to: (a) Swaps with 
optionality; (b) swaps with composite reference prices \390\; (c)

[[Page 32901]]

``physical commodity swaps'' \391\; (d) currency conversions; and (e) 
successor currencies. Each of these special rules is discussed in the 
subsections below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \390\ In the Further Block Proposal, the Commission proposed 
amending Sec.  43.2 to define ``swaps with composite reference 
prices'' as swaps based on reference prices composed of more than 
one reference price that are in differing swap categories. The 
Commission proposed to use this term in connection with the 
establishment of a method through which parties to a swap 
transaction can determine whether a component to their swap would 
qualify the entire swap as a block trade or large notional off-
facility swap. The Commission is adopting this definition as 
proposed.
    \391\ In the Further Block Proposal, the Commission proposed to 
amend Sec.  43.2 of the Commission's regulations by defining the 
term ``physical commodity swap'' as a swap in the other commodity 
asset class that is based on a tangible commodity. The Commission is 
adopting this definition as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

a. Swaps With Optionality
    A swap with optionality highlights special concerns in terms of 
determining whether the notional size of such swap would be treated as 
a block trade or large notional off-facility swap. Proposed Sec.  
43.6(h)(1) addressed these concerns by providing that the notional size 
of swaps with optionality would equal the notional size of the swap 
component without the optional component. For example, a LIBOR 3-month 
call swaption with a calculated notional size of $9 billion for the 
swap component--regardless of option component, strike price, or the 
appropriate delta factor--would have a notional size of $9 billion for 
the purpose of determining whether the swap would qualify as a block 
trade or large notional off-facility swap.\392\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \392\ In essence, this approach would assume a delta factor of 
one with respect to the underlying swap for swaptions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received two comments regarding proposed Sec.  
43.6(h)(1). FIA stated that the approach failed to recognize potential 
differences in liquidity between the swap and an underlying 
swaption.\393\ FIA also pointed out that the Further Block Proposal did 
not explicitly address how to handle combinations of options.\394\ With 
respect to options transactions involving swaps in the electricity, 
natural gas, and crude oil swap categories that are used to carry out 
complex strategies, ICAP Energy recommended treating all such 
transactions, as well as related swap hedges, as block trades.\395\ 
ICAP Energy cited the complex nature of these transactions and the 
common involvement of an intermediary in carrying them out as reasons 
for across-the-board treatment as block trades.\396\ ICAP Energy, 
however, supported the proposed approach of adopting the block sizes 
set by DCMs for natural gas and electricity outright options.\397\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \393\ CL-FIA at 3.
    \394\ Id.
    \395\ CL-ICAP Energy at 6.
    \396\ Id.
    \397\ CL-ICAP Energy at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(h)(1) as proposed. In response to ICAP Energy, the 
Commission believes that the proposed approach provides an easily 
calculable method for market participants to ascertain whether their 
swaps with optionality features would qualify as a block trade or large 
notional off-facility swap. The Commission is aware that this approach 
does not take into account the risk profile of a swap with optionality 
compared to that of a ``plain-vanilla swap,'' but believes that this 
approach is reasonable to minimize complexity.
b. Swaps With Composite Reference Prices
    Swaps with two or more reference prices (i.e., composite reference 
prices) raise concerns as to which reference price market participants 
should use to determine whether such swap qualifies as a block trade or 
large notional off-facility swap.\398\ Proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(2) 
provides that the parties to a swap transaction with composite 
reference prices (i.e., two or more reference prices) may elect to 
apply the lowest appropriate minimum block size applicable to any 
component swap category. This provision also would apply to: (1) 
Locational or grade-basis swaps that reflect differences between two or 
more reference prices; and (2) swaps utilizing a reference price based 
on weighted averages of component reference prices.\399\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \398\ Swaps with composite reference prices are composed of 
reference prices that relate to one another based on the difference 
between two or more underlying reference prices--for example, a 
locational basis swap (e.g., a natural gas Rockies Basis swap) that 
utilizes a reference price based on the difference between a price 
of a commodity at one location (e.g., a Henry Hub index price) and a 
price at another location (e.g., a Rock Mountains index price).
    \399\ In other words, swaps with a composite reference price 
composed of reference prices that relate to one another based on an 
additive relationship. This term would include swaps that are priced 
based on a weighted index of reference prices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(2), market participants would need to 
decompose their composite reference price swap transaction in order to 
determine whether their swap would qualify as a block trade or large 
notional off-facility swap. For example, assume that the appropriate 
minimum block size for futures A-related swaps is $3 million, for 
futures B-related swaps is $800,000, for futures C-related swaps is 
$1.2 million and for futures D-related swaps is $1 million. If a swap 
is based on a composite reference price that itself is based on the 
weighted average of futures price A, futures price B, futures price C, 
and futures price D (25% equal weightings for each), and the notional 
size of the swap is $4 million (i.e., $1 million for each component 
swap), then the swap would qualify as a block trade or large notional 
off-facility swap based on the futures B-related swap appropriate 
minimum block size.
    The Commission received one comment regarding proposed Sec.  
43.6(h)(2). AFR recommended that transactions that are composites of 
swaps that are economically equivalents of futures contracts should be 
disaggregated and separately priced for the purpose of determining 
applicability of the block rules. AFR also recommended that the 
Commission be vigilant of the use of composite swaps by counterparties 
in order to ``evade the purpose of Section 727 and the Proposed 
Rules.'' \400\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \400\ CL-AFR at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to spread transactions, ICAP Energy recommended that 
the minimum block size limit be based upon the lowest limit leg of the 
transaction, in a manner consistent with the proposed approach to 
setting minimum block size limits for the mixed asset swap class.\401\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \401\ CL-ICAP Energy at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based upon the comments received, the Commission is adopting Sec.  
43.6(h)(2) with certain clarifications based upon general concerns 
expressed by commenters regarding the use of composite swaps to evade 
minimum block sizes. The Commission is of the view that this rule 
provides market participants with a straightforward and uncomplicated 
way in which to determine whether such swap would qualify as a block 
trade or large notional off-facility swap, but that a clarification is 
needed to avoid the risk of evasion raised by commenters. In response 
to ICAP Energy's comments, the Commission highlights to provide clarity 
that ``any component swap category'' as used above in the methodology 
applies to swaps with a single Unique Swap Identifier (``USI'') for the 
combination of swaps identified with a single Unique Product Identifier 
(``UPI'') and not to groups of different swaps each with separate USIs 
transacted on or near the same time.\402\ Further, the reference to 
``any component swap category'' does not

[[Page 32902]]

limit the application of this standard to those composite reference 
swaps comprised of only multiple asset classes and instead should be 
understood to apply more broadly to composite swaps of multiple asset 
classes (i.e., a mixed asset swap), intra asset classes, and intra swap 
category composite reference prices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \402\ The real-time public reporting rules would apply to each 
of the separate USIs as previously finalized in part 43. 17 CFR 
45.5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To provide further clarity and clarification in response to AFR's 
comment, the Commission provides the following additional example of 
determining whether a composite reference price swap transaction would 
qualify as a block trade or large notional off-facility swap. For 
example, assume that the appropriate minimum block size for swap 
category E is $50 million and for swap category F is $200 million. If a 
single swap transaction with a corresponding singular reporting 
obligation is based on a composite reference price that itself is based 
on the weighted average of (1) one component in swap category E; (2) a 
second component in swap category E; and (3) a component in swap 
category F (33% equal weightings for each), and the notional size of 
the swap is $75 million (i.e., $25 million for each component swap), 
then the swap would not qualify as a block trade or large notional off-
facility swap based on either the swap category E or the swap category 
F appropriate minimum block size.
c. Physical Commodity Swaps
    Block trade sizes for physical commodities are generally expressed 
in terms of notional quantities (e.g., barrels, bushels, gallons, 
metric tons, troy ounces, etc.). The Commission proposed a similar 
convention for determining the appropriate minimum block sizes for 
block trades and large notional off-facility swaps. In particular, 
proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(3) provides that notional sizes for physical 
commodity swaps shall be expressed in terms of notional quantities 
using the notional unit measure utilized in the related futures 
contract market or the predominant notional unit measure used to 
determine notional quantities in the cash market for the relevant, 
underlying physical commodity. This approach ensures that appropriate 
minimum block size thresholds for physical commodities are not subject 
to volatility introduced by fluctuating prices. This approach also 
eliminates complications arising from converting a physical commodity 
transaction in one currency into another currency to determine 
qualification for treatment as a block trade or large notional off-
facility swap.
    The Commission received no comments regarding proposed Sec.  
43.6(h)(3). The Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(h)(3) as proposed.
d. Currency Conversion
    Under proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(4), the Commission provided that when 
determining whether a swap transaction denominated in a currency other 
than U.S. dollars qualifies as a block trade or large notional off-
facility swap, swap counterparties and registered entities may use a 
currency exchange rate that is widely published within the preceding 
two business days from the date of execution of the swap transaction in 
order to determine such qualification. This proposed approach would 
enable market participants to use a currency exchange rate that they 
deem to be the most appropriate or easiest to obtain.
    The Commission received no comments regarding proposed Sec.  
43.6(h)(4). The Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(h)(4) as proposed.
e. Successor Currencies
    As noted above, the Commission proposed using currency as a 
criterion to determine swap categories in the interest rate asset 
class.\403\ The Commission also proposed to classify the euro (EUR) as 
a super-major currency, among other currencies.\404\ Proposed Sec.  
43.6(h)(5) provides that for currencies that succeed a super-major 
currency, the appropriate currency classification for such currency 
would be based on the corresponding nominal gross domestic product 
(``GDP'') classification (in U.S. dollars) as determined in the most 
recent World Bank World Development Indicator at the time of 
succession. This proposed provision is intended to address the possible 
removal of one or more of the 17 EU member states that use the 
euro.\405\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \403\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(b)(1)(i) and the related 
discussion in section II.B.1. of the Further Block Proposal.
    \404\ See the proposed amendment to Sec.  43.2, defining 
``super-major currencies.''
    \405\ The 17 European Union member states that use the euro are: 
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, 
Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(5)(i)-(iii) further specifies the manner in 
which the Commission would classify a successor currency for each 
country that was once a part of the predecessor currency. Specifically, 
the Commission proposes to use GDP to determine how to classify a 
successor currency. For countries with a GDP greater than $2 trillion, 
the Commission would classify the successor currency to be a super-
major currency.\406\ For countries with a GDP greater than $500 billion 
but less than $2 trillion, the Commission would classify the successor 
currency as a major currency.\407\ For nations with a GDP less than 
$500 billion, the Commission would classify the successor currency as a 
non-major currency.\408\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \406\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6)(i).
    \407\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6)(ii).
    \408\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received no comments regarding proposed Sec.  
43.6(h)(5). The Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(h)(5) as proposed.

C. Procedural Provisions

1. Sec. 43.6(a) Commission Determination
    The Commission proposed that it determine the appropriate minimum 
block size for any swap listed on a SEF or DCM, and for large notional 
off-facility swaps. Proposed Sec.  43.6(a) specifically provides that 
the Commission would establish the appropriate minimum block sizes for 
publicly reportable swap transactions based on the swap categories set 
forth in proposed Sec.  43.6(b) in accordance with the provisions set 
forth in proposed Sec. Sec.  43.6(c), (d), (e), (f) and (h), as 
applicable.
    The Commission received eight comments regarding determination of 
appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps listed on a SEF or DCM. Four 
commenters favored allowing SEFs and DCMs to set appropriate minimum 
block sizes for the swaps they list. CME stated that the Commission 
would be better served by retaining the ability to set block levels in 
the private, bilateral swaps market and deferring to the expertise of 
SEFs and DCMs to set the levels in their markets.\409\ ICAP suggested 
that the Commission utilize the same approach as for the futures 
markets, where futures exchanges set their own block sizes, and allow 
SEFs to set block sizes since they have an incentive to provide as much 
information about trading interest as possible without hurting 
liquidity.\410\ Morgan Stanley suggested that the Commission could 
allow DCMs and SEFs to set appropriate block sizes, subject to 
Commission approval, as DCMs and SEFs would benefit from setting block 
sizes in a way that maximizes liquidity.\411\ WMBAA stated that the 
Commission should authorize SEFs to analyze ongoing swaps market

[[Page 32903]]

trading activity and trade data to determine uniform thresholds that 
distinguish transactions that move markets from those that do not, and 
work to ensure that block trade regimes for swaps executed on SEFs and 
DCMs are as consistent as possible to avoid arbitrage.\412\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \409\ CL-CME at 3.
    \410\ CL-ICAP at 5-6.
    \411\ CL-Morgan Stanley at 3.
    \412\ CL-WMBAA at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Four commenters supported the Commission's proposal that the 
Commission set minimum block levels. Three of those commenters 
recommended that SEFs and DCMs should not be able to set minimum block 
thresholds above the level mandated by the Commission. Javelin asserted 
that the CFTC should set block trade rules and not SEFs, so as to avoid 
a race to the bottom that would harm transparency and threaten 
competition.\413\ SIFMA stated that the Commission should set minimum 
block trade size thresholds and argued that allowing SEFs and DCMs to 
set a block size threshold above the minimum level mandated by the 
Commission without guidance is inconsistent with the Commission's 
statutory duty ``to specify the criteria for determining what 
constitutes a large notional swap transaction (block trade) for 
particular markets and contracts.'' \414\ AII also stated that SEFs or 
DCMs should not have the ability to set block sizes for swaps at higher 
levels than the appropriate minimum block sizes determined by the 
Commission, as SEFs in particular have interests that may not be 
aligned with buy-side firms and may not be incentivized to ensure that 
market disruption is minimal.\415\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \413\ CL-Javelin at 6.
    \414\ CL-SIFMA at 11-12.
    \415\ CL-AII at 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, ICAP Energy stated that SEF block limits for futures 
equivalent swap contracts should adjust automatically to meet DCM 
contract limits adjustments between annual revisions of SEF block 
limits, so that the Commission does not set SEF block levels at levels 
higher than the block levels set by DCMs.
    Based upon the comments received, the Commission is adopting Sec.  
43.6(a) as proposed. The Commission agrees with the commenters who 
recommended that appropriate minimum block thresholds for swaps be set 
by the Commission, rather than SEFs or DCMs. The Commission concurs 
with SIFMA that it has a statutory duty ``to specify the criteria for 
determining what constitutes a large notional swap transaction (block 
trade) for particular markets and contracts.'' \416\ The Commission 
also agrees with Javelin that allowing SEFs and DCMs to set appropriate 
minimum block thresholds could lead to a race to the bottom that would 
harm transparency and reduce competition. In the Commission's view, the 
Commission's approach is also the least burdensome from a cost-benefit 
perspective because it significantly reduces the direct costs imposed 
on registered entities. Moreover, while Sec.  43.6(a) states that the 
Commission will determine minimum block sizes, as recommended by some 
of the commenters, the Commission notes that SEFs and DCMs nonetheless 
will have the discretion to set block sizes for swaps at levels that 
are higher than the appropriate minimum block sizes determined by the 
Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \416\ CL-SIFMA at 11-12; 7 U.S.C. 2(a)(13)(E)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. 43.6(f)(4) and (5) Publication and Effective Date of Post-Initial 
Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes
    Proposed Sec.  43.6(f)(3) provided that the Commission would 
publish the post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes on its Web 
site. Proposed Sec.  43.6(f)(4) provided that these sizes would become 
effective on the first day of the second month following the date of 
publication. Per proposed Sec.  43.6(f)(1), the Commission would 
publish updated post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes in the 
same manner no less than once each calendar year.
    Several commenters recommended that post-initial appropriate 
minimum block sizes should be updated more frequently than on an annual 
basis.\417\ ICI, AII and SIFMA recommended a quarterly or at least a 
semi-annual calculation in order to account for changes in liquidity in 
the market.\418\ Spring Trading and Vanguard recommended a quarterly 
calculation that would allow block levels to be more responsive to the 
market.\419\ Kinetix, however, recommended that calculations should be 
carried out on a monthly basis.\420\ MFA suggested that the Commission 
maintain the optional ability to update the minimum block size on a 
more frequent basis as well as shorten the look-back window for the 
relevant data set.\421\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \417\ CL-GFMA at 3.
    \418\ CL-ICI at 7; CL-AII at 11; CL-SIFMA at 6-7.
    \419\ CL-TeraExchange at 2; CL-Vanguard at 7.
    \420\ CL-Kinetix at 2.
    \421\ CL-MFA at 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Some commenters asserted that the Commission should have the 
authority to update appropriate minimum block sizes outside of the 
proposed 1-year set look-back period. GFMA believed that the Commission 
should have this authority, without reference to a data set, to respond 
to a market that quickly becomes illiquid.\422\ MFA also supported 
providing this authority, but believed that the Commission should 
exercise this authority based on SDR data received for individual or 
multiple swap categories.\423\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \422\ CL-GFMA at 4.
    \423\ CL-MFA at 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on its argument that block levels set by SEFs should not be 
higher than those set by DCMs, ICAP Energy recommended allowing for 
automatic adjustment to occur during the course of the year.\424\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \424\ CL-ICAP Energy at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission is adopting the rule as proposed, with the one 
modification that proposed Sec.  43.6(f)(3) and (4) will be adopted as 
Sec.  43.6(f)(4) and (5). The rule as adopted only requires that the 
Commission to update post-initial minimum block sizes at least once a 
year and therefore does not preclude the Commission from doing so on a 
more frequent basis. The Commission anticipates that it will examine 
and re-calculate such block sizes at regular intervals, but also 
acknowledges that the liquidity of a swap market may change 
significantly outside of such intervals. Therefore, the Commission 
reserves the authority to update minimum block sizes when warranted and 
as necessary to respond to such circumstances. In response to GFMA and 
MFA, the Commission agrees with MFA and emphasizes that in all 
circumstances, minimum block sizes will be updated based on the 
relevant market data received.
    In response to ICAP Energy's recommendation, the Commission notes 
that adopting such a requirement would potentially create minimum block 
size re-alignment issues for SEFs, particularly during the initial 
period for swaps in the other commodity class. Under this requirement, 
SEFs would be de facto subject to a DCM's own business decisions, i.e., 
block trade size calculations that are based on trading that does not 
occur on their own facility or platform. Further, the Commission has 
noted that SEFs and DCMs may set minimum block sizes that are higher 
than those prescribed by the Commission; this recommended requirement 
would otherwise preclude such an ability in certain cases. Accordingly, 
the Commission declines to adopt this requirement.
3. Sec. 43.6(g) Notification of Election
    Proposed Sec.  43.6(g) set forth the election process through which 
a qualifying swap transaction would be treated as a block trade or 
large notional

[[Page 32904]]

off-facility swap, as applicable. Proposed Sec.  43.6(g)(1) would 
establish a two-step notification process relating to block trades. 
Proposed Sec.  43.6(g)(2) would establish the notification process 
relating to large notional off-facility swaps.
    Proposed Sec.  43.6(g)(1)(i) contained the first step in the two-
step notification process relating to block trades. In particular, the 
parties to a publicly reportable swap transaction that has a notional 
amount at or above the appropriate minimum block size would be required 
to notify the SEF or DCM (pursuant to the rules of such SEF or DCM) of 
their election to have their qualifying publicly reportable swap 
transaction treated as a block trade.\425\ With respect to the second 
step, proposed Sec.  43.6(g)(1)(ii) provided that the SEF or DCM that 
receives an election notification would be required to notify the 
relevant SDR of such block trade election when transmitting swap 
transaction and pricing data to the SDR for public dissemination.
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    \425\ In order to qualify as a block trade, a swap must (1) be 
listed on a registered SEF or DCM; (2) occur away from the 
registered SEF's or DCM's trading system or platform and is executed 
pursuant to its rules and procedures; and (3) have a notional or 
principal amount at or above the appropriate minimum block size 
applicable to such swap. See Sec.  43.2. By definition, a block 
trade must occur away from the SEF or DCM's trading system or 
platform and thus cannot be transacted on the SEF or DCM's trading 
system or platform. Moreover, the swap must be at or above the 
appropriate minimum block size at the time that it becomes a 
publicly reportable swap transaction. Any swap that is executed on a 
SEF or DCM's trading system or platform, regardless of whether it is 
for a size at or above the appropriate minimum block size for such 
swap, is not a block trade under this definition, and, thus, is 
required to be publicly disseminated in real-time pursuant to Sec.  
43.4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similar to the first step set forth in proposed Sec.  43.6(g)(1), 
proposed Sec.  43.6(g)(2) would provide, in part, that a reporting 
party who executes an off-facility swap with a notional amount at or 
above the applicable appropriate minimum block size would be required 
to notify the relevant SDR of its election to treat such swap as a 
large notional off-facility swap. This section provided further that 
the reporting party would be required to notify the relevant SDR in 
connection with the reporting party's transmission of swap transaction 
and pricing data to the SDR pursuant to Sec.  43.3 of the Commission's 
regulations.
    The Commission received no comments regarding proposed Sec.  
43.6(g). The Commission is adopting Sec.  43.6(g) as proposed.
4. Sec. 43.7 Delegation of Authority
    Under proposed Sec.  43.7(a), the Commission would delegate the 
authority to undertake certain Commission actions to the Director of 
the Division of Market Oversight (``Director'') and to other employees 
as designated by the Director from time to time. In particular, this 
proposed delegation would grant to the Director the authority to 
determine: (1) New swap categories as described in proposed Sec.  
43.6(b); (2) post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes as described 
in proposed Sec.  43.6(f); and (3) post-initial cap sizes as described 
in the proposed amendments to Sec.  43.4(h)(2) of the Commission's 
regulations.\426\ The purpose of the proposed delegation provision 
would be to facilitate the Commission's ability to respond 
expeditiously to ever-changing swap market and technological 
conditions. The Commission is of the view that this delegation would 
help ensure timely and accurate real-time public reporting of swap 
transaction and pricing data and further ensure anonymity in connection 
with the public reporting of such data. Proposed Sec.  43.7(b) provided 
that the Director may submit to the Commission for its consideration 
any matter that has been delegated pursuant to this authority. Proposed 
Sec.  43.7(c) provided that the delegation to the Director would not 
prevent the Commission, at its election, from exercising the delegated 
authority.
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    \426\ See the discussion of post-initial cap sizes in section 
III.B. infra. As noted above, the Commission proposed an amendment 
to Sec.  43.2 to define the term ``cap size'' as the maximum limit 
of the principal, notional amount of a swap that is publicly 
disseminated. This term applies to the cap sizes determined in 
accordance with the proposed amendments to Sec.  43.4(h) of the 
Commission's regulations.
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    The Commission received no comments regarding proposed Sec.  
43.7(a) and therefore is adopting Sec.  43.7(a) as proposed.
5. Section 43.6(h)(6) Aggregation
    Proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6) would prohibit the aggregation of orders 
for different trading accounts in order to satisfy the minimum block 
size or cap size requirements, except that aggregation would be 
permissible if done on a DCM or SEF by a person who: (i)(A) Is a CTA 
registered pursuant to Section 4n of the CEA or exempt from such 
registration under the Act, or a principal thereof, and who has 
discretionary trading authority or directs client accounts, (B) is an 
investment adviser who has discretionary trading authority or directs 
client accounts and satisfies the criteria of Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) of 
this chapter, or (C) is a foreign person who performs a similar role or 
function as the persons described in (A) or (B) and is subject as such 
to foreign regulation, and (ii) has more than $25 million in total 
assets under management. In the Commission's view, such a prohibition 
would be integral to ensuring the integrity of block trade principles 
and preserving the basis for the anonymity associated with establishing 
cap sizes.
    The Commission received a number of comments on the proposed 
aggregation rule, particularly as to the enumerated persons who would 
otherwise be allowed to aggregate orders from different trading 
accounts. Barnard supported the rule, noting that it would help ensure 
that non-block transactions comply with the exchange trading 
requirements and real-time reporting obligations, thereby increasing 
transparency and price discovery, promoting market integrity, improving 
efficiency and competitiveness in the swap markets, and ultimately 
providing timely information to enable market participants to improve 
their risk management practices.\427\ Barnard suggested that the 
Commission add an additional requirement--that the ``block trade is 
suitable for customers of such persons''--on the basis that such a 
requirement would improve consistency in the rules applicable to swap 
and futures markets.\428\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \427\ CL-Barnard at 2.
    \428\ CL-Barnard at 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ABC and CIEBA stated that qualified investment advisers who are not 
CTAs should be able to aggregate block trade orders for different 
trading accounts.\429\ Tradeweb commented that CTAs who trade on a SEF 
should also be permitted to aggregate trades on behalf of their 
customers for purposes of block trades.\430\ JP Morgan commented that 
this rule appears to reflect a concern that private negotiation affords 
less protection to unsophisticated investors than trading through the 
central markets, and that since all entities that transact in the OTC 
market already must be ECPs, the analogous concern about customer 
protection in the swaps market is already addressed.\431\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \429\ CL-ABC/CIEBA at 3.
    \430\ CL-Tradeweb at 5. Tradeweb's comment was received in 
response to the Initial Proposal and not the Aggregation Proposed 
Rule, the latter which allowed for CTAs to aggregate on SEFs. 75 FR 
at 76174.
    \431\ CL-JPM at 9, n.13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICI opposed the minimum assets under management requirement in 
proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6)(ii) and argued that the Commission did not 
articulate a rationale or policy reason for this requirement.\432\ ICI 
stated that while advisers to registered funds would typically meet the 
asset requirement, advisers with less than the proposed

[[Page 32905]]

minimum would also have a valid need to engage in block trades on 
behalf of the funds they manage.\433\ ICI further stated that no 
relationship exists between the amount of assets managed and the 
legitimacy of aggregating client orders. ICI also disagreed that an 
investment adviser seeking to aggregate orders must satisfy the 
criteria of Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) of the Commission's regulations.\434\ 
ICI suggested that the Commission only require an investment adviser to 
be registered under Sec.  203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or 
pursuant to the laws of any state without specifying a minimum 
registration length or location for deposit of client assets.\435\
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    \432\ CL-ICI at 3.
    \433\ Id.
    \434\ Id. at 4. An investment adviser satisfies the criteria of 
Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) if the investment adviser registers pursuant to 
Sec.  203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or pursuant to the 
laws of any state, and the investment adviser has been registered 
and active for two years or provides security investment advice to 
securities accounts which, in the aggregate, have total assets in 
excess of $5,000,000 deposited at one or more registered securities 
brokers. 17 CFR 4.7(a)(2)(v).
    \435\ CL-ICI at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Two comments requested clarifications to the proposed rule. WMBAA 
sought clarification that the Commission did not intend for the 
Proposed Rule to prevent the use of ``work up'' in over-the-counter 
swaps.\436\ WMBAA stated that a block size calculation should not be 
performed until the work up period ends, but expressed concern that the 
work up trades could be considered aggregation.\437\ SIFMA noted that 
proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6) does not restrict the aggregation prohibition 
to ``block trades'' and, as a result, ``large notional off-exchange 
swaps'' could be subject to the aggregation prohibition.\438\ SIFMA 
requested that the Commission add language to clarify that the 
aggregation prohibition does not apply to large notional off-exchange 
swaps.\439\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \436\ CL-WMBAA at 2. During a work up transaction, a swap price 
is agreed upon for trading and the trade is then reported to market 
participants, who then have the opportunity to ``join the trade'' by 
placing a firm bid or offer to buy or sell a particular quantity. 
Id.
    \437\ Id. at 2-3.
    \438\ Id. at 3.
    \439\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6) as proposed. In response to the 
comment by ABC and CIEBA, the Commission notes that qualified 
investment advisers, who are not CTAs, are able to aggregate block 
trade orders from different trading accounts. Under Sec.  
43.6(h)(6)(i)(B) and (ii), investment advisers that satisfy the 
criteria under Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) and have more than $25 million in 
total assets under management are able to aggregate orders from 
different accounts. The Commission also agrees that CTAs who trade on a 
SEF should be permitted to aggregate customer trades, which would be 
allowed under the rule as adopted, subject to the enumerated 
conditions.
    With respect to JP Morgan's comment, the Commission notes that 
customers trading swaps on DCMs do not have to be ECPs. As discussed 
further below, adopted Sec.  43.6(i)(1) allows non-ECP customers to be 
parties to block trades through a qualifying CTA, investment adviser, 
or similar foreign person.\440\ It is possible, therefore, that those 
non-ECP DCM customers may not be aware if they received the best terms 
for their individual swap transactions that are aggregated with other 
transactions. Protection for such customers is therefore necessary, as 
it is for unsophisticated customers in other markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \440\ See infra Section II.C(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to Barnard's suggested additional requirement,\441\ the 
Commission acknowledges that the same or similar phrase appears in the 
rules of many exchanges.\442\ The Commission, however, does not believe 
that it is necessary to incorporate such specific language to the rule 
because persons such as CTAs and investment advisers are already 
subject to broad anti-fraud prohibitions under their governing 
statutes.\443\ Moreover, adopted Sec.  43.6(i)(2), discussed further 
below, also requires that any person transacting a block trade on 
behalf of a customer receive prior written instruction or consent from 
the customer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \441\ CL-Barnard at 2.
    \442\ See, e.g., Chicago Mercantile Exchange Rule 526(I). See 
also Chicago Board of Trade Rule 526(I); Eris Exchange, LLC Rule 
601(b)(10); and New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. Rule 526(I).
    \443\ See CEA section 4o (CTAs); Investment Advisors Act of 1940 
section 206.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to ICI's opposition to the minimum asset threshold 
under Sec.  43.6(h)(6)(ii), the Commission notes that this threshold 
reflects common industry practice.\444\ CME, for example, has enforced 
the $25 million threshold in its rules since September 2000.\445\ CME 
has stated that the threshold ``is an effort to establish the 
professionalism and sophistication of the registrant'' \446\ while also 
expanding the number of CTAs and investment advisers eligible to 
aggregate trades.\447\ The Commission believes that the $25 million 
threshold is an appropriate requirement to ensure that persons allowed 
to aggregate trades are appropriately sophisticated with these 
transactions, while at the same time not excluding an unreasonable 
number of CTAs, investment advisers, and similar foreign persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \444\ See, e.g., CME Rule 526. See also CBOE Futures Exchange 
LLC Rule 415(a)(i); Chicago Board of Trade Rule 526; Eris Exchange, 
LLC Rule 601(b)(10); ICE Futures U.S. Rule 4.07; NASDAQ OMX Futures 
Exchange, Inc. Rule E23; New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. Rule 
526(I); NYSE Liffe US, LLC Rule 423; and OneChicago LLC Rule 417.
    \445\ See CME Submission 00-99 (Sept. 21, 2000) (modifying CME 
Rule 526 to reduce the threshold from $50,000,000 to $25,000,000). 
CME originally planned to lower the threshold from $50,000,000 to 
$5,000,000, but withdrew the submission and instead proposed to 
lower the threshold to $25,000,000, based on customer suggestions. 
See CME Submission 00-93 (Sept. 1, 2000); CME Submission 00-99 at 5-
6.
    \446\ Id. at 6 (quoting letter addressed to Jean A. Webb, 
Secretary of the Commission from John G. Gaine, President, Managed 
Funds Association dated April 24, 2000 regarding ``Chicago 
Mercantile Exchange new Proposed Rule 526'').
    \447\ Id. at 4, 6-7. CME also stated in the filing that it 
planned to readdress the threshold amount as it gained experience 
with block trades, but has declined to modify the amount.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also disagrees with ICI's contention that investment 
advisers should not be required to satisfy the criteria under Sec.  
4.7(a)(2)(v), which requires an investment adviser to (1) be registered 
and active as an investment adviser for two years or (2) provide 
securities investment advice to securities accounts which, in the 
aggregate, have total assets in excess of $5 million deposited at one 
or more registered securities brokers.\448\ The Commission first 
adopted provisions similar to current Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) in 1992 \449\ 
as objective indications that a person had the investment 
sophistication and experience needed to evaluate the risks and benefits 
of investing in commodity pools or a portfolio large enough to indicate 
the same, along with the financial resources to withstand the 
investment risks.\450\ In 2000,\451\ the Commission extended the same 
criteria in current Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) to registered investment 
advisers for the same reasons.\452\ The Commission believes that these 
objective criteria, which demonstrate that an investment adviser 
possesses the necessary investment expertise, should also apply with 
respect to allowing such persons to aggregate client orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \448\ 17 CFR 4.7(a)(2)(v).
    \449\ 57 FR 34853, 34854-55 (Aug. 7, 1992). The final rule 
reduced the amount on deposit threshold to $5 million from the $10 
million required by the proposed rule. See 57 FR 3148, 3152 (Jan. 
28, 1992).
    \450\ See 57 FR at 34854 (quoting 57 FR at 3152).
    \451\ 65 FR 11253, 11257-58 (Mar. 2, 2000).
    \452\ Id. at 11257 (quoting 57 FR at 3152).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to WMBAA, the Commission clarifies that the aggregation 
prohibition will not affect the work up process. By definition, a block 
trade occurs away from a DCM or

[[Page 32906]]

SEF.\453\ The trades that are part of the work up process will occur on 
a DCM or SEF, and therefore are not block trades and are not subject to 
the aggregation prohibition.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \453\ Section 43.2 defines a ``block trade'' as a publicly 
reportable swap transaction that ``occurs away from the registered 
swap execution facility's or designated contract market's trading 
system or platform and is executed pursuant to the registered swap 
execution facility's or designated contract market's rules and 
procedures.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, as to SIFMA's requested clarification, the Commission 
notes that that it does intend to include large notional off-facility 
swaps in the aggregation prohibition under Sec.  43.6(h)(6). The 
appropriate minimum block size applies to both block trades and large 
notional off-facility swaps,\454\ and thus the aggregation prohibition 
should be applied to both types of transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \454\ Section 43.2 defines a ``large notional off facility 
swap'' as having ``notional or principal amount at or above the 
appropriate minimum block size.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Section 43.6(i) Eligible Block Trade Participants
    Proposed Sec.  43.6(i)(1) provided that parties to a block trade 
must be ECPs, as defined under Section 1a(18) of the CEA and the 
Commission's regulations. The proposed rule includes an exception to 
the ECP requirement by providing that a DCM may allow (i) A CTA 
registered pursuant to Section 4n of the CEA, or exempt from 
registration under the CEA, or a principal thereof, who has 
discretionary trading authority or directs client accounts, (ii) an 
investment adviser who has discretionary trading authority or directs 
client accounts and satisfies the criteria the criteria of 4.7(a)(2)(v0 
of the Commission's regulations, or (iii) a foreign person who performs 
a similar role or function to the persons described in (i) or (ii) and 
is subject as such to foreign regulation, to transact block trades for 
customers who are not ECPs, if such CTA, investment adviser or foreign 
person has more than $25 million in total assets under management. 
Proposed Sec.  43.6(i)(2) further provided that a person transacting a 
block trade on behalf of a customer must receive prior written 
instruction or consent from the customer to do so. Such instruction or 
consent may be provided in a power of attorney or similar document, by 
which the customer provides the person with discretionary trading 
authority or the authority to direct the trading in the customer's 
account.
    As discussed above, similar comments regarding the exceptions to 
the prohibitions against aggregation for certain persons were submitted 
with respect to the exception to certain persons transacting blocks on 
a DCM on behalf of non-ECPs. For example, ICI opposed the minimum 
assets under management requirement in proposed Sec. Sec.  43.6(i)(1) 
and similarly argued that the Commission did not articulate a rationale 
or policy reason for this requirement.\455\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \455\ CL-ICI at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Specific comments were also received on proposed Sec.  
43.6(i)(2).\456\ ICI requested a clarification that only a person 
transacting a block trade on behalf of a customer who is not an ECP 
must receive prior written instruction or consent.\457\ ICI argued that 
written instruction or consent from an ECP is not necessary because 
these customers can engage in block trades and that investment advisers 
with discretionary trading authority registered with the SEC already 
have the ability to aggregate orders on behalf of clients without 
obtaining separate consent.\458\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \456\ CL-ICI at 5; CL-SIFMA at 1-2.
    \457\ CL-ICI at 5.
    \458\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SIFMA commented that proposed Sec.  43.6(i)(2) may require asset 
managers to obtain consent from each client for whom they will engage 
in block trades.\459\ SIFMA contended that this requirement would be 
costly and unnecessary, and that notice to the customers \460\ or a 
general grant of investment discretion in the investment management 
agreement, power of attorney, or similar document should be 
sufficient.\461\ SIFMA further commented that proposed Sec.  43.6(i)(2) 
is unlike rules governing DCMs in the futures context.\462\ SIFMA also 
argued that DCM rules requiring consent for block trades only require 
the direct members of the DCM to obtain consent from the members' 
direct customers, not from the customers' customers. Additionally, 
SIFMA contended that a client consent requirement does not apply to 
advisers with respect to futures trades and should not apply to 
advisers with respect to swaps trades.\463\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \459\ CL-SIFMA at 1.
    \460\ Id. at 2.
    \461\ Id.
    \462\ Id. at 1 n.4.
    \463\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.6(i) as proposed. The Commission declines to adopt 
ICI's clarification and notes that Sec.  43.6(i)(2) is intended to 
ensure that all customers of CTAs, investment advisers, and similar 
foreign persons, whether the customers are ECPs or not, are fully 
informed of the use of block trades on their behalf.
    The Commission also disagrees with SIFMA's contention regarding the 
burdens of obtaining consent. This burden consent will be minimal 
because Sec.  43.6(i)(2) states that the instruction or consent may be 
provided through a power of attorney or similar document that provides 
discretionary trading authority or the authority to direct trading in 
the account. The consent may therefore be included in existing and 
future customer agreements. The Commission further disagrees that a 
general grant of investment discretion or notice to the customer should 
satisfy Sec.  43.6(i)(2). A customer's written instruction or consent 
is necessary because a customer potentially may not receive the best 
terms for an individual swap transaction that is part of an 
aggregation. The written instruction or consent makes the customer 
aware that block trades may be used on its behalf, allowing the 
customer to decide whether to allow these transactions.
    The Commission notes that a similar consent requirement was 
included in the Commission's proposed DCM rule.\464\ The Commission 
believes that the customer protection functions of the consent 
requirement apply, regardless of the degree of separation between the 
customer and the DCM or SEF. As discussed above, the consent 
requirement ensures that customers are informed of the use of block 
trades for their accounts. If a CTA, an investment adviser, or a 
similar foreign person plans to aggregate customer orders for block 
trades, then the customers must have the opportunity to evaluate 
whether the customer agrees to the use of aggregation, as evidenced by 
the written instruction or consent, regardless of whether the CTA, 
investment adviser, or similar foreign person is a direct member of a 
DCM or SEF.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \464\ Core Principles and Other Requirements for Designated 
Contract Markets. 75 FR 80572, Dec. 22, 2010. The final DCM rule, 
however, did not include this proposed regulation which was 
promulgated, along with various other regulations, to implement Core 
Principle 9. As noted in the final rule, given the number of 
comments received under Core Principle 9, the Commission believed 
that additional time was appropriate before finalizing the proposed 
rules for Core Principle 9; it expects to consider the proposed 
rules at a future date. 77 FR 36643, June 19, 2012.
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III. Anonymity Protections for the Public Dissemination of Swap 
Transaction and Pricing Data

A. Policy Goals

    Section 2(a)(13)(E)(i) of the CEA directs the Commission to protect 
the identities of counterparties to swaps subject to the mandatory 
clearing requirement, swaps excepted from the

[[Page 32907]]

mandatory clearing requirement, and voluntarily cleared swaps. 
Similarly, section 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) of the CEA requires that the 
Commission prescribe rules that maintain the anonymity of business 
transactions and market positions of the counterparties to an uncleared 
swap.\465\ In proposed amendments to Sec.  43.4(h) and 43.4(d)(4), as 
described further below, the Commission proposed measures to protect 
the identities of counterparties and to maintain the anonymity of their 
business transactions and market positions in connection with the 
public dissemination of publicly reportable swap transactions. The 
Commission proposed to follow the practices used by most federal 
agencies when releasing to the public company-specific information--by 
removing obvious identifiers, limiting geographic detail (e.g., 
disclosing general, non-specific geographical information about the 
delivery and pricing points) and masking high-risk variables by 
truncating extreme values for certain variables (e.g., capping notional 
values).\466\
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    \465\ This provision does not cover swaps that are ``determined 
to be required to be cleared but are not cleared.'' See 7 U.S.C. 
2(a)(13)(C)(iv).
    \466\ The Commission is following the necessary procedures for 
releasing microdata files as outlined by the Federal Committee on 
Statistical Methodology: (i) Removal of all direct personal and 
institutional identifiers, (ii) limiting geographic detail, and 
(iii) top-coding high-risk variables which are continuous. See 
Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology, Report on Statistical 
Disclosure Limitation Methodology 94 (Statistical Policy Working 
Paper 22, 2d ed. 2005), https://www.fcsm.gov/working-papers/totalreport.pdf. The report was originally prepared by the 
Subcommittee on Disclosure Limitation Methodology in 1994 and was 
revised by the Confidentiality and Data Access Committee in 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Establishing Notional Cap Sizes for Swap Transaction and Pricing 
Data to Be Publicly Disseminated in Real-Time

1. Policy Goals for Establishing Notional Cap Sizes
    In addition to establishing appropriate minimum block sizes, the 
Commission also proposed to amend Sec.  43.4(h) to establish cap sizes 
for notional and principal amounts that would mask the total size of a 
swap transaction if it equals or exceeds the appropriate minimum block 
size for a given swap category. For example, if the block size for a 
category of interest rate swaps was $1 billion, the cap size was $1.5 
billion, and the actual transaction had a notional value of $2 billion, 
then this swap transaction would be publicly reported with a delay and 
with a notional value of $1.5+ billion.
    The proposed cap size provisions are consistent with the two 
relevant statutory requirements in section 2(a)(13) of the CEA. First, 
the cap size provisions would help protect the anonymity of 
counterparties' market positions and business transactions as required 
in section 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) of the CEA.\467\ Second, the masking of 
extraordinarily large positions also takes into consideration the 
requirement under section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv) that the Commission take into 
account the impact that real-time public reporting could have in 
reducing market liquidity.\468\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \467\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(a)(13)(C)(iii).
    \468\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(a)(13)(E)(iv).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Proposed Amendments Related to Cap Sizes--Sec.  43.2 Definitions and 
Sec.  43.4 Swap Transaction and Pricing Data To Be Publicly 
Disseminated in Real-Time
    The Commission proposed an amendment to Sec.  43.2 to define the 
term ``cap size'' as the maximum limit of the principal, notional 
amount of a swap that is publicly disseminated. This term applies to 
the cap sizes determined in accordance with the proposed amendments to 
Sec.  43.4(h) of the Commission's regulations.
    Section 43.4(h) of the Commission's regulations currently 
establishes interim cap sizes for rounded notional or principal amounts 
for all publicly reportable swap transactions. In the Real-Time 
Reporting Final Rule, the Commission finalized Sec.  43.4(h) to provide 
that the notional or principal amounts shall be capped in a manner that 
adjusts in accordance with the appropriate minimum block size that 
corresponds to a publicly reportable swap transaction.\469\ Section 
43.4(h) further provides that if no appropriate minimum block size 
exists, then the cap size on the notional or principal amount shall 
correspond to the interim cap sizes that the Commission has established 
for the five asset classes.\470\ In Sec.  43.4(h) and as described in 
the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission notes that SDRs will 
apply interim cap sizes until such time as appropriate minimum block 
sizes are established.\471\ The Commission continues to believe that 
the interim cap sizes for each swap category should correspond with the 
applicable appropriate minimum block size, to the extent that an 
appropriate minimum block size exists.\472\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \469\ See 77 FR 1247.
    \470\ Sections 43.4(h)(1)-(5) established the following interim 
cap sizes for the corresponding asset classes: (1) Interest rate 
swaps at $250 million for tenors greater than zero up to and 
including two years, $100 million for tenors greater than two years 
up to and including 10 years, and $75 million for tenors greater 
than 10 years; (2) credit swaps at $100 million; (3) equity swaps at 
$250 million; (4) foreign exchange swaps at $250 million; and (5) 
other commodity swaps at $25 million.
    \471\ See 77 FR 1215.
    \472\ Leading industry trade associations agree that cap sizes 
are an appropriate mechanism to ensure that price discovery remains 
intact for block trades, while also protecting post-block trade risk 
management needs from being anticipated by other market 
participants. See ISDA and SIFMA, Block Trade Reporting for Over-
the-Counter Derivatives Market, Jan. 18, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission proposed to amend Sec.  43.4(h) both to establish 
initial cap sizes for each swap category within the five asset classes 
and also to delineate a process for the post-initial period through 
which the Commission would establish post-initial cap sizes for each 
swap category.\473\ The Commission also proposed changing the term 
``interim'' as it is used in Sec.  43.4(h) in the Real-Time Reporting 
Rule to ``initial'' in order to correspond with the description of the 
initial period in proposed Sec.  43.6(e).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \473\ The Commission does not intend the provisions in this 
final rule to prevent a SEF or DCM from sharing the exact notional 
amounts of a swaps transaction on or pursuant to the rules of its 
platform with market participants on such platform irrespective of 
the cap sizes set by the Commission. To share the exact notional 
amounts of swaps, the SEF or DCM must comply with Sec.  
43.3(b)(3)(i) of the Commission's regulations. See 77 FR 1245.
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a. Initial Cap Sizes
    In the initial period,\474\ proposed Sec.  43.4(h)(1) would set the 
cap size for each swap category as the greater of the interim cap sizes 
in all five asset classes set forth in the Real-Time Reporting Final 
Rule (Sec.  43.4(h)(1)-(5)) or the appropriate minimum block size for 
the respective swap category.\475\ If such appropriate minimum block 
size does not exist, then the cap sizes shall be set at the interim cap 
sizes set forth in the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule (Sec.  
43.4(h)(1)-(5)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \474\ The initial period is the period prior to the effective 
date of a Commission determination to establish applicable post-
initial cap sizes. See proposed Sec.  43.4(h)(1).
    \475\ See 77 FR 1249.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the initial period, AII and ISDA/SIFMA argued that the cap size 
should be the lower of block size and the interim cap size in Sec.  
43.4(h)(1).\476\ EEI stated that the cap size of $25 million for both 
the electricity swap contracts proposed to be added to appendix B and 
the electricity swaps in the other commodity swap categories in 
appendix D, which would be based on the interim cap sizes established 
by the Commission in the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, is too high. 
EEI instead recommended both a fixed cap size and a minimum block size 
of $3 million.\477\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \476\ CL-AII at 12; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 15.
    \477\ CL-EEI at 11-12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting

[[Page 32908]]

Sec.  43.4(h)(1) as proposed. EEI recommends a lower cap size for 
specific swap categories--particularly electricity swaps--but it does 
not recommend any change to the proposed interplay between cap size and 
appropriate minimum block size during the interim period. The cap size 
for the interim period was established by the Real-Time Reporting Final 
Rule, and the Commission considered the appropriate level for these cap 
sizes at that time. The Commission did not propose altering the interim 
cap size in the Further Block Proposal, and thus did not receive 
comments regarding altering the interim cap size beyond that of EEI. 
The Commission does not believe that altering the interim cap size 
would be appropriate under such circumstances.
    AII and ISDA/SIFMA recommended that the cap size be set as the 
lower of the appropriate minimum block size and the interim cap sizes 
set forth in the Real-Time Reporting Rule. The Commission, however, 
disagrees with this view of the relationship between block thresholds 
and cap sizes. All of the information regarding a block trade is 
reported to the market at the end of the block time delay. Cap sizes, 
on the other hand, are never expressed to the market. Because this 
information is not reported to the market in real-time, nor reported to 
the market at all, the Commission believes that cap sizes should be set 
at a higher level than block sizes, in order to minimize the amount of 
information that is never publicly disseminated. Accordingly, the 
Commission is adopting Sec.  43.4(h)(1) as proposed.
b. Post-Initial Cap Sizes and the 75-Percent Notional Amount 
Calculation
    Pursuant to proposed Sec.  43.4(h)(2)(ii), the Commission would use 
a 75 percent notional amount calculation, as proposed in Sec.  
43.6(c)(2), to determine the appropriate post-initial cap sizes for all 
swap categories for the purpose of reporting block trades or large 
notional off-facility swaps of significant size.\478\ This calculation 
methodology would be different from the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation methodology that the Commission proposed in Sec.  
43.6(c)(1), which would be used to determine appropriate minimum block 
sizes.\479\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \478\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(2).
    \479\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the 75 percent notional amount calculation, the Commission 
would determine the appropriate cap size through the following process, 
pursuant to proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(2): (step 1) select all of the 
publicly reportable swap transactions within a specific swap category 
using a rolling three-year window of data beginning with a minimum of 
one year's worth of data and adding one year of data for each 
calculation until a total of three years of data is accumulated; (step 
2) convert to the same currency or units and use a trimmed data set; 
(step 3) determine the sum of the notional amounts of swaps in the 
trimmed data set; (step 4) multiply the sum of the notional amount by 
75 percent; (step 5) rank order the observations by notional amount 
from least to greatest; (step 6) calculate the cumulative sum of the 
observations until the cumulative sum is equal to or greater than the 
75 percent notional amount calculated in step 4; (step 7) select the 
notional amount associated with that observation; (step 8) round the 
notional amount of that observation to two significant digits, or if 
the notional amount associated with that observation is already 
significant to two digits, increase that notional amount to the next 
highest rounding point of two significant digits; and (step 9) set the 
appropriate minimum block size at the amount calculated in step 8.
    Consistent with the Commission's proposed process to determine the 
appropriate post-initial minimum block sizes, proposed Sec.  43.4(h)(3) 
provided that the Commission would publish post-initial cap sizes on 
its Web site. Proposed Sec.  43.4(h)(4) provided that unless otherwise 
indicated on the Commission's Web site, the post-initial cap sizes 
would become effective on the first day of the second month following 
the date of publication.
    The Commission received 10 comments regarding the 75 percent 
notional amount calculation for determining post-initial cap sizes. One 
commenter, Javelin, supported the 75 percent notional amount 
calculation and stated that it was consistent with the minimum block 
size threshold established by the Commission.\480\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \480\ CL-Javelin at 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Seven commenters, however, recommended that the Commission set 
post-initial cap sizes matching the post-initial minimum block size 
thresholds established by the Commission. AII recommended setting the 
post-initial cap size for each swap category at the same level as the 
post-initial block size threshold and states that the 75 percent 
notional amount calculation is far too high.\481\ GFMA similarly stated 
that the same rationale should apply to cap and block sizes, as both 
have potential negative impacts on liquidity.\482\ ICI stated that the 
75 percent notional amount would be too high for determining cap size 
because the lack of depth and liquidity in the swaps market could cause 
public reporting of block sizes to reveal identities, business 
transactions, and market positions of participants, and recommended a 
67 percent notional amount calculation for determining cap size in the 
post-initial period.\483\ ISDA/SIFMA also stated that the added 
transparency from reporting transaction sizes between 67 percent and 75 
percent would not outweigh the harm to liquidity from additional 
disclosure, and urges the Commission to ensure that the post-initial 
cap size is always equal to the relevant block size.\484\ MFA commented 
that it is unnecessary for the Commission to establish cap sizes that 
differ from minimum block sizes as there is not a meaningful 
transparency benefit that would outweigh the resource burdens on the 
Commission, SDRs, SEFs, and other market participants.\485\ SIFMA 
recommended that the Commission should set the notional cap size at the 
block threshold, as the added public dissemination could harm liquidity 
in the same manner that a higher block trade size threshold might.\486\ 
Vanguard believes that it is essential that the cap match the block 
trade threshold, as to do otherwise would compromise the liquidity 
protections afforded by the nuanced assessment of block trade 
thresholds.\487\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \481\ CL-AII at 12.
    \482\ CL-GFMA at 5.
    \483\ CL-ICI at 8.
    \484\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 15.
    \485\ CL-MFA at 8-9.
    \486\ CL-SIFMA at 12.
    \487\ CL-Vanguard at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Two other commenters suggested alterations of the Commission's 
proposed cap sizes. Barclays recommended that the post-initial period 
cap sizes be introduced at more nuanced levels that reflect the 
differences between product's traded volumes.\488\ EEI recommended a 
much lower fixed cap size for Electricity Swap Contracts and the Other 
Commodity Electricity Swap Category.\489\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \488\ CL-Barclays at 6.
    \489\ CL-EEI at 11-12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments above, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.4(h)(2)(ii) as proposed. The Commission is of the 
view that setting post-initial cap sizes above appropriate minimum 
block sizes would provide additional pricing information with respect 
to large swap transactions, which are large enough to be treated as 
block trades (or large notional off-facility swaps), but small enough 
that they do not exceed the applicable post-

[[Page 32909]]

initial cap size. This additional information may enhance price 
discovery by publicly disseminating more information relating to market 
depth and the notional sizes of publicly reportable swap transactions, 
while still protecting the anonymity of swap counterparties and their 
ability to lay off risk when executing extraordinarily large swap 
transactions.
    The Commission notes that Section 2(a)(13) tasks the Commission 
with bringing real-time public reporting to the swaps market. Section 
2(a)(13)(E) expressly provides that the Commission determine 
appropriate time delays for block trades and large notional off-
facility swaps. However, these provisions only call for a time delay--
they do not provide for information to be kept from the market in 
perpetuity. All of the information regarding a block trade is reported 
to the market at the end of the block time delay. Cap sizes, on the 
other hand, are never expressed to the market. Because this information 
is not reported to the market in real-time, nor reported to the market 
at all, the Commission believes that cap sizes should be set at a 
higher level than block sizes. The 75 percent notional test balances 
the competing interests of providing meaningful real-time public 
reporting to the swaps market and protecting the anonymity of swap 
market participants, while taking into account potential impacts on 
market liquidity.
    If market participants conclude that the Commission has set cap 
sizes for a specific swap category in a way that will materially reduce 
market liquidity, then those participants are encouraged to submit data 
to support their conclusion. In addition, through its own surveillance 
of swaps market activity, the Commission may become aware that a cap 
size would reduce market liquidity for a specific swap category. In 
response to either a submission or its own surveillance of swaps market 
activity, the Commission has the legal authority to take action by rule 
or order to mitigate the potential effects on market liquidity of cap 
sizes with respect to swaps in a particular swap category.

C. Masking the Geographic Detail of Swaps in the Other Commodity Asset 
Class

1. Policy Goals for Masking the Geographic Detail for Swaps in the 
Other Commodity Asset Class
    In the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission sets forth 
general protections for the identities, market positions and business 
transactions of swap counterparties in Sec.  43.4(d). Section 43.4(d) 
generally prohibits an SDR from publicly disseminating swap transaction 
and pricing data in a manner that discloses or otherwise facilitates 
the identification of a swap counterparty.\490\ Notwithstanding that 
prohibition, Sec.  43.4(d)(3) provides that SDRs are required to 
publicly disseminate data that discloses the underlying asset(s) of 
publicly reportable swap transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \490\ See Sec.  43.4(d)(1) of the Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 43.4(d)(4) contains special provisions for swaps in the 
other commodity asset class. These swaps raise special concerns because 
the public disclosure of the underlying asset(s) may in turn reveal the 
identities, market positions and business transactions of the swap 
counterparties. To address these concerns, Sec.  43.4(d)(4) limits the 
types of swaps in the other commodity asset class that are subject to 
public dissemination. Specifically, Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii) of the 
Commission's regulations provides that, for publicly reportable swap 
transactions in the other commodity asset class, SDRs must publicly 
disseminate the actual underlying assets only for: (1) those swaps 
executed on or pursuant to the rules of a SEF or DCM; (2) those swaps 
referencing one of the contracts described in appendix B to part 43; 
and (3) those swaps that are economically related to one of the 
contracts described in appendix B to part 43.\491\ Essentially, the 
Commission has determined that these three categories of swap have 
sufficient liquidity such that the disclosure of the underlying asset 
would not reveal the identities, market positions and business 
transactions of the swap counterparties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \491\ Appendix B to part 43 provides a list of 28 ``Enumerated 
Physical Commodity Contracts'' as well as 1 contract under the 
``Other Contracts'' heading. See 77 FR 1182 app. B.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In its Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission included in 
appendix B to part 43 a list of contracts that, if referenced as an 
underlying asset, should be publicly disseminated in full without 
limiting the commodity or geographic detail of the asset. In the 
Further Block Proposal, the Commission proposed adding 13 contracts to 
appendix B to part 43 under the ``Other Contracts'' heading.\492\ The 
Commission believes that since it previously has determined that these 
13 contracts have material liquidity and price references, among other 
things, the public dissemination of the full underlying asset for 
publicly reportable swap transactions that reference such contracts 
(and any underlying assets that are economically related thereto) would 
not disclose the identities, market positions and business transactions 
of swap counterparties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \492\ Appendix B to part 43 currently lists only Brent Crude Oil 
(ICE) under the ``Other Contracts'' heading.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, any publicly 
reportable swap transaction in the other commodity asset class that is 
excluded under Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii) would not be subject to the 
reporting and public dissemination requirements for part 43 upon the 
effective date of the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule. The Commission 
noted in the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule that it planned to address 
the group of other commodity swaps that were not subject to the rules 
of part 43 in a forthcoming release.\493\ Accordingly, the Commission 
proposed in the Further Block Proposal to address the public 
dissemination of swap transaction and pricing data for the group of 
other commodity swaps that are not covered currently by Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \493\ See 77 FR 1211.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission is of the view that given the lack of data on the 
liquidity for certain swaps in the other commodity asset class, the 
lack of data on the number of market participants in these other 
commodity swaps markets, and the statutory requirement to protect the 
anonymity of market participants,\494\ the public dissemination of less 
specific information for swaps with specific geographic or pricing 
detail may be appropriate. The Commission believes that the public 
dissemination of the exact underlying assets for swaps in this group of 
the other commodity asset class may subject the identities, market 
positions and business transactions of market participants to 
unwarranted public disclosure if additional protections are not 
established with respect to the geographic detail of the underlying 
asset. For that reason, the Commission proposed that SDRs mask or 
otherwise disguise the geographic details related to the underlying 
assets of a swap in connection with the public dissemination of such 
swap transaction and pricing data.\495\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \494\ See sections 2(a)(13)(E)(i) and 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) of the 
CEA. 7 U.S.C. 2(a)(13)(C)(iii), (E)(i).
    \495\ Limiting the geographical detail is a typical statistical 
disclosure control used by other federal agencies as described in 
the Report on Statistical Disclosure Limitation Methodology. See 
supra note 61.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Proposed Amendments to Sec.  43.4
    In order to accommodate the policy goals described above, the 
Commission proposed adding Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) to part 43 to 
establish rules regarding the

[[Page 32910]]

public dissemination of the remaining group of swaps in the other 
commodity asset class (i.e., those not described in Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(ii)). In the Commission's view, proposed Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(iii) would ensure that the public dissemination of swap 
transaction and pricing data would not unintentionally disclose the 
identities, market positions and business transactions of any swap 
counterparty to a publicly reportable swap transaction in the other 
commodity asset class. In particular, proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) 
provides that SDRs must publicly disseminate the details about the 
geographic location of the underlying assets of the other commodity 
swaps not described in Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii) (i.e., other commodity 
swaps that have a specific delivery or pricing point) pursuant to 
proposed appendix E to part 43. Proposed appendix E to part 43 is 
discussed in the next subsection.
    The Commission recognizes that requiring the public dissemination 
of less specific geographic detail for an other commodity swap may, to 
some extent, diminish the price discovery value of swap transaction and 
pricing data for such swap. The Commission believes, however, that the 
public dissemination of such data will still provide the market with 
useful information relating to market depth, trading activity and 
pricing information for similar types of swaps.
    The Commission also proposed making conforming amendments to Sec.  
43.4(d). Specifically, the Commission proposed amending the 
introductory language to Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(i) by deleting ``Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(ii)'' and adding in its place ``Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii) and 
(iii)'' to make clear that SDRs have to publicly disseminate swaps data 
under Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) in accordance with part 43.\496\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \496\ In addition to proposing limitations on the geographic 
detail for public dissemination of underlying assets for certain 
swaps in the other commodity asset class, the Commission also 
proposed amending Sec.  43.4(g) and (h) to make conforming changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received no comments regarding Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(i) 
and (ii). The Commission is adopting Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(i) and (ii) as 
proposed.
3. Application of Proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) and Proposed Appendix 
E to Part 43--Geographic Detail for Delivery or Pricing Points
    Proposed appendix E to part 43 includes the system that SDRs would 
be required to use to mask the specific delivery or pricing points that 
are a part of an underlying asset in connection with the public 
dissemination of swap transaction and pricing data for certain swaps in 
the other commodity asset class. To the extent that the underlying 
asset of a publicly reportable swap transaction described in proposed 
Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) does not have a specific delivery or pricing 
point, the provisions of proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) and proposed 
appendix E to part 43 would not apply. Specifically, proposed appendix 
E to part 43 provides top-coding for various geographic regions, both 
in the United States and internationally.
    Subsection (a) below includes a description of the top-coding U.S. 
regions. Subsection (b) below includes a description of the top-coding 
non-U.S. regions. Finally, subsection (c) below outlines the proposed 
system for SDRs to publicly disseminate ``basis swaps.''\497\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \497\ For the purposes of the Further Block Proposal and this 
final rule, basis swaps are defined as swap transactions in which 
one leg of the swap references a contract described in appendix B to 
part 43 (or is economically related thereto) and the other leg of 
the swap does not.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

a. U.S. Delivery or Pricing Points
    Table E1 in proposed appendix E to part 43 lists the geographic 
regions that an SDR would publicly disseminate for an off-facility swap 
in the other commodity asset class that is described in proposed Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(iii). The Commission proposed that an SDR publicly 
disseminate swap transaction and pricing data for certain energy and 
power swaps in the other commodity asset class, as described in more 
detail below, in a different manner than the remaining other 
commodities. In order to mask the specific delivery or pricing detail 
of these energy and power swaps, the Commission proposed using 
established regions or markets that are associated with these 
underlying assets.
i. Natural Gas and Related Products
    In proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) and proposed appendix E to part 
43, the Commission set forth a method to describe the publicly 
reportable swap transactions that have natural gas or related products 
as an underlying asset and have a specific delivery or pricing point in 
the United States. In particular, the proposal required SDRs to 
publicly disseminate a description of the specific delivery or pricing 
point based on one of the five industry specific natural gas markets 
set forth by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (``FERC'').\498\ 
The FERC Natural Gas Markets reflect natural deviations found in the 
spot prices in different markets.\499\ The Commission anticipates that 
a distinction for natural gas is necessary to enhance price discovery 
while protecting the identities of the parties, business transactions 
and market positions of market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \498\ See FERC, National Gas Markets--Overview, https://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-gas/overview.asp (last viewed May 
6, 2013).
    \499\ See FERC, Natural Gas Market Overview: Spot Gas Prices, 
https://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-gas/overview/ngas-ovr-avg-spt-ng-pr.pdf (updated Jan.10, 2013). In addition, there is evidence 
that the spot prices in these markets and the corresponding futures 
prices are highly correlated. D. Murray, Z. Zhu, ``Asymmetric price 
responses, market integration and market power: A study of the U.S. 
natural gas market,'' Energy Economics, 30 (2008) 748-65.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed five markets for public dissemination of delivery or 
pricing points for natural gas swaps are as follows: (i) Midwest 
(including North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, 
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and 
Arkansas); (ii) Northeast (including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, 
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, 
Maryland and Virginia); \500\ (iii) Gulf (including Louisiana and 
Texas); (iv) Southeast (including Tennessee, North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi); and (v) Western 
(including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, 
Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona). For any other 
pricing points in the United States, SDRs would publicly disseminate 
``Other U.S.'' in place of the actual pricing or delivery point for 
such natural gas swaps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \500\ The District of Columbia would be included in this region, 
if any specific delivery or pricing points existed at the time of 
the Further Block Proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ii. Petroleum and Related Products
    In proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) and proposed appendix E to part 
43, the Commission set forth a method to describe the publicly 
reportable swap transactions that have petroleum or related products as 
an underlying asset and have a specific delivery or pricing point in 
the United States. In particular, the proposal would require SDRs to 
publicly disseminate a description of the specific delivery or pricing 
point based on one of the seven Petroleum Administration for Defense 
Districts (``PADD'') regions.\501\ The PADD regions indicate 
economically and geographically distinct regions for the purposes of 
administering oil allocation.

[[Page 32911]]

The Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (``EIA'') 
collects and publishes oil supply and demand data with respect to the 
PADD regions.\502\ Accordingly, to provide consistency with EIA 
publications and information regarding regional patterns, the 
Commission proposed that specific delivery or pricing points with 
respect to such petroleum product swaps are publicly disseminated based 
on PADD regions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \501\ See PADD Map, Appendix A, Petroleum Administration for 
Defense Districts, https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=4890, (last viewed May 6, 2013).
    \502\ See U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)--
Petroleum & Other Liquids, https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/data.cfm 
(last viewed May 6, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The PADD regions for public dissemination of delivery or pricing 
points for such petroleum product swaps are as follows: (i) PADD 1A 
(New England); (ii) PADD 1B (Central Atlantic); (iii) PADD 1C (Lower 
Atlantic); (iv) PADD 2 (Midwest); (v) PADD 3 (Gulf Coast); (vi) PADD 4 
(Rocky Mountains); and (vii) PADD 5 (West Coast).\503\ For any other 
pricing points in the United States, SDRs would publicly disseminate 
the term ``Other U.S.'' in place of the actual pricing or delivery 
point for such petroleum product swaps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \503\ Alternatively, the Commission is considering combining the 
East Coast PADD into one category, such that any oil swap with a 
specific delivery or pricing point as PADD 1A (New England), PADD 1B 
(Central Atlantic) or PADD 1C (Lower Atlantic) would be publicly 
disseminated as PADD 1 (East Coast).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

iii. Electricity and Sources
    In proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii), the Commission also set forth a 
method to describe publicly reportable swap transactions that have 
electricity and sources as an underlying asset and have a specific 
delivery or pricing point in the United States. In particular, the 
proposal would require SDRs to publicly disseminate the specific 
delivery or pricing point based on a description of one of the FERC 
Electric Power Markets.\504\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \504\ See FERC, Electric Power Markets--Overview, https://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-electric/overview.asp (last viewed 
May 6, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The markets for public dissemination of delivery or pricing points 
for such electricity swaps are as follows: (i) California (CAISO); (ii) 
Midwest (MISO); (iii) New England (ISO-NE); (iv) New York (NYISO); (v) 
Northwest; (vi) Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM); (vii) 
Southeast; (viii) Southwest; (ix) Southwest Power Pool (SPP); and (x) 
Texas (ERCOT). For any other pricing points in the United States, SDRs 
would publicly disseminate the term ``Other U.S.'' in place of the 
actual pricing or delivery point for such electricity and sources 
swaps.
iv. All Remaining Other Commodities
    In proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) and proposed appendix E to part 
43, the Commission set forth a method to describe any swaps in the 
other commodity asset class that do not have oil, natural gas, 
electricity, or petroleum as an underlying asset, but have specific 
delivery or pricing points in the United States. In particular, the 
Commission proposed that SDRs publicly disseminate information with 
respect to these swaps based on the 10 federal regions established by 
the U.S. Energy Information Administration (``EIA''). The Commission 
believed that the use of the 10 federal regions would provide 
consistency among different types of underlying assets in the other 
commodity asset class with respect to delivery and pricing point 
descriptions.
    The 10 federal regions that SDRs would use for public dissemination 
under the proposal for all remaining other commodity swaps are as 
follows: (i) Region I (including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New 
Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont); (ii) Region II (including New 
Jersey and New York); (iii) Region III (including Delaware, District of 
Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia); (iv) 
Region IV (including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, 
North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee); (v) Region V (including 
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin); (vi) 
Region VI (including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and 
Texas); (vii) Region VII (including Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and 
Nebraska); (viii) Region VIII (including Colorado, Montana, North 
Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming); (ix) Region IX (including 
Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada); and (x) Region X (including 
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington).\505\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \505\ See U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Federal 
Region Map, https://www.eia.gov/electricity/regionsmap/fedregstates.html (last visited May 6, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Non-U.S. Delivery or Pricing Points
    Table E2 in proposed appendix E to part 43 provided the appropriate 
manner for SDRs to publicly disseminate non-U.S. delivery or pricing 
points for all publicly reportable swap transactions described in the 
proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii). The Commission is of the view that SDRs 
should not publicly disseminate the actual location for these 
international delivery or pricing points since the public disclosure of 
such information may disclose the identities of parties, business 
transactions and market positions of market participants. In Table E2, 
the Commission proposed the countries and regions that an SDR must 
publicly disseminate. In proposing the use of these geographic 
breakdowns for the public reporting of international delivery or 
pricing points, the Commission considered world regions that have 
significant energy consumption, whether ISDA-specific documentation 
exists for a particular country, and whether public disclosure would 
compromise the anonymity of the swap counterparties.
    The Commission proposed the following international regions for 
publicly disseminating specific delivery or pricing points of publicly 
reportable swap transactions described in Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii): (i) 
North America (publicly disseminate ``Canada'' or ``Mexico''); (ii) 
Central America (publicly disseminate ``Central America''); (iii) South 
America (publicly disseminate ``Brazil'' or ``Other South America''); 
(iv) Europe (publicly disseminate ``Western Europe,'' ``Northern 
Europe,'' ``Southern Europe,'' or ``Eastern Europe''); (v) Russia 
(publicly disseminate ``Russia''); \506\ (vi) Africa (publicly 
disseminate ``Northern Africa,'' ``Western Africa,'' ``Eastern 
Africa,'' ``Central Africa,'' or ``Southern Africa''); (vii) Asia-
Pacific (publicly disseminate ``Northern Asia,'' ``Central Asia,'' 
``Eastern Asia,'' ``Western Asia,'' ``Southeast Asia,'' or ``Australia/
New Zealand/Pacific Islands''). The Commission considered whether a 
more granular approach is necessary for certain regions in order to 
enhance price discovery while still protecting anonymity. For example, 
Mexico, Canada and Russia may benefit from a more granular public 
dissemination of delivery or pricing points given the amount of energy 
production in those regions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \506\ Note that Russia is not included in ``Eastern Europe'' or 
in ``Northern Asia'' and instead should be publicly disseminated as 
``Russia.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To the extent that a publicly reportable swap transaction described 
in proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) references the United States as a 
whole and not a specific delivery or pricing point, proposed appendix E 
would require an SDR to publicly disseminate that reference. For 
example, an SDR would publicly disseminate a weather swap that 
references ``U.S. Heating Monthly'' as ``U.S. Heating Monthly.''
c. Basis Swaps
    The Commission proposed requiring SDRs to ensure that specific 
underlying assets are publicly disseminated for basis swaps that 
qualify as publicly

[[Page 32912]]

reportable swap transactions. The Commission recognizes that basis 
swaps exist in which one leg of the swap references a contract 
described in appendix B to part 43 (or is economically related to one 
such contract) and the other leg of the swap references an asset or 
pricing point not listed in appendix B to part 43. Currently, Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(ii)(A)-(B) requires an SDR to publicly disseminate the 
actual underlying asset of the leg of the basis swap that references or 
is economically related to a contract listed in appendix B to part 43. 
To the extent that a basis swap is executed on or pursuant to the rules 
of a SEF or DCM, an SDR would also publicly disseminate the specific 
underlying asset. With respect to the leg of a basis swap that does not 
reference a contract in appendix B to part 43, however, the Commission 
proposed to require SDRs to publicly disseminate the underlying asset 
of that leg pursuant to proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) and proposed 
appendix E to part 43, i.e., with top-coding provisions.
d. Comments Received and Commission Determination
    The Commission received three comments regarding the masking of 
specific delivery or pricing detail of energy and power swaps. EEI 
recommended that the Commission mask data regarding Other Commodity 
Electricity Swaps according to the North American Electric Reliability 
Corporation eight regions rather than the FERC regions proposed.\507\ 
Barclays recommended that the Commission use wider geographic regions 
when publicly disseminating data for commodity swaps with very specific 
underlying assets and/or delivery points and develop an appropriate 
process to avoid identifying issuers of debt.\508\ Spring Trading 
supported further measures to prevent public disclosure of identities, 
business transactions, and market positions of swap market 
participants, and recommended disclosing a subset of data on a 
collective basis at a later date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \507\ CL-EEI at 12-13.
    \508\ CL-Barclays at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the comments received, the Commission is 
adopting Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) with the following modification. For 
publicly reportable swap transactions that have electricity and sources 
as an underlying asset and have a specific delivery or pricing point in 
the United States, the Commission is requiring SDRs to publicly 
disseminate the specific delivery or pricing point based on a 
description of one of the North American Electric Reliability 
Corporation (``NERC'') regions for publicly disseminating delivery or 
pricing points for electricity swaps described in proposed Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(iii). The NERC regions are broader than the FERC regions and 
include much of Canada. Specifically, the NERC regions are as follows: 
(i) Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC); (ii) Midwest 
Reliability Organization (MRO); (iii) Northeast Power Coordinating 
Council (NPCC); (iv) ReliabilityFirst Corporation (RFC); (v) SERC 
Reliability Corporation (SERC); (vi) Southwest Power Pool, RE (SPP); 
(vii) Texas Regional Entity (TRE); (viii) Western Electricity 
Coordinating Council (WECC).\509\ The Commission is of the view that 
using these regions as suggested by EEI will provide further masking of 
specific delivery details and thus further protection against public 
disclosure of identities, business transactions, and market positions 
of swap market participants, as recommended by Barclays and Spring 
Trading.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \509\ See NERC, Key Players: Regional Entities, https://www.nerc.com/page.php?cid=1%7C9%7C119 (last visited May 6, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Further Revisions to Part 43
a. Additional Contracts Added to Appendix B to Part 43
    Appendix B to part 43 currently lists contracts that, if referenced 
as an underlying asset, would require SDRs to publicly disseminate the 
full geographic detail of the asset. In the Real-Time Reporting Final 
Rule, the Commission provided that SDRs were required to publicly 
disseminate any underlying asset of a publicly reportable swap 
transaction that references or is economically related to any contract 
or contracts listed in appendix B to part 43 in the same manner.
    As noted above, the Commission proposed adding 13 natural gas and 
electricity contracts under the ``Other Commodity'' heading in appendix 
B to part 43 that have been de-listed and converted into futures 
contracts listed on a DCM.\510\ Nevertheless, the addition of these 13 
contracts to appendix B effectively would require SDRs to publicly 
disseminate these contracts the same way as the other contracts that 
are currently listed in appendix B to part 43. That is, an SDR would 
publicly disseminate the actual underlying asset (and any underlying 
asset(s) that are economically related) without any limitation of the 
geographic detail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \510\ See supra note 176.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission had previously determined that these 13 contracts--
as swaps--were significant price discovery contracts (``SPDCs'') in 
connection with trading on exempt commercial markets (``ECMs'').\511\ 
Each of the 13 contracts had undergone an analysis in which the 
Commission considered the following five criteria: (i) Price linkage 
(the extent to which the contract uses or otherwise relies on a daily 
or final settlement price of a contract listed for trade on or subject 
to the rules of a DCM); (ii) arbitrage (the extent to which the price 
of the contract is sufficiently related to the price of a contract 
listed on a DCM to permit market participants to effectively arbitrage 
between the two markets); (iii) material price reference (the extent to 
which, on a frequent and recurring basis, bids, offers or transactions 
in a commodity are directly based on, or are determined by referencing, 
the prices generated by contracts being traded or executed on the ECM); 
(iv) material liquidity (the extent to which volume of the contract is 
sufficient to have a material effect on other contracts listed for 
trading); and (v) other material factors.\512\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \511\ Id.
    \512\ The Dodd-Frank Act deleted and replaced CEA section 
2(h)(7), which contained the five criteria for determining a SPDC. 
The Dodd-Frank Act amended CEA section 4a(a) to include CEA section 
4a(a)(4), which contains a similar version of the five criteria for 
determining a SPDC in the context of excessive speculation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To the extent that the SPDC contracts have been de-listed and 
replaced by listed futures contracts, the Commission believes that the 
latter contracts have similar material liquidity and material price 
reference, among other things. Therefore, the Commission anticipates 
that, the public dissemination of the full underlying asset for 
publicly reportable swap transactions that reference such futures 
contracts (and any underlying assets that are economically related 
thereto) would not disclose the identities, market positions and 
business transactions of market participants and would enhance price 
discovery in the related markets.\513\ The Commission did not receive 
any other comments, and accordingly, is adopting these additions to 
appendix B.
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    \513\ The Commission notes that it is not adding ``Henry 
Financial LD1 Fixed Price,'' a listed futures contract that was 
converted from ``Henry Financial LD1 Fixed Price Swap'' (which was 
previously deemed by the Commission to be a SPDC), to appendix B to 
part 43. This contract is economically related to the ``New York 
Mercantile Exchange Henry Hub Natural Gas,'' which is listed under 
``Enumerated Physical Commodity Contracts'' in appendix B to part 
43. Therefore, listing this contract again would be redundant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Technical Revisions to Part 43
    In the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission states that 
the

[[Page 32913]]

transactions described Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii)(A)-(C), i.e., the instances 
in which the actual underlying asset for a publicly reportable swap 
transaction in the other commodity asset class is to be publicly 
disseminated, are meant to be exclusive of one another. Under these 
sections, an SDR is required to publicly disseminate the actual 
underlying asset(s) of a swap in the other commodity asset class, where 
the swap (1) is executed on or pursuant to the rules of a SEF or DCM; 
(2) references a contract listed on appendix B to part 43; or (3) is 
economically related to a contract on appendix B. Accordingly, the 
Commission proposed a technical clarification to Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(ii)(B) to clarify the intent that these elements are 
exclusive of one another, as articulated in the preamble to the Real-
Time Reporting Final Rule.
    The Commission did not receive any comments regarding the technical 
clarification to Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii)(B). Accordingly, the Commission 
is adopting Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii)(B) as proposed.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

A. Background

    The purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq. (``PRA'') are, among other things, to minimize the paperwork 
burden to the private sector, ensure that any collection of information 
by a government agency is put to the greatest possible uses, and 
minimize duplicative information collections across the 
government.\514\ The PRA applies with extraordinary breadth to all 
information, ``regardless of form or format,'' whenever the government 
is ``obtaining, causing to be obtained [or] soliciting'' information, 
and includes required ``disclosure to third parties or the public, of 
facts or opinions,'' when the information collection calls for 
``answers to identical questions posed to, or identical reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements imposed on, ten or more persons.'' \515\ The 
PRA requirements have been determined to include not only mandatory but 
also voluntary information collections, and include both written and 
oral communications.\516\
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    \514\ See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    \515\ See 44 U.S.C. 3502.
    \516\ See 5 CFR 1320.3(c)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To effectuate the purposes of the PRA, Congress requires all 
agencies to quantify and justify the burden of any information 
collection it imposes.\517\ This requirement includes submitting each 
collection, whether or not it is contained in a rulemaking, to the 
Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review. The OMB 
submission process included completing a supporting statement with the 
agency's burden estimate and justification for the collection. The 
information collection established within this rulemaking, which 
included the agency's burden estimate and justification, was subjected 
to the rulemaking's public comment process. No public comments were 
received affecting the information burden and justification.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \517\ See 44 U.S.C. 3506.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 43.6 and amendments to Sec.  43.4 amend an existing 
collection of information within the meaning of the PRA in two 
respects. Accordingly, the Commission submitted the Further Block 
Proposal to the OMB for review pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(d) and 5 
CFR1320.11. OMB has assigned control number 3038-0070 to the existing 
collection of information, which is titled ``Part 43--Real-Time Public 
Reporting.'' The Commission invited the public to comment on any aspect 
of the proposed amendments to existing collections of information. The 
responses to this amended collection of information are mandatory. The 
Commission did not receive any comments regarding the proposed 
amendments. Accordingly, the Commission is not revising the estimates 
contained in the Further Block Proposal, which are described in the 
following sections.

B. Description of the Collection

    On January 9, 2012, the Commission issued the Real-Time Reporting 
Final Rule, which includes three collections of information 
requirements within the meaning of the PRA. The first collection of 
information requirement under Part 43 imposed a reporting requirement 
on a SEF or DCM when a swap is executed on a trading facility or on the 
parties to a swap transaction when the swap is executed bilaterally. 
The second collection of information requirement under Part 43 created 
a public dissemination requirement on SDRs. The third collection of 
information requirement created a recordkeeping requirement for SEFs, 
DCMs, SDRs and any reporting party (as such term is defined in part 43 
of the Commission's regulations).
    Sections 43.4 and 43.6 amend the first and second collections of 
information within the meaning of the PRA as described below. The 
analysis with respect to the amended collections as a result of Sec.  
43.6 is set out in section 1 below. The analysis with respect to the 
amended collections as a result of amendments to Sec.  43.4 is set out 
in section 2 below.
1. Sec.  43.6(g)--Notification of Election
    Section 43.6(g) amends the first and second collections of 
information within the meaning of the PRA. In particular, Sec.  43.6(g) 
contains the provisions regarding the election to have a swap 
transaction treated as a block trade or large notional off-facility 
swap, as applicable. Section 43.6(g)(1) establishes a two-step 
notification process relating to block trades. Section 43.6(g)(2) 
establishes the notification process relating to large notional off-
facility swaps. Section 43.6(g) is an essential part of this rulemaking 
because it provides the mechanism through which market participants 
will be able to elect to treat their qualifying swap transaction as a 
block trade or large notional off-facility swap.
    Section 43.6(g)(1)(i) contains the first step in the two-step 
notification process relating to block trades. In particular, this 
section provides that the parties to a swap that are executed at or 
above the appropriate minimum block size for the applicable swap 
category are required to notify the SEF or DCM (as applicable) of their 
election to have their qualifying swap transaction treated as a block 
trade. The Commission understands that SEFs and DCMs use automated, 
electronic, and in some cases, voice processes to execute swap 
transactions; therefore, the transmission of the notification of a 
block trade election also would either be automated, electronic or 
communicated through voice.
    The Commission estimates that there are 125 SDs and MSPs, and 1,000 
other non-financial end-user parties.\518\ The Commission estimates 
that, on average, SD/MSP reporting parties would likely notify a SEF or 
DCM of a block trade election approximately 1,000 times per year while 
non-SD/MSP reporting parties likely would notify a SEF or DCM of a 
block trade election approximately five times per year.\519\ Thus, the 
Commission estimates that there would be 130,000 notifications of a 
block trade election by reporting parties under Sec.  43.6(g) each 
year.\520\
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    \518\ The Commission has previously estimated that 125 SDs and 
MSPs will register with the Commission and 1,000 non-financial end-
users (i.e., non-SD/non-MSPs) will be required to report swap 
transactions annually. 77 FR 1229-30.
    \519\ The Commission anticipates that these figures will change 
as a function of changes in the market structure and practices in 
the U.S. swaps markets.
    \520\ The Commission estimates the total number of notifications 
as follows: 125 SDs/MSPs x 1,000 notifications = 125,000 
notifications per year; 1,000 non-SDs/non-MSPs x 5 notifications = 
5,000 notifications per year; therefore, the total across all types 
of entities would be 130,000 notifications per year.

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[[Page 32914]]

    The Commission estimates that the burden hours associated with 
Sec.  43.6(g)(1)(i) would include: (i) 30 seconds on average for 
parties to a swap to determine whether a particular swap transaction 
qualifies as a block trade based on the appropriate minimum block size 
of the applicable swap category; and (ii) 30 seconds on average for the 
parties to electronically transmit or otherwise communicate their 
notice of election. SDs, MSPs and reporting parties would use existing 
traders (or other professionals earning similar salaries) to 
electronically transmit or otherwise communicate their notice of 
election. Based on the Securities Industry and Financial Market 
Association's 2011 Securities Industry Salary Survey, the Commission 
estimates that these block traders would earn approximately $184.90 per 
hour in total compensation.\521\ Accordingly, the Commission estimates 
that the total annual burden hour costs associated with the first step 
in proposed Sec.  43.6(g)(1)(i) would be 2,167 hours \522\ or $400,678 
in total annual burden hours costs \523\ and $11.8 million in total 
start-up capital costs.\524\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \521\ The Commission previously has utilized wage rate estimates 
based on average salary and average prior year bonus information for 
the securities industry compiled by SIFMA. These wage estimates are 
derived from an industry-wide survey of participants and thus 
reflect an average across entities; the Commission notes that the 
actual costs for any individual company or sector may vary from the 
average.
    The Commission estimated the dollar costs of hourly burdens for 
different types of relevant professionals using the following 
calculations:
    (1) [(2010 salary + bonus) * (salary growth per professional 
type, 2010-2011)] = Estimated 2010 total annual compensation. The 
most recent data provided by the SIFMA report describe the 2010 
total compensation (salary + bonus) by professional type, the growth 
in base salary from 2010 to 2011 for each professional type, and the 
2011 base salary for each professional type; therefore, the 
Commission estimated the 2011 total compensation for each 
professional type, but, in the absence of similarly granular data on 
salary growth or compensation from 2011 to 2012 and beyond, did not 
estimate dollar costs beyond 2011. [(Estimated 2011 total annual 
compensation)/(1,800 annual work hours)] = Hourly wage per 
professional type.]
    (2) [(Hourly wage) * (Adjustment factor for overhead and other 
benefits, which the Commission has estimated to be 1.3)] = Adjusted 
hourly wage per professional type.]
    (3) [(Adjusted hourly wage) * (Estimated hour burden for 
compliance)] = Dollar cost of compliance for each hour burden 
estimate per professional type.]
    The sum of each of these calculations for all professional types 
involved in compliance with a given element of the Further Block 
Proposal represents the total cost for each counterparty, reporting 
party, swap dealer, major swap participant, SEF, DCM, or SDR, as 
applicable to that element of the proposal.
    \522\ To comply with the election process in proposed Sec.  
43.6(g), a market participant likely would need to provide training 
to its existing personnel and update its written policies and 
procedures to account for this new process. The total annual burden 
hours equals the total hours for swap dealers and major swap 
participants plus the total hours for non-swap dealers and non-major 
swap participants.
    \523\ The underlying adjusted labor cost estimate of $184.90 per 
hour used in this estimate is calculated based on the adjusted wages 
of swap traders. See note 521 supra.
    \524\ The estimated costs are based on the Commission's estimate 
of the incremental, non-recurring expenditures to reporting 
entities, including non-SD/non-MSPs (i.e., non-financial end-users) 
to: (1) update existing technology, including updating its OMS 
system ($7,170); and (2) provide training to existing personnel and 
update written policies and procedures ($3,360). See section V.D.1. 
infra. The Commission believes that SDs/MSPs would incur similar 
non-recurring start-up costs. The Commission has previously 
estimated that 125 SDs and MSPs will register with the Commission 
and 1,000 non-financial end-users (i.e., non-SD/non-MSPs) will be 
required to report in a year. See 77 FR 1229-30.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the second step, proposed Sec.  43.6(g)(1)(ii) 
provides that the SEF or DCM, as applicable, that receives an election 
notification is required to notify an SDR of a block trade election 
when transmitting swap transaction and pricing data to such SDR for 
public dissemination. As noted above, the Commission anticipates that 
SEFs and DCMs would use automated, electronic and, in some cases, voice 
processes to execute swap transactions. The Commission estimates that 
there will be approximately 58 SEFs and DCMs. Accordingly, the 
Commission estimates that the total annual burden associated with the 
second step in Sec.  43.6(g)(1)(ii) would be approximately $610,740 in 
non-recurring annualized capital and start-up costs.\525\ The Real-Time 
Reporting Final Rule already has addressed the recurring annualized 
costs for the hour burden.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \525\ The Commission bases this estimate on 58 projected SEFs 
and DCMs, each of which will incur costs of investing in update 
technology, including updating its OMS system ($6,761.20); and 
training existing personnel and updating written policies and 
procedures ($3,195.00). See section V.D.1. infra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 43.6(g)(2) is similar to the first step set forth in Sec.  
43.6(g)(1). That is, Sec.  43.6(g)(2) provides, in part, that a 
reporting party who executes a bilateral swap transaction that is at or 
above the appropriate minimum block size is required to notify the SDR 
of its election to treat such swap as a large notional off-facility 
swap. This section provides further that the reporting party is 
required to notify the SDR in connection with the reporting party's 
transmission of swap transaction and pricing data to the SDR for public 
dissemination. The Commission anticipates that reporting parties may 
have various methods through which they will transmit information to 
SDRs, which would include a large notional off-facility swap election. 
Most reporting parties would use automated and electronic methods to 
transmit this information; other reporting parties, because of the 
expense associated with building an electronic infrastructure, may 
contract with third parties (including their swap counterparty) to 
transmit the notification of a large notional off-facility swap 
election.
    The Commission estimates that the incremental time and cost burden 
associated with the Sec.  43.6(g)(2) would include: (i) One minute for 
a reporting party to determine whether a particular swap transaction 
qualifies as a large notional off-facility swap based on the 
appropriate minimum block size of the applicable swap category; and 
(ii) one minute for the reporting party (or its designee) to 
electronically transmit or communicate through voice processes its 
notice of election. The Commission estimates that, of the approximately 
2,250 hours incurred by 125 SDs/MSPs and 1,000 non-SD/MSPs, all of 
those hours would be spent by traders and market analysts (or 
designee).\526\ SIFMA's report states that traders and market analysts 
make $184.90 per hour in total compensation.\527\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \526\ The economic costs associated with entering into a third 
party service arrangement to transmit an electronic notice to an SDR 
are difficult to determine. There are too many variables that are 
involved in determining those costs. Notwithstanding this 
difficulty, the Commission foresees that, for many reporting parties 
that infrequently trade swaps, the annualized cost of entering into 
a third-party service arrangement of this type would likely be less 
than the total annual cost of building an electronic infrastructure 
to transmit electronic notices directly to an SDR.
    \527\ See note 521 supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission estimates that, on average, each of the estimated 
125 SD/MSP counterparties would likely notify an SDR of a large 
notional off-facility swap election approximately 500 times per year 
while each of the estimated 1,000 non-SD/MSP counterparties would 
notify an SDR approximately five times per year. Accordingly, the 
Commission estimates that there are, on average, approximately 67,500 
notifications large notional off-facility swaps under Sec.  43.6 each 
year. Accordingly, the Commission estimates that the total annual 
burden associated with Sec.  43.6(g)(2) would be approximately 2,250 
annual labor hours or $416,025 in annual labor costs.\528\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \528\ The labor hour estimate is calculated as follows: (125 
SDs/MSPs x 500 notifications) + (1,000 non-SDs/non-MSPs x 5 
notifications) = 67,500 notifications x 2 minutes/notification = 
135,000 minutes/60 minutes/hour = 2,250 hours. The labor cost 
estimate is calculated as follows: 2,250 labor hours x $140.93 per 
hour total compensation = $317,092. The Commission notes that the 
calculation in the Further Block Proposal incorrectly listed the 
labor hour estimate as 2,255 hours (rather than 2,250). The labor 
cost estimate was then incorrectly listed as $317,797 (rather than 
$317,092) due to the incorrect labor hour estimate.

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[[Page 32915]]

    In addition, the Commission estimates that Sec.  43.6(g)(2) results 
in $11.8 million in non-recurring annualized capital and start-up 
costs.\529\ The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule addressed all ongoing 
operational and maintenance costs.\530\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \529\ The estimated costs are based on the Commission's estimate 
of the incremental, non-recurring expenditures to reporting 
entities, including non-SD/non-MSPs (i.e., non-financial end-users) 
to (1) update existing technology, including updating its OMS system 
($6,761.20); and (2) provide training to existing personnel and 
update written policies and procedures ($3,195.00). See section 
V.D.1. infra. The Commission believes that SDs/MSPs would incur 
similar non-recurring start-up costs. The Commission has previously 
estimated that 125 SDs and MSPs will register with the Commission 
and 1,000 non-financial end-users (i.e., non-SD/non-MSPs) will be 
required to report in a year. 77 FR 1229-30.
    \530\ See 77 FR at 1232.
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2. Amendments to Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and 43.4(h)
    The Commission addresses the public dissemination of certain swaps 
in the other commodity asset class in Sec.  43.4(d)(4). Section 
43.4(d)(4)(ii) provides that for publicly reportable swaps in the other 
commodity asset class, the actual underlying assets must be publicly 
disseminated for: (1) Those swaps executed on or pursuant to the rules 
of a SEF or DCM; (2) those swaps referencing one of the contracts 
described in appendix B to part 43; and (3) any publicly reportable 
swap transaction that is economically related to one of the contracts 
described in appendix B to part 43. Pursuant to the Real-Time Reporting 
Final Rule, any swap that is in the other commodity asset class that 
does not fall under Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(ii) would not be subject to 
reporting and public dissemination requirements upon the effective date 
of the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule.
    In this final rule, the Commission is promulgating a new provision 
(Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii)), which would develop a system for the public 
dissemination of exact underlying assets in the other commodity asset 
class with a ``mask'' based on geographic detail. The Commission is 
adopting a new appendix to part 43, which contains the geographical 
top-codes that SDRs would use in masking certain other commodity swaps 
in connection with such swaps public dissemination of swap transaction 
and pricing data under part 43. The Commission anticipates that there 
will be approximately 50,000 additional swaps reported to an SDR each 
year in the other commodity asset class, which the Commission estimates 
would be $154,021 in annualized hour burden costs.\531\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \531\ The Commission estimates that there will be 5 SDRs, which 
will collect swaps data in the other commodity asset class. Each SDR 
would collect swaps data on approximately 10,000 swap transactions 
in the other commodity asset class. The commission estimates that it 
will take each SDR on average approximately 1 minute to publicly 
disseminate swaps data related to these new swap transactions. The 
number of burden hours for these SDRs would be 833 hours. As 
referenced in note 523 supra, the total labor costs for a swap 
trader is $140.93. Thus, the total number of burden hour costs equal 
the total number of burden hours (833 burden hours) x $140.93.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission's regulations currently provide a system 
establishing cap sizes. Section 43.4(h) of the Commission's regulations 
provides that cap sizes for swaps in each asset class shall equal the 
appropriate minimum block size corresponding to such publicly 
reportable swap transaction. If no appropriate minimum block size 
exists, then Sec.  43.4(h) sets out specific interim cap sizes for each 
asset class.\532\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \532\ The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule calculated and 
addressed the total ongoing burden hours and burden hour costs. See 
77 FR 11232.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This final rule amends Sec.  43.4(h) to establish new cap sizes in 
the post-initial period using a 75-percent notional amount calculation. 
Under this amendment, the Commission will perform the calculation; 
however, SDRs will update their technology and other systems at a 
minimum of once per year to publicly disseminate swap transaction and 
pricing data with the cap sizes issued by the Commission.
    The Commission estimates that the incremental start-up costs 
associated with the amendment to Sec. Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and 43.4(h) for 
an SDR would include: (1) Reprograming its technology infrastructure to 
accommodate the masking system and post-initial cap sizes methodology; 
(2) updating its written policies and procedures to ensure compliance 
with Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) and the amendment to Sec.  43.4(h); and (3) 
training staff on the new policies and procedures.\533\
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    \533\ The economic costs associated with entering into a third 
party service arrangement to transmit an electronic notice to an SDR 
are difficult to determine because of too many variables involved in 
determining those costs. Notwithstanding this difficulty, the 
Commission believes that, for many reporting parties that 
infrequently trade swaps, the annualized cost of entering into a 
third-party service arrangement of this type would likely be less 
than the total annual cost of building an electronic infrastructure 
to transmit electronic notices directly to an SDR.
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V. Cost-Benefit Considerations

A. Background

    Section 15(a) of the Commodity Exchange Act \534\ (``CEA'') 
mandates that the Commission consider the costs and benefits of this 
rulemaking, which amends portions of part 43 (the Real-Time Reporting 
Final Rule).\535\ Part 43 implements section 727 of the Dodd-Frank 
Act.\536\
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    \534\ 7 U.S.C. 19(a).
    \535\ Real-Time Public Reporting of Swap Transaction Data, 77 FR 
1182, Jan. 9, 2012.
    \536\ Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 
section 727, Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010) (``Dodd-Frank 
Act'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Enacted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis with the aim of 
preventing a repeat of the severe harm that crisis caused, Title VII of 
the Dodd-Frank Act establishes a comprehensive new regulatory framework 
for swaps and security-based swaps.\537\ Among other things, the 
legislation seeks to promote market integrity, reduce risk, and 
increase transparency within the financial system as a whole and swaps 
markets in particular. Consistent with the view that the financial 
crisis was not attributable to a single weakness, but a combination of 
several,\538\ Title VII does not provide for a single-dimensional fix. 
Rather, it weaves together a multidimensional regulatory construct 
designed to ``mitigate costs and risks to taxpayers and the financial 
system.'' \539\
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    \537\ Dodd-Frank Act section 701, et seq.
    \538\ See, e.g., Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, ``The 
Financial Crisis Inquiry Report: Final Report of the National 
Commission on the Causes of the Financial and Economic Crisis in the 
United States,'' Jan. 2011, at xxiv, available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-FCIC/pdf/GPO-FCIC.pdf (listing 
uncontrolled leverage; lack of transparency, capital and collateral 
requirements; speculation; interconnection among firms; and 
concentrations of risk in the market as contributing factors).
    \539\ S. Rep. No. 111-176, at 92 (2010).
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    Section 727 concerns a fundamental component in the Dodd-Frank Act 
construct: public swap transaction reporting. This provision adds 
section 2(a)(13) to the CEA ``to authorize the Commission to make swap 
transaction and pricing data available to the public in such form and 
at such times as the Commission determines appropriate to enhance price 
discovery.'' \540\ In addition, the section directs the Commission to 
promulgate certain rules, including rules that:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \540\ CEA section 2(a)(13)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Require ``real-time public reporting''--i.e., ``reporting 
data related to a swap transaction, including price and volume, as soon 
as technologically practicable after the time at which the swap 
transaction has been executed'' \541\--of swap transactions \542\;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \541\ CEA section 2(a)(13)(A).
    \542\ CEA section 2(a)(13)(C).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     specify ``the criteria for determining what constitutes a 
large notional swap transaction (block trade) for particular markets 
and contracts'' and ``the appropriate time delay for reporting

[[Page 32916]]

large notional swap transactions (block trades) to the public;'' \543\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \543\ See CEA sections 2(a)(13)(E)(ii) and (iii). Section 
2(a)(13)(E) explicitly refers to the swaps described only in 
sections 2(a)(13)(C)(i) and 2(a)(13)(C)(ii) of the CEA (i.e., 
clearable swaps, including swaps that are exempt from clearing). The 
Commission, in exercising its authority under CEA section 
2(a)(13)(B) to ``make swap transaction and pricing data available to 
the public in such form and at such times as the Commission 
determines appropriate to enhance price discovery,'' is authorized 
to prescribe rules similar to those provisions in section 
2(a)(13)(E) to uncleared swaps described in section 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) 
and (iv) of the CEA. Thus, the Commission is establishing block 
thresholds for the swaps described in Sections 2(a)(13)(C)(i) and 
2(a)(13)(C)(ii) of the CEA as required by Section 2(a)(13)(E). The 
Commission is establishing large notional off-facility swap 
thresholds for swaps described in Sections 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) and 
2(a)(13)(C)(iv) pursuant to its authority under Section 2(a)(13)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     take into account whether public disclosure of swap 
transaction and pricing data ``will materially reduce market 
liquidity'' \544\;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \544\ CEA section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     protect the identities of counterparties to swaps and 
maintain the anonymity of business transactions and market positions of 
swap counterparties.\545\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \545\ See CEA sections 2(a)(13)(E)(i) and 2(a)(13)(C)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In January 2012, the Commission adopted the part 43 Real-Time 
Reporting Final Rule implementing section 2(a)(13)of the CEA.\546\ 
Generally summarized, the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule defined the 
terms ``block trade'' and ``large notional off-facility swap,'' \547\ 
and established the: (1) Responsibilities of the parties to each swap 
to report swap transaction and pricing data to a swap data repository 
(``SDR'') and the types of data they must report \548\; (2) 
requirements for SDRs to publicly disseminate such data in real-time 
or, in the case of block trades and large-notional off-facility swaps, 
subject to a time delay \549\; (3) applicable time delays for public 
dissemination of block trades and large-notional off-facility swaps 
data according to asset class \550\; and (4) a system to protect the 
anonymity of parties to a swap, including interim notional cap sizes 
for all swaps that are publicly disseminated and the creation of an 
exception from the real-time public reporting requirement for certain 
swaps in the ``other commodity'' asset class.\551\
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    \546\ Real-Time Public Reporting of Swap Transaction Data, 77 FR 
1182, Jan. 9, 2012.
    \547\ The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule defines the term 
``Block trade'' as a publicly reportable swap transaction that: 
``(1) [i]nvolves a swap that is listed on a SEF or DCM; (2) [o]ccurs 
away from the [SEF's or DCM's] trading system or platform and is 
executed pursuant to the [SEF's or DCM's] rules and procedures; (3) 
has a notional or principal amount at or above the appropriate 
minimum block applicable to such swap ; and (4) [i]s reported 
subject to the rules and procedures of the [SEF or DCM] and the 
rules described in [part 43], including the appropriate time delay 
requirements set forth in Sec.  43.5.'' See Sec.  43.2, 77 FR 1243.
    The Real-Time Reporting Final Rule defined the term ``Large 
notional off-facility swap as an ``off-facility swap that has a 
notional or principal amount at or above the appropriate minimum 
block size applicable to such publicly reportable swap transaction 
and is not a block trade as defined in Sec.  43.2 of the 
Commission's regulations.'' Id.
    \548\ See Sec.  43.3, 77 FR 1244.
    \549\ See Sec.  43.4, 77 FR 1246.
    \550\ See Sec.  43.5, 77 FR 1247.
    \551\ See Sec.  43.4 (d) and (h), 77 FR 1,246. Section 43.4(h) 
states that ``[t]he rounded notional or principal amount that is 
publicly disseminated for a publicly reportable swap transaction 
shall be capped. . . . '' If the notional or principal amount of a 
publicly reportable swap transaction is greater than the cap size, 
the publicly reported size for the trade will be ``[cap size]+.'' 
For example, if the relevant cap size is 250 million, the publicly 
reported size will be ``250+.''
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    The Real-Time Public Reporting Final Rule as adopted in January 
2012, however, deferred its responsibility to promulgate rules that 
``specify the criteria for determining what constitutes a large 
notional [off-facility] swap transaction [or block trade] for 
particular markets and contracts'' as CEA section 2(a)(13)(E)(ii) 
requires. Pending the adoption of such supplemental part 43 rules, the 
Commission adopted ``interim time delays for all swaps.'' \552\ 
Accordingly, at present no swap transaction data is publicly 
disseminated in real-time; interim time delays are in place for all 
swaps.\553\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \552\ 77 FR 1217; see also Sec.  43.5(c).
    \553\ See Sec.  43.5(c)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final rules adopted in this release amend part 43 to establish 
appropriate minimum block sizes, lift the blanket interim time-delay 
for all swaps from real-time public reporting, and provide further 
anonymity provisions to protect the identities of swap counterparties 
and transactions. More specifically, and as discussed in more detail 
above, these rules do so by:
     creating ``swap categories'' (i.e., groupings of swaps 
within the same asset class based on underlying characteristics) to 
which a common appropriate minimum block size applies \554\;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \554\ See Sec.  43.6(b), which defines swap category by asset 
class.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     prescribing a two-period, phased in approach to implement 
regulations, comprised of an initial period and an on-going (post-
initial) period to allow market participants sufficient time for 
compliance \555\;
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    \555\ See Sec.  43.6(e) and (f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     establishing initial appropriate minimum block sizes based 
on the Commission's review and analysis of swap market data across 
certain asset classes \556\;
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    \556\ See Sec.  43.6(e) and appendix F to part 43.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     obligating set forth a methodology for calculating post-
initial appropriate minimum block sizes \557\;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \557\ See Sec.  43.6(c) and (f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     providing a procedure that allows parties to a swap to 
elect block trade or large notional off-facility swap treatment for a 
swap transaction; \558\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \558\ See Sec.  43.6(g).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     establishing a system to ensure the anonymity of certain 
swaps in the other commodity asset class,\559\ including a methodology 
for the calculation of initial or post-initial cap sizes.\560\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \559\ See amendments to Sec.  43.4(d)(4).
    \560\ See Sec. Sec.  43.4(h) and 43.6(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rules do not, however, amend part 43 in a manner that alters the 
appropriate time delays for block trades and large notional off-
facility swaps, nor do they require investment in a completely new 
information infrastructure beyond what is necessary to comply with the 
existing provisions of part 43.\561\ With this release, in conjunction 
with the separate SEF core principles rulemaking \562\ and the made 
available to trade rulemaking,\563\ the Commission is implementing the 
trade execution mandate of CEA Section 2(h)(8). Due to the clearing 
mandate, the Final Rule at this time mainly will affect pre-trade 
transparency only in the interest rate and credit default asset 
classes. In regard to the foreign exchange and other commodity asset 
classes, the Commission notes that there is no clearing mandate for 
foreign exchange swaps and other commodity swaps at this time. Thus, 
the swaps block rule does not currently affect pre-trade transparency 
for these asset classes. As these markets evolve, the Commission will 
continue to monitor developments within each asset class and may 
exercise its legal authority to take action by rule or order if 
necessary to address changes in the markets.
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    \561\ The costs and benefits attendant to the time delay and 
development of an infrastructure for block trades and large notional 
off-facility swaps are discussed in Real-Time Public Reporting of 
Swap Transaction Data, 77 FR 1182, 1232, Jan. 9, 2012.
    \562\ See, the Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap 
Execution Facilities notice of proposed rulemaking, 76 FR 1214 (Jan. 
7, 2011).
    \563\ The Commission separately proposed rules to determine 
whether a swap is ``made available to trade'' for purposes of the 
trade execution requirement in CEA section 2(h)(8). Process for a 
Designated Contract Market or Swap Execution Facility To Make a Swap 
Available to Trade, 76 FR 77728 (proposed Dec. 14, 2011).
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    This rulemaking requires the Commission to carefully navigate a 
tension that CEA section 2(a)(13) recognizes: while section 2(a)(13)(C) 
requires the Commission to promulgate rules to bring real-time public 
reporting to the swaps market, section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv) requires that in 
doing so

[[Page 32917]]

the Commission ``take into account whether the public disclosure will 
materially reduce market liquidity.'' The Commission has followed both 
directives. Accordingly, a central focus of the Commission's 
consideration of costs and benefits of this rulemaking is the interplay 
between the important benefits of enhanced swap transaction 
transparency that real-time public dissemination affords \564\ and the 
potential that, in certain circumstances, transparency could reduce 
swap market liquidity. As evident by commenters' divergent opinions, 
the optimal point in this interplay, and how to set it, defies 
precision.\565\ Given this fact, these rules reflect the Commission's 
reasoned judgment of how best to meaningfully effectuate real-time 
public reporting of swap transactions--and the transparency Congress 
intended--in a manner that takes into account the impact on market 
liquidity. Briefly, the Commission will use a 67% percent notional 
calculation to determine the threshold over which block trades and 
large notional off-facility swaps will be eligible for block trade 
treatment, meaning that most swaps will be reported in real-time.\566\ 
At the same time, a phased implementation schedule assures that 
transparency is introduced incrementally, taking into account whether 
public disclosure will ``materially reduce market liquidity.'' For 
example, to cushion potential liquidity impact, the thresholds for 
swaps in the interest rate and credit assets classes will initially 
rest conservatively at 50 percent, thus allowing transactions above 50 
percent of the notional amount to remain shielded from real-time public 
reporting, before transitioning to 67 percent in the post-initial 
period. While this departure from the proposal means that fewer swaps 
will be subject to real-time transparency during the initial period, it 
affords the Commission the opportunity to collect and analyze data on 
the use of block thresholds and to apply that data to its evaluation of 
the risks attendant to a less transparent market. Simultaneously 
introducing a conservative, 50 percent threshold also allows the 
Commission to assess whether there are material reductions in the 
liquidity for some swaps and take any measures to stave off those 
reductions, as the rules allow the Commission to review and refine the 
thresholds as liquidity and transparency needs may warrant in the 
future.\567\
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    \564\ The benefits of public dissemination of swap transaction 
and pricing data are detailed in Real-Time Public Reporting of Swap 
Transaction Data, 77 FR at 1234. As the Commission explained in that 
release and reaffirms here, swap transaction reporting and public 
dissemination benefits market participants and the public in a 
number of respects. Among others discussed in that earlier release, 
and considered by reference herein, these include enhanced: price 
discovery, ability to manage risk as a result of improved visibility 
into swap market risk pricing, and improved swap market price 
competition. Additionally, the transparency afforded through public 
dissemination of swap transaction and pricing data ``will enhance 
the Commission's ability to detect anomalies in the market . . . and 
provide a check against a reoccurrence of the type of systemic risk 
build-up that occurred in 2008 when `the market permitted enormous 
exposure to risk to grow out of the sight of regulators and other 
traders [and d]erivatives exposures that could not be readily 
quantified exacerbated panic and uncertainty about the true 
financial condition of other market participants, contributing to 
the freezing of credit markets.' '' Id. (quoting Congressional 
Research Service Report for Congress, The Dodd-Frank Wall Street 
Reform and Consumer Protection Act: Title VII, Derivatives, by Mark 
Jickling and Kathleen Ann Ruane (August 30, 2010).
    \565\ Indeed, CEA section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv), in simply requiring 
that the Commission ``take into account whether public disclosure 
will materially reduce market liquidity,'' does not require that the 
Commission attempt to determine the precise optimal relationship 
between transparency and liquidity or assure no liquidity loss.
    \566\ Using the Over-the-Counter Derivatives Supervisors Group 
(``ODSG'') data for interest rate swaps, the Commission notes that 
the 67 percent notional amount calculation would result in 94 
percent of trades being reported in real-time. A discussion of the 
ODSG and the data set is set forth in section II.C.1 of this final 
rule.
    \567\ See Sec.  43.6(f).
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B. The Statutory Mandate To Consider the Costs and Benefits of the 
Commission's Action: Section 15(a) of the CEA

    Section 15(a) of the CEA \568\ requires the Commission to consider 
the costs and benefits of its actions before promulgating a regulation 
under the CEA or issuing certain orders. Section 15(a) further 
specifies that the costs and benefits shall be evaluated in light of 
the following five broad areas of market and public concern: (1) 
Protection of market participants and the public; (2) efficiency, 
competitiveness, and financial integrity of futures markets; (3) price 
discovery; (4) sound risk management practices; and (5) other public 
interest considerations. The Commission considers the costs and 
benefits resulting from its discretionary determinations with respect 
to the section 15(a) factors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \568\ 7 U.S.C. 19(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These amending rules become effective in--and their costs and 
benefits are considered relative to--the context of the conditions now 
in place under part 43. That is: all publicly reportable swap 
transactions are currently subject to a time delay and are not publicly 
reported in real-time.569 570 Unless otherwise indicated, 
the Commission has looked to a non-financial end-user that already has 
developed the technical capability and infrastructure necessary to 
comply with the requirements set forth in part 43 as a reference entity 
for estimating this rulemaking's direct costs under the assumption that 
the costs for this particular market participant would represent the 
maximum degree of compliance costs.\571\ The Commission anticipates, 
however, that in many cases the actual costs to established market 
participants (including swap counterparties, SDRs and other registered 
entities) would be lower than for the reference entity--perhaps 
significantly so, depending on the type, flexibility, and scalability 
of systems already in place.
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    \569\ See Sec.  43.5(c).
    \570\ Currently, the part 43 requirements are not applicable to 
swaps in the other commodities asset class that reference underlying 
assets not included in Appendix B to Part 43. The Real-Time 
Reporting Rule provides notice that, until such time as the 
anonymity provisions of this final rule are finalized, those off-
facility swaps not listed in appendix B to part 43 are not be 
required to comply with the real-time reporting and public 
dissemination requirements under part 43. However, such swaps are 
subject to the regulatory reporting requirements, described in 
proposed part 45. According to the BIS report https://bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qs1209.pdf, commodities (as a whole and not just the 
subset identified above) only represent slightly more than one third 
of one percent (0.36%) of the notional amounts outstanding as a 
percentage of the global OTC derivatives market for the end of 
December 2011. For this small subset of other commodity swaps, the 
starting point for the purposes of the Commission's consideration of 
the costs and benefits is the same as the starting point for the 
Commission's consideration of costs and benefits of the Real-Time 
Reporting Rule. A detailed discussion of the Commission's 
consideration of those costs and benefits is contained in the Real-
Time Reporting Rule. See 77 FR at 1232-1240.
    \571\ A non-financial end-user is a new market entrant with no 
prior swaps market participation or infrastructure. This reference 
point is different from the reference point(s) used in the PRA 
analysis in section V above for the following two reasons: (1) the 
burdens in the PRA are narrower than the costs discussed in this 
section (i.e., the PRA analysis solely discusses costs relating to 
collections of information, whereas this cost-benefit analysis 
considers all costs relating to the proposed rules); and (2) as 
discussed above, the cost-benefit analysis determines costs relative 
to one market participant that presumably would bear the highest 
burdens in implementing the proposed rules, whereas the PRA analysis 
seeks to estimate the costs of the proposed rules on all market 
participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Wherever reasonably feasible, the Commission has endeavored to 
quantify the costs and benefits of this rulemaking. In a number of 
instances, the Commission lacks the data and information required to 
precisely estimate costs, owing to the fact that these markets do not 
yet exist or are not yet fully developed. The Commission requested that 
commenters provide any data or other information that would be useful 
in the estimation of the

[[Page 32918]]

quantifiable costs and benefits of this rulemaking \572\; no commenters 
supplied such data or other information. Where it was not feasible to 
quantify (e.g., because of the lack of accurate data or appropriate 
metrics), the Commission has considered the costs and benefits of these 
rules in qualitative terms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \572\ Further Block Proposal Q93(a)-(e), 77 FR at 15507.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For purposes of considering their costs and benefits, the 
Commission has organized these rules in three groups: (1) Block trade 
rules concerning the criteria for determining swap categories and the 
methodologies to be used to determine the initial and post-initial 
appropriate minimum block sizes for large notional off-facility swaps 
and block trades; (2) block trade rules concerning the method by which 
swap counterparties may elect to treat a qualifying swap transaction as 
a block trade or a large notional off-facility swap, as applicable, and 
SEFs and DCMs notify an SDR of a block trade election; and (3) rules 
concerning anonymity protections. Each group is discussed below.

C. Rules Establishing Determination Criteria and Methodology (Sec.  
43.6(a)-(f) and (h))

    Rules 43.6(a)-(f) and (h) specify the Commission's criteria for 
establishing swap categories and methodology for determining 
appropriate minimum block sizes. The subsections that follow provide a 
brief contextual summary description of the rules; identify and discuss 
the costs and benefits attributable to the rules in light of comments; 
consider alternatives; and consider costs and benefits relative to 
factors specified in CEA section 15(a).
1. Rule Summary
    Rules 43.6(a)-(f) and (h) are described previously in this 
release.\573\ A summary of each follows:
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    \573\ See section II, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

a. Rule 43.6(a) Commission Determination
    Rule 43.6(a) provides that the Commission will determine the 
appropriate minimum block size for any swap on a SEF or DCM, and for 
large notional off-facility swaps. The rule also sets forth a schedule 
whereby the Commission will calculate and publish all appropriate 
minimum block sizes across all asset classes no less than once each 
calendar year, following an initial period (as described below).
b. Rule 43.6(b) Swap Category
    Rule 43.6(b) specifies the Commission's approach for grouping swaps 
by asset class based on existing liquidity in underlying cash markets, 
relevant economic indicators, the underlying asset class, and the 
Commission's analysis of relevant swap market data supplied to the 
Commission.\574\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \574\ Data was supplied to the Commission by MarkitSERV and The 
Warehouse Trust Company LLC. The data is more fully described in 
Section II.A.1.a. of this release.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. Rules 43.6(c)-(f) and (h) Methods for Determining Appropriate 
Minimum Block Sizes
    Rules 43.6(c)-(f) and (h) prescribe a phased-in approach, with an 
initial period and a post-initial period for determining appropriate 
minimum block sizes for each swap category. Appendix F to part 43 
contains a schedule of appropriate minimum block sizes effective during 
the initial period. The schedule reflects a different appropriate 
minimum block size methodology for the interest rate and credit asset 
classes than for the equity, FX and other commodity asset classes. The 
initial appropriate minimum block sizes for the interest rate and 
credit asset class are derived from data supplied by the ODSG.\575\ As 
set forth in Appendix F to this Final Rule, the Commission is 
calculating the appropriate minimum block sizes in interest rate and 
credit asset classes based upon the 50-percent notional amount 
calculation set forth in Sec.  43.6(c)(1) in the initial period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \575\ A discussion of the ODSG and the data set is set forth in 
section II.C.1 of this final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 43.6(d) states that swaps in the equity asset class shall not 
be treated as block trades or large notional off-facility swaps (i.e., 
equity swaps would not be subject to a time delay as provided in part 
43).
    With respect to the FX and other commodity asset classes, the 
appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps during the initial period is 
divided primarily between swaps that are futures-related swaps and 
those that are not futures-related.\576\ Appendix F to part 43 lists 
the proposed initial appropriate minimum block sizes for swap 
categories in the FX and other commodity asset classes. For swaps in 
the FX and other commodity asset classes that are not listed in 
appendix F to part 43, Sec.  43.6(e)(2) generally provides that these 
swaps will be considered block trades or large notional off-facility 
swaps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \576\ As explained above in section II.C., the Commission 
believes that the difference in methodology for determining initial 
appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps in the FX and other 
commodity asset classes is warranted because: (1) Swaps in these 
asset classes are closely linked to futures markets; and (2) DCMs 
have experience in setting block sizes for futures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After an SDR has collected reliable data for a particular asset 
class, Sec.  43.6(f)(1) provides that the Commission shall determine 
post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes for all swaps in the 
interest rate, credit, FX and other commodity asset classes based on 
the 67-percent notional amount calculation. The Commission is also 
adopting special rules for the determination of appropriate minimum 
block sizes that would apply to all asset classes, including rules 
applicable to swaps with optionality, swaps with composite reference 
prices, physical commodity swaps, currency conversion, and successor 
currencies.\577\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \577\ See proposed rule Sec.  43.6(h).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Overview of Comments Received
    The Commission received numerous comments regarding the potential 
costs and benefits to market participants and the public in response to 
the rules establishing the criteria and methodology for determining 
block thresholds. Commenters were divided on whether the Commission 
properly considered costs or misstated or ignored the benefits of the 
rules. Some commenters touched on the cost benefit considerations 
directly by promoting various alternatives to the proposed rules.\578\ 
Comments relating to the Commission's consideration of costs and 
benefits are discussed specifically in the sections below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \578\ E.g., CL-AII at 6; CL-SIFMA at 10; CL-WMBAA at 8; CL-CME 
at 2; CL-Vanguard at 3; CL-Morgan Stanley at 3; CL-ICAP Energy at 3; 
CL-Barnard at 1; CL-Freddie at 2; CL-Barclays at 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Costs
a. Direct Costs
    Rules 43.6(a)-(f) and (h) will impose recurring costs on swap 
market participants and registered entities (i.e., SEFs, DCMs, or SDRs) 
to accommodate the Commission's publication of post-initial appropriate 
minimum block sizes at least once each calendar year following the 
initial period. In the Further Block Proposal, the Commission 
anticipated that in order for registered entities to comply with the 
rule, they would need to update their existing data systems and that 
process would entail approximately 40 initial, non-recurring personnel 
hours at an approximate cost of $2,728 for each registered entity.\579\ 
This estimate included the potential number of burden hours required to

[[Page 32919]]

make a one-time adjustment to internal procedures, reprogram systems 
and implement processes to segregate the data by swap categories and 
incorporate data on appropriate minimum block sizes as published by the 
Commission at least once each calendar year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \579\ The estimate is calculated as follows: (Senior Programmer 
at 20 hours) + (Systems Analyst at 20 hours). A senior programmer's 
adjusted hourly wage is $81.52. A systems analyst's adjusted hourly 
wage is $54.89. See note 521 supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Market participants other than registered entities, and 
specifically non-financial end users, expectedly will need to train 
their existing personnel and update their written policies and 
procedures to comply with Sec.  43.6(a)-(f) and (h). The Commission 
estimated that the training and updating of policies and procedures 
will impose an initial non-recurring burden of approximately 15 
personnel hours at an approximate cost of $1,430 for each non-financial 
end-user.\580\ This cost estimate included the number of potential 
burden hours required to produce and design training materials, conduct 
training with existing personnel, and revise and circulate written 
policies and procedures in compliance with the proposed requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \580\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Compliance 
Manager at 10 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 3 hours) + 
(Compliance Attorney at 2 hours) = 15 hours per non-financial end-
user who is a reporting party. A compliance manager's adjusted 
hourly wage is $77.77. A director of compliance's hourly wage is 
$158.21. A compliance attorney's hourly wage is $89.43. See note 521 
supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received one comment specifically addressing direct 
costs. WMBAA disagreed with the Further Block Proposal's projected cost 
estimates and contended that the Commission's approach ``is overly 
simplistic and does not contemplate the actual efforts a SEF will have 
to undertake to implement the block trade regime, including the two-
step notification process, the technology upgrades, providing training 
to existing personnel and updating written policies and procedures, 
among other necessary actions to comply with the CFTC's proposed 
rule.'' \581\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \581\ CL-WMBAA at 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because WMBAA did not provide data to support or monetize its cost 
concern, the Commission has considered them qualitatively. Further, 
WMBAA's disagreement with the Further Block Proposal's cost estimates 
does not concern the incremental cost to augment and maintain systems 
and processes that the Commission believes entities need have in place 
to comply with the real time reporting requirement of Section 2(a)(13) 
of the CEA; rather it concerns the cost to comply with that statutory 
requirement as prescribed by the existing part 43 implementation 
regulations. SEFs and DCMs would incur these costs regardless of how 
the Commission determines block thresholds. Accordingly, the Commission 
considers WMBAA's criticism of the cost estimates in this rulemaking 
misplaced. Moreover, the Commission has intentionally structured the 
requirements of Sec.  43.6(a) to mitigate these costs; this rule's 
approach seeks to leverage the existing connectivity, infrastructure 
and arrangements that market participants and registered entities will 
have already established to comply with the part 43 regulations.
    The Commission did not find, nor was it provided, additional 
information that was sufficient to change the cost basis. Therefore, 
the Commission is maintaining the Further Block Proposal's approach to 
calculating the direct costs resulting from the methodology for 
determining block thresholds. However, the Commission is revising its 
estimates to reflect wage rate data updated since the Further Block 
Proposal was published. The Commission estimates that for registered 
entities to update existing technology as necessary will entail 
approximately 40 initial, non-recurring personnel hours at an 
approximate cost of $2,874 for each registered entity.\582\ The 
Commission estimates that training for existing personnel and updating 
written policies and procedures will impose an initial non-recurring 
burden of approximately 15 personnel hours at an approximate cost of 
$1,456 for each non-financial end-user.\583\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \582\ The estimate is calculated as follows: (Senior Programmer 
at 20 hours) + (Systems Analyst at 20 hours). A senior programmer's 
adjusted hourly wage is $86.89. A systems analyst's adjusted hourly 
wage is $56.79. See note 521 supra.
    \583\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Compliance 
Manager at 10 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 3 hours) + 
(Compliance Attorney at 2 hours) = 15 hours per non-financial end-
user who is a reporting party. A compliance manager's adjusted 
hourly wage is $74.17. A director of compliance's hourly wage is 
$169.16. A compliance attorney's hourly wage is $103.18. See note 
521 supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Indirect Costs
    The Commission received numerous comments regarding indirect costs 
that could result from the establishment of criteria and methodology 
for setting appropriate minimum block thresholds. The majority of these 
comments focused on the issue of market liquidity; and many of the 
comments provided alternatives for either lower notional amount 
calculation thresholds, and extended phase-in or restricting the asset 
classes to which thresholds would apply. Eleven commenters suggested 
that the 67 percent notional amount calculation set forth in proposed 
Sec.  43.6(c)(1) would have a negative impact on market liquidity.\584\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \584\ CL-AII at 6; CL-SIFMA at 10; CL-WMBAA at 8; CL-CME at 2; 
CL-Vanguard at 3; CL-Morgan Stanley at 3; CL-ICAP Energy at 3; CL-
Barnard at 1; CL-Freddie at 2; CL-Barclays at 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SIFMA and AII asserted that the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation is under inclusive for most swap categories and that the 
Commission should start with low block sizes (or classify all swaps as 
block trades) until data can be accumulated.\585\ Consequences of a 
high threshold, they maintain, would be reduced liquidity, 
fragmentation of trading, higher transaction costs and higher swap 
pricing costs to end users.\586\ AII stated that high block sizes would 
permit front running of swap dealers' hedging activities.\587\ SIFMA 
suggested that the Commission identify minimum liquidity thresholds for 
certain swaps in each swap category below which all swaps should be 
treated as blocks.\588\ SIFMA stated that 67 percent is too high to 
prevent liquidity impact; that 20-33 percent of trades should be 
blocks; and that 50 percent is better than 67 percent.\589\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \585\ CL-AII at 6; CL-SIFMA at 10.
    \586\ CL-AII at 6; CL-SIFMA at 10.
    \587\ CL-AII at 6.
    \588\ CL-SIFMA at 10.
    \589\ CL-SIFMA at 10.
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    WMBAA advocated using a 50 percent or lower block level and that 
the Commission rely on more timely and complete data to avoid impairing 
liquidity.\590\ CME asserted that 67 percent is arbitrary, has no 
relationship to the explicit goals of Dodd-Frank with respect to block 
trading of swaps, and would materially reduce market liquidity.\591\
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    \590\ CL-WMBAA at 8.
    \591\ CL-CME at 2.
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    Vanguard commented that block rules bringing transparency may 
ultimately increase liquidity, but an abrupt change could decrease 
liquidity.\592\ Vanguard instead favored a lower, 25 percent initial 
notional calculation methodology or perhaps providing block treatment 
to all swaps for one-year before phasing in notional amount calculation 
thresholds, maintaining that a lack of data compromises the setting of 
blocks and risks a negative liquidity impact.\593\ Vanguard further 
urged more swap category granularity by identifying discrete 
``liquidity pools'', and asserted that the lack of a sufficient time 
delay would hamper liquidity providers' ability to enter into off-
setting trades.\594\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \592\ CL-Vanguard at 3.
    \593\ CL-Vanguard at 3.
    \594\ CL-Vanguard at 3.

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[[Page 32920]]

    Morgan Stanley, AII, and CME all stated that the approach in the 
Further Block Proposal would sacrifice liquidity in the name of 
transparency in contravention of the statute.\595\ Specifically, Morgan 
Stanley commented that the proposed rules would diminish liquidity 
because the market would know details of transactions that are about to 
take place; Morgan Stanley also provided examples of IRS swaps under 
the proposed threshold that might move the market and, without 
providing further support, stated that application of the 67 percent 
notional amount calculation in CDS would result in too few trades 
receiving treatment as blocks and reduce liquidity.\596\ Morgan Stanley 
urged the Commission to lower block thresholds and apply them only to 
vanilla structures with standard maturities; Morgan Stanley further 
advocated for DCM/SEFs to set block sizes because they would maximize 
liquidity.\597\
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    \595\ CL-Morgan Stanley at 3; CL-AII at 6; CL-CME at 2.
    \596\ CL-Morgan Stanley at 3.
    \597\ CL-Morgan Stanley at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICAP and Barnard asserted that the Further Block Proposal fails to 
evaluate the effect of the block thresholds on liquidity.\598\ ICAP 
stated that the Commission misconstrued the legislative intent of Dodd-
Frank Act because the Further Block Proposal 1) proposes a ``results-
oriented'' approach; 2) does not determine if the 67 percent 
methodology would minimize impact on market liquidity; and 3) 
establishes block size thresholds based on notional size rather than 
number of transactions.\599\ In addition, ICAP stated that the Further 
Block Proposal failed to identify a ``market moving'' transaction for 
certain swaps, as intended by Congress and does not propose a 
methodology.\600\ Freddie stated that, in the absence of data, minimum 
block sizes for Interest Rate swaps are too high and will materially 
reduce market liquidity.\601\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \598\ CL-ICAP Energy at 3; CL-Barnard at 1.
    \599\ CL-ICAP Energy at 3.
    \600\ CL-ICAP at Energy at 3.
    \601\ CL-Freddie at 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also received comments raising potential indirect 
costs besides market liquidity impact. Barclays stated that mandatory 
clearing and uncleared margin requirements may compound the costs of 
increased transparency created by high block trade thresholds.\602\ 
SIFMA stated that the Commission's cost-benefit consideration is 
insufficient and incorrect in the context of mandatory execution under 
the proposed SEF rules.\603\ SIFMA expressed the concern that 
``liquidity seekers' [sic] could provide other market participants with 
the information needed to front run the successful dealer in the hedge 
market.'' \604\ SIFMA concluded that ``the Commission should implement 
lower block trade size thresholds to avoid significant decreases in 
liquidity or increases in bid-ask spreads.'' \605\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \602\ CL-Barclays at 10.
    \603\ CL-SIFMA at 4.
    \604\ CL-SIFMA at 4.
    \605\ CL-SIFMA at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters objected to the Commission's use of data in the 
Further Block Proposal. Five commenters \606\ asserted that the Further 
Block Proposal fails to adequately consider costs and benefits and 
relies upon obsolete data. AII \607\ stated that the Commission relies 
upon inadequate and outdated data, that the rules will impede 
competition and increase costs, and that the Commission should look to 
TRACE as a model for more deliberate disclosure implementation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \606\ CL-Vanguard at 3; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 11-13; CL-SIFMA at 10; 
CL-WMBAA at 8; and CL-AII at 6.
    \607\ CL-AII at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Vanguard \608\ suggested phasing in the requirements because the 
new rules are a ``paradigm shift,'' and issuing final rules on block 
trades requires more data collection before implementation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \608\ CL-Vanguard at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters suggest the Commission collect more and better 
data before setting block levels. They criticize not only the dearth of 
relevant data but how the Commission has interpolated the data through 
trimming mechanism. SIFMA suggests that all swaps should be treated as 
blocks for first year of compliance during which data is collected, 
then the Commission should take a conservative approach to establish 
and iteratively modify thresholds based on liquidity and bid-ask spread 
of swaps that near the established block size threshold.\609\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \609\ CL-SIFMA at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also received comments suggesting costs in terms of 
market liquidity or other factors in setting the appropriate minimum 
block thresholds too low (or benefits in setting the appropriate 
minimum block thresholds at 67 percent of notional or higher). 
Conversely, four commenters expressed support for the Further Block 
Proposal's 67 percent notional amount calculation methodology or 
suggested that a lower threshold would result in a decrease in 
liquidity.\610\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \610\ CL-ODEX at 2; CL-SDMA at 3-6; CL-Javelin at 4-6; CL-Arbor 
at 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Specifically, Javelin stated that the Commission should set a 
higher block threshold than the 67 percent notional amount calculation 
``where the market is protected from disruption and where greater 
transparency, competition and liquidity are ensured.'' \611\ SDMA 
commented that ``[t]oo low a block threshold and fewer trades will be 
executed on SEFs as little structural change in swaps execution occurs, 
increased competition fails to manifest itself and more diverse 
liquidity is impaired.'' \612\ AFR asserted that some drop in liquidity 
was assumed by Congress when it enacted the provision and that ``there 
is no authoritative study supporting the concept that immediate 
disclosure would distort prices because of market liquidity.'' \613\ 
Similarly, Better Markets argued that any information embargo should be 
eliminated, stating that ``there is no authoritative study validating 
the notion that market liquidity would be adversely affected if Block 
Trade data were fully disclosed.'' \614\ Better Markets also stated 
that the public benefits of swap data transparency under the Further 
Block Proposal greatly outweigh the private costs to the disclosing 
entities and to the swaps market participants; Better Markets argued 
that Congress' ultimate objective in the Dodd-Frank Act was to prevent 
another crisis and avert the massive costs it would inflict upon the 
public (including all market participants), and that the consideration 
of costs and benefits should focus on this overriding public 
interest.\615\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \611\ CL-Javelin at 2.
    \612\ CL-SDMA at 1.
    \613\ CL-AFR at 4.
    \614\ CL-Better Markets at 4.
    \615\ CL-Better Markets at 4.
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    In response to comments advocating for a more gradual phase in of 
appropriate minimum block thresholds, the Commission is adopting rules 
establishing a more conservative 50 percent notional amount calculation 
for determining block thresholds in the Interest Rate Swap and Credit 
Default Swap categories during the initial period. This will allow for 
a more gradual phase-in of the 67 percent notional amount calculation 
for determining block thresholds in the post-initial period than what 
was proposed. The block trade methodology that will be implemented by 
the Commission also allows minimum appropriate block trade amounts to 
change periodically in response to the new data collected in the 
market.
    The Commission believes that this implements the congressional 
directive

[[Page 32921]]

for transparency while accounting for possible material reductions in 
liquidity through the phasing-in of real-time reporting of a portion of 
the swaps market. In contrast, SIFMA's suggestion of treating all swaps 
as blocks while the Commission collects data inverts the public policy 
rationale underlying congressional requirements for transparency 
through real-time public reporting. The most useful data for 
determining at what levels blocks would be appropriate is data 
collected for swaps reported in real-time when market participants have 
the ability to execute block trades above minimum block thresholds. 
Data collected prior to the point where real-time reporting and block 
levels are functioning together is useful (and has been used by the 
Commission in fashioning block thresholds in the initial period for 
swaps in the interest rate and credit asset classes), but provides an 
incomplete picture absent implementation of the real-time reporting 
regime. The Commission's 67 percent notional amount calculation in the 
post-initial period is designed to adjust appropriate minimum block 
levels once this data becomes available.
    Notwithstanding the fact that the commenters did not provide data 
to support or monetize their cost concerns, the Commission has 
considered their qualitative comments regarding the potential costs 
that the Commission's appropriate minimum block threshold methodology 
may have on market liquidity.
    The Commission agrees with Vanguard that transparency ultimately 
promotes increased market liquidity. Transparency afforded through the 
publication of swap transaction and pricing data is likely to attract 
more market participants to the market place, thereby increasing market 
liquidity depth. However, the Commission also understands the tension 
between achieving greater swap transaction transparency and liquidity: 
required reporting of large transactions without a time delay (i.e., as 
soon as technologically practicable) presents potential for downside 
cost to certain market participants, most particularly market makers 
providing liquidity. The immediate reporting of swaps that approach, 
but fall shy of the appropriate minimum block size threshold, may in 
certain circumstances increase the difficulty, and thus cost, for 
liquidity providers to lay off attendant price risks in the market. As 
the commenters suggest, market makers ultimately could pass these costs 
on to their end-user clients.
    Recognizing the potential for such indirect costs, the Commission 
believes it has designed the criteria and methodology outlined in the 
rule in a manner that strikes an appropriate balance between the 
importance of price discovery and transparency, and concerns about 
potential costs to market participants. By establishing a 67 percent 
notional amount calculation for appropriate minimum block thresholds in 
the post initial period, the Commission will bring transparency through 
real-time reporting to the vast majority of transactions in the swap 
market.
    The Commission believes that the phase-in approach provides swap 
market participants with adequate time to incrementally adjust their 
trading practices, technology infrastructure and business arrangements 
to comply with the new block trade regime. As a result, the rule's 
approach promotes liquidity since the Commission believes that a 
transparent market with improved pre-trade price transparency is likely 
to attract customers. The Commission expects that indirect costs 
described above will be mitigated through improved price discovery and 
a decrease in the cost of hedging practices for end users due to 
improved transparency and competition in the marketplace.
    The Commission also considered the potential that different swaps 
and futures block criteria and methodology might competitively 
disadvantage SEFs to the extent certain market participants consider 
swaps and futures products competitive substitutes; thus, in turn, 
frustrating public interests that Congress, in authorizing SEFs in the 
Dodd-Frank Act, intended to further. For several reasons, the 
Commission does not believe this will occur. First, as discussed in the 
SEF Rulemaking, the Commission has provided SEFs with various 
functionalities designed to provide flexibility that will promote the 
trading of swaps on SEFs.\616\ Second, by using futures block 
thresholds as a reference for initially setting the criteria for 
economically related swaps, the rule, at a minimum, substantially 
mitigates any such theoretical costs. Further, the Commission has, and 
will use, corrective tools if experience in these newly-regulated 
markets indicates potential for differences in swaps and futures block 
criteria and methodology to harm market users through hindered product 
competition. These tools include periodical recalibration of swap 
criteria as anticipated under this rule as well as the Commission's 
ability to exercise its legal authority to take action by rule or order 
to mitigate any potential harm due to hindered competition.\617\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \616\ See, the Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap 
Execution Facilities notice of proposed rulemaking, 76 FR 1214 (Jan. 
7, 2011), for details of functionalities that provide flexibility to 
promote trading of swaps on SEFs.
    \617\ Historically (and under a rule proposed in a pending 
rulemaking concerning Core Principle 9 for Designated Contract 
Markets (``DCMs'')), DCMs have discretion to set minimum block 
thresholds for futures trading, the Dodd-Frank Act amended the CEA 
to require that the Commission specify criteria to determine swap 
block trades without imposing an equivalent requirement for 
Commission specification of futures block criteria. See Core 
Principles and Other Requirements for Designated Contract Markets, 
75 FR 80572, 80616-17 (Dec. 22, 2010) (Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking; proposed Sec.  38.503(a) would require that a board of 
trade that permits block trade transactions on futures contracts 
have rules governing such transactions, including rules limiting 
block trades to large transactions and imposing minimum size 
requirements, and that block trade size be certified or approved by 
the Commission); Core Principles and Other Requirements for 
Designated Contract Markets, 77 FR 36612, 36643 (Final Rule; 
announces Commission intent to take additional time to consider the 
proposed rules for block transactions and other aspects of proposed 
rules under Core Principle 9).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Benefits
    The Commission believes that Sec.  43.6(a)-(f) and (h) will 
generate several overarching benefits to swap market participants, 
registered entities and the general public. Most notably, the 
Commission expects that the criteria and methodologies for setting 
appropriate minimum block sizes will provide greater price transparency 
for a substantial portion of swap transactions in a manner carefully 
calibrated to preserve and promote swaps market liquidity. More 
specifically, the regulations will provide price transparency by 
lifting the current part 43 real-time reporting time delay \618\ in a 
measured manner for swap transactions with notional values under 
specified threshold levels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \618\ See 77 FR 1240.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At the same time, the Commission's criteria and methodology--
including carefully crafted block trade and large-notional off-facility 
swap categories--are designed to retain time-delay status for those 
high-notional-value transactions, where doing otherwise could 
negatively impact market liquidity. In addition to avoiding potential 
negative market liquidity impact associated with transactions that 
remain eligible for a reporting time-delay, the Commission also expects 
the liquidity in the market to increase since a more transparent market 
is likely to attract more customers. The Commission expects improved 
transparency and liquidity to have a positive effect on the prices 
market participants will pay for their swaps as

[[Page 32922]]

well as to cause a decrease in the cost of hedging due to improved 
transparency and competition in the market. The Commission also expects 
that lower hedging costs and improved transparency will reduce systemic 
risk potential. A swaps market that is transparent to regulators and 
the public in real-time, without the interim delays for all 
transactions imposed in Part 43, provides for a system that will assist 
the Commission's oversight ability. Finally, the Commission believes 
that this added transparency will ultimately strengthen the swaps 
market by affording academics, the media, public and market 
participants the opportunity to monitor, study, and analyze these 
previously opaque segments of the economy.
    The rules' phased-in implementation will introduce greater 
transparency in an incremental, measured and flexible manner so that 
appropriate minimum block sizes can respond to changing markets. 
Section 43.6(f)(2) permits the Commission to set appropriate minimum 
block sizes no less than once annually during the post-initial period. 
If swap market conditions were to change significantly after the 
implementation of the provisions of this final rule, there is nothing 
that prevents the Commission from reacting to take action further 
improving price transparency or mitigating adverse effects on market 
liquidity. In an effort to add more flexibility to respond to 
continuing swaps market evolution, the methodology in Sec.  43.6(c)-(f) 
and (h) will recalibrate appropriate minimum block sizes regularly to 
ensure that those sizes remain appropriate for, and responsive to, 
these changing markets.
5. Alternatives
    The Commission considered alternatives to the determination 
criteria and methodology adopted in this rulemaking. The chief 
alternatives raised by commenters or otherwise considered by the 
Commission concerned three topics--Commission's determination of 
minimum block sizes, swap categories, and block methodology--as 
discussed below.
a. Commission Determination of Minimum Block Sizes
    Under Sec.  43.6(a) the Commission will determine minimum block 
sizes; this approach limits the direct burden on market participants 
and registered entities relative to an alternative that would require 
them to engage a quantitative analysis to ascertain appropriate minimum 
block sizes for themselves. Such an alternative approach is 
inconsistent with the statutory requirement of CEA section 
2(a)(13)(E)(ii) that the Commission ``specify the criteria for 
determining what constitutes a large notional swap transaction (block 
trade) for particular markets and contracts.'' \619\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \619\ See also 111 Cong. Rec. S. 5921 (daily ed., July 15, 2010) 
(Statement of Sen Lincoln) (the regulators are given authority to 
establish what constitutes a `block trade' or `large notional' swap 
transaction for particular contracts as well as appropriate time 
delay in reporting transactions to the public'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Swap Category Alternatives
    Commenters \620\ noted what they described as a lack of granularity 
in the Commission's choice of swaps categories, which they cautioned 
would result in the grouping of liquid swaps together with illiquid 
swaps in the same swap category. Vanguard \621\ suggested a more 
granular approach to setting swap categories and block sizes according 
to ``distinct liquidity pools.'' ISDA/SIFMA \622\ suggested subjecting 
a swap to block thresholds as long as the swap has sufficient trading 
frequency and trades in such volume that allows full hedging in a short 
period of time and also prevents widening of the spread as a result of 
public reporting. In support of such a test, the comment cited research 
and data to suggest that disclosure does not necessarily lead to 
increased transparency and swaps with varying levels of liquidity will 
be subject to the same block size. Many commenters expressed that the 
Commission's determination of swap categories would result in block 
levels that are insufficiently granular to account for differences 
between swap asset classes and within swap categories, including the 
differences in transaction frequency and volume.\623\ Some commenters 
suggested that all infrequently traded swaps, under a specified level, 
should be treated as block trades.\624\ The various swap category 
alternatives suggested by commenters are more fully discussed and 
considered in Sections II.A.1-5 of this final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \620\ CL-Vanguard at 7; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 14; CL-SIFMA at 10; and 
CL-Better Markets at 4.
    \621\ CL-Vanguard at 7.
    \622\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 14; and CL-SIFMA at 10.
    \623\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 14; CL-Vanguard at 7.
    \624\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that its approach of establishing specific 
criteria for grouping swaps into a finite set of defined swap 
categories is preferable to the alternatives noted; it provides (1) 
appropriate granularity that mitigates the potential for like risks to 
trade differently; and (2) a clear organizational framework that avoids 
administrative burdens for market participants that otherwise could 
arise from more numerous and/or non-uniform swap categories. The 
Commission made use of swaps market data, as well as market convention, 
in making its determination of how best to form swap categories and 
asset classes as well as buckets within each asset class. Ultimately, 
the Commission determined that that the best approach was to allow for 
products with similar characteristics and risk structures to be grouped 
together, given that in certain circumstances market participants view 
similar financial products as close substitutes and use them as such 
for risk mitigating purposes. The Commission has fashioned its swaps 
categories to, where possible, group together swaps that could be used 
to hedge the same risk or otherwise establish an equivalent position.
    Grouping economically-substitutable swaps together makes the 
setting of appropriate minimum block sizes on an individual product 
basis unnecessary and potentially dangerous in that it would allow for 
like risks to trade differently.
c. Block Methodology Alternatives
    The Commission also considered various alternatives to its proposed 
methodologies for determining appropriate minimum block thresholds in 
both the initial and the post initial periods. As discussed more fully 
in Section II.B., the Commission received various comments suggesting 
alternatives to the phased-in approach contained in the Further Block 
Proposal. Many commenters compared the 67 percent notional amount 
calculation to a 50 percent notional amount calculation, as 
specifically requested by the Commission in Question 33 of the Further 
Block Proposal. Twelve commenters preferred the 67 percent notional 
amount calculation to a 50 percent notional amount calculation; 
whereas, nine commenters preferred the 50 percent notional amount 
calculation to the 67 percent notional amount calculation. ODEX, RJ 
O'Brien, and Spring Trading expressed support for the 67 percent 
notional amount calculation, but also suggested that a higher notional 
amount calculation would be preferable, particularly in the post-
initial period.\625\ AFR, Better Markets, Javelin, and SDMA all 
recommended a 75 percent or higher notional amount calculation and a 
market depth and market breadth test.\626\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \625\ CL-ODEX at 1; CL-RJ O'Brien at 1.
    \626\ CL-AFR at 8-9; CL-Better Markets at 7-8; CL-Javelin at 2; 
CL-SDMA at 2.

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[[Page 32923]]

    Nine commenters preferred the 50 percent notional amount 
calculation to the 67 percent notional amount calculation.
    Freddie Mac and ICI expressly supported a 50 percent notional 
amount calculation.\627\ Pierpont and WMBAA recommended a notional 
amount calculation of no greater than 50 percent.\628\ ICAP Energy and 
SIFMA recommended a notional amount calculation below 50 percent, but 
preferred a 50 percent notional amount calculation to a 67 percent 
notional amount calculation.\629\ AII and ICAP recommended not using a 
notional amount calculation at all, but preferred a 50 percent notional 
amount calculation to a 67 percent notional amount calculation.\630\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \627\ CL-Freddie at 2; CL-ICI at 6-7.
    \628\ CL-Pierpont at 3; CL-WMBAA at 3.
    \629\ CL-ICAP Energy at 3; CL-SIFMA at 10.
    \630\ CL-AII at 6; CL-ICAP Energy at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AII recommended lowering or eliminating block thresholds until 
complete data has been reported to SDRs so as not to impair market 
liquidity.\631\ Barclays recommended introducing block levels that 
allow for empirical analysis of the transaction data and sequentially 
increasing block sizes until such point as the desired equilibrium 
between transparency and liquidity is reached.\632\ Better Markets 
suggested transitioning to a market depth/market breadth test after the 
Commission has collected a year of SDR data.\633\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \631\ CL-AII at 6.
    \632\ CL-Barclays at 11.
    \633\ CL-Better Markets at 9-10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also specifically requested comments regarding other 
potential methods for determining appropriate minimum block 
thresholds.\634\ While numerous comments addressed the efficacy of a 
notional amount calculation and the appropriate percentage to use in 
making such a calculation, the comments reveal only one significant 
alternative methodology to calculating relevant initial and post-
initial minimum block thresholds in place of a notional amount 
calculation: block thresholds based on market depth and market 
breadth.\635\ The Commission received a number of comments regarding 
whether the Commission should use either market depth or market breadth 
criteria, instead of the 67-percent notional amount calculation 
methodology, to calculate the relevant initial minimum block sizes and 
the post-initial minimum block sizes.\636\ Many commenters expressed 
support for adopting the market depth test \637\ and other commenters 
additionally supported utilizing the market breadth test.\638\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \634\ See Further Block Proposal, Q32-54.
    \635\ See Note 262 for an in depth description of the market 
depth and market breadth test.
    \636\ Market depth and market breadth was proposed to be 
calculated as follows: (step 1) Identify swap contracts with pre-
trade price transparency within a swap category; (step 2) calculate 
the total executed notional volumes for each swap contract in the 
set from step 1 and calculate the sum total for the swap category 
over the look back period of one year; (step 3) collect a market 
depth snapshot of all of the bids and offers once each minute for 
the pre-trade price transparency set of contracts identified in step 
1; (step 4) identify the four 30-minute periods that contain the 
highest amount of executed notional volume each day for each 
contract of the pre-trade price transparency set identified in step 
1 and retain 120 observations related to each 30-minute period for 
each day of the look-back period; (step 5) determine the average 
bid-ask spread over the look-back period of one year by averaging 
the spreads observed between the largest bid and executed offer for 
all the observations identified in step 3; (step 6) for each of the 
120 observations retained in step 4, calculate the sum of the 
notional amount of all orders collected from step 3 that fall within 
a range, calculate the average of all of these observations for the 
look-back period and divide by two; (step 7) to determine the 
trimmed market depth, calculate the sum of the market depth 
determined in step 6 for all swap contracts within a swap category; 
(step 8) to determine the average trimmed market depth, use the 
executed notional volumes determined in step 2 and calculate a 
notional volume weighted average of the notional amounts determined 
in step 6; (step 9) using the calculations in steps 7 and 8, 
calculate the market breadth based on the following formula: market 
breadth = averaged trimmed market depth + (trimmed market depth - 
average trimmed market depth) x .75; (step 10) set the appropriate 
minimum block size equal to the lesser of the values from steps 8 
and 9. 77 FR 15482.
    \637\ CME-CL at 2; ODEX-CLetter at 2; Spring Trading-CL at 2; 
MFA-CL at 7; FIA-CL at 2.
    \638\ Arbor-CL at 1; AFR-CL at 8-9; Jeffries-CL at 2; SDMA-CL at 
3-6; Javelin-CL at 4-6; RJ O'Brien-CL at 1; Better Markets-CL at 9-
10; CRT-CL at 2; FIA-CL at 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed more fully in Section II.B., for the initial period 
the Commission is adopting the 50 percent notional amount calculation 
to determine appropriate minimum block sizes in the interest rate and 
credit asset classes. This approach provides for a more gradual phase-
in of minimum block sizes, as recommended by numerous commenters. The 
Commission believes that the phase-in approach should provide swap 
market participants with an adequate amount of time to incrementally 
adjust their trading practices, technology infrastructure and business 
arrangements to comply with the new block trade regime.
    For the post-initial period, the Commission is adopting Sec.  
43.6(f)(1) as proposed. The 67-percent notional amount calculation 
means that, within a swap category, approximately two-thirds of the sum 
total of all notional amounts will be reported on a real-time basis. 
This approach will afford market participants a timely view of a 
substantial portion of swap transaction and pricing data to assist them 
in determining the competitive price for swaps within a relevant swap 
category. The Commission anticipates that this enhanced price 
transparency will encourage market participants to provide liquidity 
(e.g., through the posting of bids and offers), particularly when 
transaction prices move away from the competitive price. The Commission 
also anticipates that enhanced price transparency thereby will improve 
market integrity and price discovery, while also reducing information 
asymmetries enjoyed by market makers in predominately opaque swap 
markets.\639\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \639\ The proposed calculation stands in contrast to another 
alternative--the proposed 95th percentile-based distribution test 
set out in the Initial Proposal. See the discussion in section I.B. 
of the Further Block Proposal. No commenters suggested or supported 
the distribution test in response to the Further Block Proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the Commission's view, using the 67-percent notional amount 
calculation also would minimize the potential impact of real-time 
public reporting on liquidity risk compared to other alternatives. The 
67 percent notional amount calculation represents a middle ground 
between the many commenters who supported higher block thresholds and 
the many commenters who preferred much more conservative thresholds. 
The Commission believes that its methodology, in conjunction with the 
50-percent notional amount calculation during the initial period, 
represents a tailored and incremental approach for achieving the goal 
of ``a vast majority'' of swap transactions becoming subject to real-
time public reporting.\640\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \640\ The ``guiding principle in setting appropriate block trade 
levels [is that] the vast majority of swap transactions should be 
exposed to the public market through exchange trading.'' 
Congressional Record--Senate, S5902, S5922 (July 15, 2010). As 
discussed above, this phased-in approach seeks to improve 
transparency while not having a negative impact on market liquidity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted above, CEA section 2(a)(13)(E)(iv) directs the Commission 
to take into account whether the public disclosure of swap transaction 
and pricing data ``will materially reduce market liquidity.'' \641\ If 
market participants reach the conclusion that the Commission has set 
appropriate minimum block sizes for a specific swap category in a way 
that will materially reduce market liquidity, then those participants 
are encouraged to submit data to support their conclusion. In addition, 
the Commission will conduct its own surveillance of swaps market

[[Page 32924]]

activity and how block sizes affect market liquidity in each of the 
specified swap categories.\642\ In response to either a submission or 
its own surveillance of swaps market activity the Commission may 
exercise its legal authority to take action by rule or order to 
mitigate the potential effects on market liquidity with respect to 
swaps in a particular swap category.
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    \641\ 7 U.S.C. 2(a)(13)(E)(iv).
    \642\ The Commission received two comments supporting the 
Commission's authority to set appropriate minimum block sizes 
outside of the proposed annual look-back period. MFA argued that the 
Commission's goal to balance transparency and liquidity would be 
better achieved with the flexibility to adjust minimum block sizes 
quickly to respond to material market changes. MFA recommended that 
the Commission should have the authority to update post-initial 
minimum block sizes in extraordinary circumstances and on a case-by-
case basis, based on SDR data that it receives for individual or 
across multiple swap categories. GFMA stated that if the Commission 
establishes a notional calculation test, then it should ensure that 
it has sufficient flexibility to amend minimum block sizes. GFMA 
recommended that the Commission should be able to ``swiftly alter'' 
block trade levels to enable some trading to be conducted in a newly 
illiquid market, without the benefit of reference to a data set. The 
Commission notes that Sec.  43.6(f)(1) provides that the Commission 
shall update post-initial appropriate minimum block levels ``[n]o 
less than once each calendar year.'' Accordingly, the Commission 
notes that it has the ability to adjust post-initial minimum block 
sizes under the types of extraordinary circumstances raised by 
commenters.
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    The Commission acknowledges that the market depth and market 
breadth test is a viable alternative to the notional amount calculation 
methodology. However, it has several prerequisite conditions that 
complicate the ability to implement it. For example, the Commission 
would need to determine which contracts within a swap category offer 
pre-trade price transparency--electronically displayed and executable 
bids and offers as well as displayed available volumes for execution. 
As noted by commenters, adequate market trading data also must be 
available to collect a market depth snapshot of all of the bids and 
offers for the pre-trade price transparency set of applicable 
contracts. The Commission is also cognizant of MFA's concerns regarding 
the potential for manipulation of market depth. Given the time needed 
for trading infrastructure to develop and the significant time and cost 
considerations involved in collecting such data from SEFs and DCMs, the 
Commission deems it unfeasible to implement at this time; the 
Commission will continue to examine the merits of doing so in the 
future.
6. CEA Section 15(a) Factors
a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    The Commission believes that the criteria and methodology in Sec.  
43.6(a)-(f) and (h) will protect swap market participants by extending 
the delay for reporting for publicly reportable swap transactions, as 
appropriate, while also accommodating the market participant and public 
interest with enhanced transparency. By setting appropriate minimum 
block sizes in a thoughtful and measured manner as contemplated in the 
final rule, the Commission believes that it has properly balanced the 
tradeoff between transparency and liquidity interests. As a result, 
swap market participants will retain a means to offset risk exposures 
related to their swap transactions at competitive prices. In addition, 
the phased-in implementation scheme outlined in this rulemaking will 
introduce greater transparency in an incremental, measured and flexible 
manner so that appropriate minimum block sizes are responsive to 
changing markets. Specifically, the Commission expects that the 
availability of real-time pricing information for carefully enumerated 
categories of swap transactions will draw increased swap market 
liquidity through the competitive appeal of improved pricing efficiency 
that greater transparency affords. More liquid, competitive swap 
markets, in turn, allow businesses to offset costs more efficiently 
than in completely opaque markets, thus serving the interests of both 
market participants and the public who should benefit through lower 
costs of goods and services.
    Another benefit of increasing swaps market transparency to 
regulators and the public in real-time, without the interim delays for 
all transactions imposed in Part 43, is better protection of market 
participants and the public by improving the Commission's oversight 
ability and by giving academics, the media, public and market 
participants the opportunity to monitor, study, and analyze these 
previously opaque segments of the economy.
b. Efficiency, Competitiveness and Financial Integrity of Markets \643\
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    \643\ The Commission sees no potential impact to the financial 
integrity of futures markets from the criteria and methodology in 
its consideration of section 15(a)(2)(B) of the CEA. Although by its 
terms, section 15(a)(2)(B) applies to futures, the Commission finds 
this factor useful in analyzing the costs and benefits of swaps 
regulation, as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The criteria and methodology set out in the rules will promote 
market efficiency, competitiveness and financial integrity of markets 
in several ways. The Commission acknowledges that because 
responsibility for specifying swap categories and determining 
appropriate minimum block sizes is with the Commission rather than 
registered entities, the administrative burden on swap market 
participants is minimized. Further, the rules afford flexibility to 
respond to continuing swaps market evolution, including but not limited 
to changing industry practices and activities that the Commission 
foresees occurring as market participants comply with regulations, 
including part 43, implementing the Dodd-Frank Act regulatory regime. 
More specifically, the methodology in Sec.  43.6(c)-(f) and (h) will 
recalibrate appropriate minimum block sizes regularly to ensure that 
those sizes remain appropriate for, and responsive to, these changing 
markets. This ability, coupled with the potential for the Commission to 
adjust futures block requirements in pending and future rulemakings 
(among other tools) also helps assure that competitive implications 
that could arise between substitutable swaps and futures as markets 
evolve are appropriately addressed. The Commission believes that the 
rules will introduce increased market transparency for swaps in a 
careful, measured manner that the Commission believes will optimize the 
balance between liquidity and transparency concerns.\644\
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    \644\ As noted above, under part 43 of the Commission's 
regulations (as now promulgated in the Real-Time Reporting Final 
Rule), all publicly reportable swap transactions are subject to a 
time delay pending further amending regulation to establish the 
criteria and methodology to distinguish block trades and large 
notional off-facility swaps from those swaps that do not meet those 
definitions. See 77 FR 1217. As a result, SDRs as of now are not 
required to publicly disseminate publicly reportable swap 
transactions as soon as technologically practicable.
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c. Price Discovery
    The criteria and methodology set out in the rules will enhance swap 
market price discovery by eliminating, to the extent appropriate, the 
time delays for the real-time public reporting. The methodology of this 
final rule will ensure that an SDR will be able to publicly disseminate 
data for certain swaps as soon as technologically practicable and the 
majority of the transactions in the market will be visible to traders 
as well as the public. Since the majority of trades will be published 
and visible in real-time, reported prices are likely to be better 
indicators of competitive pricing. As such, the rules promote improved 
price discovery.

[[Page 32925]]

d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    As discussed above, the Commission believes that the criteria and 
methodology set forth in the rules will enhance price discovery since 
SDRs will publicly disseminate price and other data relevant to 
valuation as soon as technologically practicable for the swaps for 
which the time-delay is lifted. This better and more accurate data will 
enable swap market participants, generally, to better measure risk. An 
ability to better manage risk at an entity level should translate to 
improved market participant risk management generally. Improved risk 
measurement and management potential, in turn, mitigates the risk of 
another financial crisis by better equipping market participants to 
value their swap contracts and other assets during times of market 
instability.
e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    The Commission believes that the criteria and methodology in Sec.  
43.6(a)-(f) and (h) will allow the majority of swap transactions and 
prices to be publicly disseminated, giving academics, the media, public 
and market participants the opportunity to monitor, study, and analyze 
these previously opaque segments of the economy. This would allow the 
public to be better informed about swaps markets and analyze publicly 
available market data disseminated in real-time.

D. Cost-Benefit Considerations Relevant to the Block Trade/Large 
Notional Off-Facility Swap Election Process (Sec.  43.6(g))

    Section 43.6(g) specifies the process for a market participant to 
elect that a swap transaction be treated as a block trade or large 
notional off-facility swap (``the election process''). Section 
43.6(g)(1) establishes a two-step notification process relating to 
block trades. Section 43.6(g)(2) establishes the notification process 
relating to large notional off-facility swaps.
    Section 43.6(g)(1)(i) sets out the first step in the block trade 
notification process: parties to a swap executed at or above the 
appropriate minimum block size for the applicable swap category are 
required to notify the SEF or DCM, as applicable, of their election to 
have their qualifying swap transaction treated as a block trade. 
Section 43.6(g)(1)(ii) sets out the second step: the SEF or DCM, as 
applicable, that receives an election notification is required to 
notify an SDR of a block trade election when transmitting swap 
transaction and pricing data to such SDR for public dissemination. The 
Commission expects SEFs and DCMs to use automated, electronic--and in 
some cases voice--processes to execute swap transactions; the 
transmission of the notification of a block trade election, which may 
occur separately from the execution process, also will be either 
automated, electronic or communicated through voice processes.
    Section 43.6(g)(1)(ii) sets out the second step: the SEF or DCM, as 
applicable, that receives an election notification is required to 
notify an SDR of a block trade election when transmitting swap 
transaction and pricing data to such SDR for public dissemination.
1. Costs Relevant to the Election Process (Sec.  43.6(g))
    Non-financial end-users who are reporting parties, as well as SEFs, 
DCMs, and SDRs will likely bear the costs of complying with the 
election process in Sec.  43.6(g). To comply with the real-time 
reporting requirements of part 43 already in place, these entities will 
have already invested in technology and personnel as well as 
established programs for continued systems maintenance, support and 
compliance; the Commission has previously described and considered 
these costs in the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule.\645\ The Commission 
specifically designed the election process so that non-financial end-
users, SEFs, DCMs, and SDRs would be able to leverage any investments 
made for compliance with part 43 to also comply with Sec.  43.6(g). 
Accordingly, the Commission expects non-financial end-users, SEFs, DCMs 
and SDRs to have the following direct, quantifiable costs: (a) An 
incremental, non-recurring expenditure to update existing technology to 
comply with Sec.  43.6(g); (b) an incremental non-recurring expenditure 
for training existing personnel and updating written policies and 
procedures for compliance with amendments to part 43; (c) incremental 
recurring expenses associated with compliance, maintenance and 
operational support in connection with the election process; and (d) 
additional incremental, non-recurring expenditures to update existing 
technology exclusive to SDRs. SDRs also would have incremental, non-
recurring expenditures to update existing technology.\646\ The 
Commission also recognizes that the election process in Sec.  43.6(g) 
is voluntary and that eligible entities would not elect block trade 
treatment for a swap transaction in circumstances in which they did not 
perceive a net benefit in doing so. In the paragraphs that follow, the 
Commission discusses each of these costs.
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    \645\ See 77 FR 1237. As noted in the Real-Time Reporting Final 
Rule, non-financial end-users (that do not contract with a third 
party) will have initial costs consisting of: (i) Developing an 
internal order management system capable of capturing all relevant 
data ($26,689 per non-financial end-user) and a recurring annual 
burden of ($27,943 per non-financial end-user); (ii) establishing 
connectivity with an SDR that accepts data ($12,824 per non-
financial end-user); (iii) developing written policies and 
procedures to ensure compliance with part 43 ($14,793 per non-
financial end-user); and (iv) compliance with error correction 
procedures ($2,063 per non-financial end-user). See id. With respect 
to recurring costs, a non-financial end-user will have: (i) 
Recurring costs for compliance, maintenance and operational support 
($13,747 per non-financial end-user); (ii) recurring costs to 
maintain connectivity to an SDR ($100,000 per non-financial end-
user); and (iii) recurring costs to maintain systems for purposes of 
reporting errors or omissions ($1,366 per non-financial end user). 
See id.
    SDRs (that do not enter into contracts with a third party) would 
have incremental costs related to compliance with part 43 beyond 
those costs identified in the release adopting part 49 of the 
Commission's regulations. See Swap Data Repositories: Registration 
Standards, Duties and Core Principles, 76 FR 54538 (Sept. 1, 2011). 
In the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission stated that 
each SDR would have: (i) A recurring burden of approximately 
$856,666 and an annual burden of $666,666 for system maintenance per 
SDR; (ii) non-recurring costs to publicly disseminate ($601,003 per 
SDR); and (iii) recurring cots to publicly disseminate ($360,602 per 
SDR). See id.
    In the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, the Commission assumed 
that SEFs and DCMs will experience the same or lower costs as a non-
financial end-user. See id.
    \646\ SDRs that do not enter into contracts with a third party 
would have incremental costs related to compliance with part 43 of 
the Commission's regulations beyond those cost identified in the 
release adopting part 49 of the Commission's regulations. See Swap 
Data Repositories: Registration Standards, Duties and Core 
Principles, 76 FR 54538 (Sept. 1, 2011). In the Real-Time Reporting 
Final Rule, the Commission stated that each SDR would have: (1) A 
recurring burden of approximately $856,666 and an annual burden of 
$666,666 for system maintenance per SDR; (2) non-recurring costs to 
publicly disseminate ($601,003 per SDR); and (3) recurring costs to 
publicly disseminate ($360,602 per SDR). See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

a. Incremental, Non-Recurring Expenditure to a Non-Financial End-User, 
SEF or DCM to Update Existing Technology \647\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \647\ For the same reasons stated in the Real-Time Reporting 
Final Rule, the Commission assumes that SEFs and DCMs would 
experience the same or less costs as a non-financial end-user. See 
77 FR 1236. Under Sec.  43.6(g)(1), SEFs or DCMs would be required 
to transmit a block trade election to an SDR only when the SEF or 
DCM receives notice of a block trade election from a reporting 
party.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To comply with the election process in Sec.  43.6(g), a non-
financial end-user, SEF, or DCM likely would need to: (1) Update its 
Order Management System (``OMS'') to capture the election to treat a 
qualifying publicly reportable swap transaction as a block trade or 
large notional off-facility swap. In the Further Block Proposal, the 
Commission

[[Page 32926]]

estimated that updating an OMS system to permit notification to an SDR 
of a block trade or large notional off-facility swap election would 
impose an initial non-recurring burden of approximately 80 personnel 
hours at an approximate cost of $6,761 for each non-financial end-user, 
SEF or DCM.\648\ This cost estimate included an estimate of the number 
of potential burden hours required to amend internal procedures, 
reprogram systems and implement processes to permit a non-financial 
end-user to elect to treat their qualifying swap transaction as a block 
trade or large notional off-facility swap in compliance with the 
requirements set forth in Sec.  43.6(g). The Commission is revising its 
estimates based on updated wage rate data. The Commission estimates 
that updating an OMS system to permit notification to an SDR of a block 
trade or large notional off-facility swap election would impose an 
initial non-recurring burden of approximately 80 personnel hours at an 
approximate cost of $7,171 for each non-financial end-user, SEF or 
DCM.\649\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \648\ This estimate was calculated as follows: (Compliance 
Manager at 15 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 10 hours) + 
(Compliance Attorney at 5 hours) + (Senior Systems Analyst at 30) + 
(Senior Programmer at 20) = 80 hours per non-financial end-user who 
is a reporting party. A compliance manager has adjusted hourly wages 
of $77.77. A director of compliance has adjusted hourly wages of 
$158.21. A compliance attorney has adjusted hourly wages of $89.43. 
A senior systems analyst has adjusted hourly wages of $64.50. A 
senior programmer has adjusted hourly wages of $81.52.
    \649\ This estimate was calculated as follows: (Compliance 
Manager at 15 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 10 hours) + 
(Compliance Attorney at 5 hours) + (Senior Systems Analyst at 30) + 
(Senior Programmer at 20) = 80 hours per non-financial end-user who 
is a reporting party. A compliance manager has adjusted hourly wages 
of $74.16. A director of compliance adjusted hourly wages of 
$169.16. A compliance attorney has adjusted hourly wages of $103.17. 
A senior systems analyst has adjusted hourly wages of $70.45. A 
senior programmer has adjusted hourly wages of $86.89.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Incremental, Non-Recurring Expenditure to a Non-Financial End-User 
to Provide Training To Existing Personnel and Update Written Policies 
and Procedures
    To comply with the election process in Sec.  43.6(g), a non-
financial end-user likely would need to provide training to its 
existing personnel and update its written policies and procedures to 
account for this new process. In the Further Block Proposal, the 
Commission estimated that providing training to existing personnel and 
updating written policies and procedures would impose an initial non-
recurring burden of approximately 39 personnel hours at an approximate 
cost of $3,200 for each non-financial end-user.\650\ This cost estimate 
included the number of potential burden hours required to produce 
design training materials, conduct training with existing personnel, 
and revise and circulate written policies and procedures in compliance 
with the requirements set forth in Sec.  43.6(g). The Commission is 
revising its estimates based on updated wage rate data. The Commission 
estimates that providing training to existing personnel and updating 
written policies and procedures would impose an initial non-recurring 
burden of approximately 39 personnel hours at an approximate cost of 
$3,360 for each non-financial end-user.\651\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \650\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Compliance 
Manager at 5 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 2 hours) + 
(Compliance Attorney at 2 hours) + (Senior Systems Analyst at 10) + 
(Senior Programmer at 20) = 39 hours per non-financial end-user who 
is a reporting party. A compliance manager has adjusted hourly wages 
of $77.77.
    \651\ This estimate was calculated as follows: (Compliance 
Manager at 5 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 2 hours) + 
(Compliance Attorney at 2 hours) + (Senior Systems Analyst at 10) + 
(Senior Programmer at 20) = 39 hours per non-financial end-user who 
is a reporting party. A compliance manager has adjusted hourly wages 
of $74.16. A director of compliance adjusted hourly wages of 
$169.16. A compliance attorney has adjusted hourly wages of $103.17. 
A senior systems analyst has adjusted hourly wages of $70.45. A 
senior programmer has adjusted hourly wages of $86.89.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. Incremental, Recurring Expenses to a Non-Financial End-User, DCM or 
SEF Associated With Incremental Compliance, Maintenance and Operational 
Support in Connection With the Election Process
    A non-financial end-user, DCM or SEF likely would incur costs on an 
annual basis in order to comply with the election process in Sec.  
43.6(g). In the Further Block Proposal, the Commission estimated that 
annual compliance; maintenance and operation support would impose an 
incremental, recurring burden of approximately five personnel hours at 
an approximate cost of $340 for each non-financial end-user, DCM or 
SEF.\652\ This cost estimate included the number of potential burden 
hours required to design training materials, conduct training with 
existing personnel, and revise and circulate written policies and 
procedures in compliance with the requirements set forth in Sec.  
43.6(g). The Commission is revising its estimates based on updated wage 
rate data. The Commission estimates the updated approximate cost of 
designing training materials, conducting training with existing 
personnel, and revising and circulating written policies and procedures 
in compliance with the requirements set forth in Sec.  43.6(g) to be 
$370 for each non-financial end-user, DCM, or SEF.\653\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \652\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Director of 
Compliance at 1 hour) + (Compliance Clerk at 3 hours) + (Compliance 
Attorney at 1 hour) = 5 hours per year per non-financial end-user 
who is a reporting party. A director of compliance has adjusted 
hourly wages of $158.21. A compliance clerk (junior compliance 
advisor) has adjusted hourly wages of $31.22. A compliance attorney 
has adjusted hourly wages of 89.43.
    \653\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Director of 
Compliance at 1 hour) + (Compliance Clerk at 3 hours) + (Compliance 
Attorney at 1 hour) = 5 hours per year per non-financial end-user 
who is a reporting party. A director of compliance's adjusted hourly 
wage is $169.16. A compliance clerk (junior compliance advisor) has 
adjusted hourly wages of $33.52. A compliance attorney's adjusted 
hourly wage is $103.17.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

d. Incremental, Non-Recurring Expenditure to an SDR To Update Existing 
Technology To Capture and Publicly Disseminate Swap Data for Block 
Trades and Large Notional Off-Facility Swaps
    To comply with the election process in Sec.  43.6(g), an SDR likely 
would need to update its existing technology to capture elections and 
disseminate qualifying publicly reportable swap transactions as block 
trades or large notional off-facility swaps. In the Further Block 
Proposal, the Commission estimated that updating existing technology to 
capture elections would impose an initial non-recurring burden of 
approximately 15 personnel hours at an approximate cost of $1,310 for 
each SDR.\654\ This cost estimate included the number of potential 
burden hours required to amend internal procedures, reprogram systems, 
and implement processes to capture and publicly disseminate swap 
transaction and pricing data for block trades and large notional off-
facility swaps in compliance with the requirements set forth in Sec.  
43.6(g). The Commission is revising its estimates based on updated wage 
rate data. The Commission estimates the updated approximate cost 
required to amend internal procedures, reprogram systems, and implement 
processes to capture and publicly disseminate swap transaction and 
pricing data for block trades and large notional off-facility swaps in 
compliance with the requirements set forth in Sec.  43.6(g) to be 
$1,390 for each SDR.\655\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \654\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Sr. Programmer at 
8 hours) + (Sr. Systems Analyst at 3 hours) + (Compliance Manager at 
2 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 2 hours) = 15 hours per SDR. A 
senior programmer has adjusted hourly wages of $81.52. A senior 
systems analyst has adjusted hourly wages of $64.50. A compliance 
manager has adjusted hourly wages of $77.77. A director of 
compliance has adjusted hourly wages of $158.21.
    \655\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Senior Programmer 
at 8 hours) + (Senior Systems Analyst at 3 hours) + (Compliance 
Manager at 2 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 2 hours) = 15 hours 
per SDR. A senior programmer has adjusted hourly wages of $86.89. A 
senior systems analyst has adjusted hourly wages of $70.45. A 
compliance manager has adjusted hourly wages of $74.16. A director 
of compliance has adjusted hourly wages of $169.16.

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[[Page 32927]]

2. Comments Received
    The Commission received one comment directly related to the costs 
of the election process. As discussed more fully above, WMBAA disagreed 
with the Further Block Proposal projected cost estimates generally and 
contended that the Commission failed to contemplate the actual efforts 
a SEF will have to undertake to implement the block trade regime, 
including the two-step notification process.\656\ In addition to the 
fact that WMBAA did not provide data to support or monetize its 
position, WMBAA's disagreement with the Further Block Proposal's 
election process cost estimates does not concern the incremental cost 
to augment and maintain systems and processes that the Commission 
believes entities need have in place to comply with the real time 
reporting requirement of Section 2(a)(13) of the CEA; rather it 
concerns the cost to comply with that statutory requirement as 
prescribed by the existing part 43 implementation regulations. SEFs and 
DCMs would incur these costs regardless of how the Commission 
determines block thresholds. Accordingly, the Commission considers 
WMBAA's criticism of the cost estimates in this rulemaking misplaced. 
Therefore, the Commission is maintaining the Further Block Proposal's 
approach to calculating the direct costs resulting from the methodology 
for determining block thresholds, but is revising its estimates based 
on updated wage rate data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \656\ CL-WMBAA at 8.
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3. Benefits Relevant to the Election Process (Sec.  43.6(g))
    The Commission has identified two overarching benefits that the 
election process in Sec.  43.6(g) would confer on swap market 
participants, registered entities and the general public. First, 
although Sec.  43.6(g) sets out a purely administrative process with 
which market participants and registered entities must comply, the 
Commission views this process as an integral component of the block 
trade framework in this rulemaking and in part 43. Consequently, this 
election process will benefit market participants, registered entities 
and the general public by providing greater price transparency in swaps 
markets than currently exists under part 43.\657\ Since this election 
process is optional, entities need avail themselves of the process only 
in circumstances where the attendant benefits warrant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \657\ See the discussion of benefits in section VI.E.1.e above 
with respect to Sec.  43.6(a)-(f) and (h).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the Commission believes that the election process will 
promote market efficiency by creating a standardized process in Sec.  
43.6(g) for market participants to designate publicly reportable swap 
transactions that are eligible for block trade or large notional off-
facility swap treatment. In addition, this standardized process will 
further promote efficiency by allowing market participants and 
registered entities to leverage their existing technology 
infrastructure, connectivity, personnel and other resources required 
under parts 43 and 49 of the Commission's regulations. The Commission 
believes the final rule avoids imposing duplicative or conflicting 
obligations on market participants and registered entities.
4. Alternatives
    The Commission specifically asked commenters whether there were 
alternative methods through which a reporting party could elect to 
treat its qualifying swap transaction as a block trade or large 
notional off-facility swap. In addition, the Commission asked whether 
it should require a variation on the proposed election process where 
SEFs, DCMs, and reporting parties would be required to indicate under 
which swap category they were claiming block or large notional off-
facility swap treatment. Finally, the Commission asked whether it 
should establish an alternative approach for small end-users when such 
an end-user is the reporting party to a qualified swap transaction.
    No comments were received either proposing or otherwise supporting 
an alternative approach and as such, the Commission is adopting in 
Sec.  43.6(g) relative to possible alternatives.
5. Application of the Section 15(a) Factors to Sec.  43.6(g)
a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    Section 43.6(g) is an essential part of this rulemaking because it 
provides the mechanism through which market participants will be able 
to elect to treat their qualifying swap transaction as a block trade or 
large notional off-facility swap. Consequently, this process 
contributes to providing greater swap market transparency than what 
currently exists under part 43 of the Commission's regulations. Market 
participants, registered entities and the general public benefit from 
this enhanced swap market price transparency.
b. Efficiency, Competitiveness and Financial Integrity.\658\
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    \658\ Although by its terms, section 15(a)(2)(B) of the CEA 
applies to futures and not swaps, the Commission finds this factor 
useful in analyzing the costs and benefits of regulating swaps, as 
well. See 7 U.S.C. 19(a)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted above, the election process will promote efficiency by 
providing market participants and registered entities with a 
standardized process to delineate which publicly reportable swap 
transactions are block trades or large notional off-facility swaps. The 
voluntary nature of this election process will also add to the 
efficiency of the swaps market since eligible entities will only choose 
to elect if it is financially beneficial for them to do so. In 
addition, the proposed election process will promote efficiency by 
allowing non-financial end-users, SEFs, DCMs and SDRs to leverage their 
existing technology infrastructure, connectivity, personnel and other 
resources required under part 43 and part 49 of the Commission's 
regulations. The use of existing technologies, connectivity, personnel 
and other resources will create efficiencies for these entities and 
mitigate the cost to comply Sec.  43.6(g).
    The Commission has identified no potential impact on 
competitiveness and financial integrity that would result from the 
implementation of the proposed election process.
c. Price Discovery
    The Commission has identified no potential material impact to price 
discovery that would result from the implementation of the election 
process outside of those discussed in section b. above.
d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    The Commission has identified no potential impact on sound risk 
management practices that would result from the implementation of the 
election process outside of those discussed in section b. above.
e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    The Commission has identified no potential impact on other public 
interest considerations (other than those identified above) that would 
result from the implementation of the election process.

[[Page 32928]]

E. Costs and Benefits Relevant to Anonymity Protections (Amendments to 
Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and (h))

    This section discusses the two amendments to Sec.  43.4. Section 
43.4 as now promulgated prescribes the manner in which SDRs must 
publicly disseminate swap transaction and pricing data. One amendment 
adds a system for masking the geographical data for certain swaps in 
the other commodity asset class not currently subject to public 
dissemination, which provides limited, but not detailed information on 
the geographic location of the underlying assets of those swaps. The 
other amendment establishes a methodology to establish cap sizes that 
masks the size of swap transactions above a certain threshold, which is 
different from the methodology for determining appropriate minimum 
block sizes. Both amendments seek to protect the anonymity of the 
parties and certain identifying information for swaps while also 
providing increased transparency in swaps markets.
1. Amendments to Sec.  43.4(d)(4)
    The Commission addresses the public dissemination of information 
regarding certain swaps in the other commodity asset class in Sec.  
43.4(d)(4). Section 43.4(d)(4)(ii) currently provides that for publicly 
reportable swaps in this commodity asset class, information identifying 
the underlying assets of the swap must be publicly disseminated for: 
(a) those swaps executed on or pursuant to the rules of a SEF or DCM; 
(b) those swaps referencing one of the contracts described in appendix 
B to part 43; and (c) any publicly reportable swap transaction that is 
economically related to one of the contracts described in appendix B to 
part 43. Pursuant to the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, any swap that 
is in the other commodity asset class that falls under Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(ii) will be subject to reporting and public dissemination 
requirements.
    In this final rule, the Commission is adopting a new provision, 
Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii), that prescribes a system for the public 
dissemination of exact underlying assets in the other commodity asset 
class with a ``mask'' for sensitive and potentially revealing 
geographic detail. The Commission also is adopting guidance in the form 
of a new appendix to part 43 that contains the geographical details 
that SDRs will be able to use in masking eligible other commodity swaps 
while maintaining compliance with public dissemination of swap 
transaction and pricing data.
2. Amendments to Sec.  43.4(h)
    Section 43.4(h) establishes cap sizes for ``rounded notional or 
principal swap amounts'' above which information on swaps transactions 
is publicly reportable, for the purpose of providing anonymity for 
transactions where information on the notional or principal amounts 
alone would likely reveal the identity of the parties to the swap or 
sensitive business information. In doing so, the Commission notes that 
the objective of establishing cap sizes differs from that of 
establishing appropriate minimum block sizes.\659\ With respect to the 
latter, the objective is to ensure that a block trade or large notional 
off-facility swap can be sufficiently offset during a relatively short 
reporting delay. The former is strictly for the protection of the 
counterparties' identity and sensitive business information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \659\ The Commission received numerous comments suggesting that 
the block thresholds and cap sizes established by the Commission 
should be the same. However, block thresholds and cap sizes have 
different statutory mandates and serve different purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 43.4(h) currently requires SDRs to publicly disseminate the 
notional or principal amounts of a publicly reportable swap transaction 
represented by a cap size (i.e., $XX+) that adjusts in accordance with 
the respective appropriate minimum block size for the relevant swap 
category. Section 43.4(h) further provides that if no appropriate 
minimum block size exists with respect to a swap category, then the cap 
size on the notional or principal amount will correspond with interim 
cap sizes that the Commission has established for the five asset 
classes.\660\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \660\ See note 470 supra, which lists the interim cap sizes set 
forth in Sec.  43.4(h)(1)-(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The amendment to Sec.  43.4(h) will require SDRs to continue to 
publicly disseminate cap sizes that correspond to their respective 
appropriate minimum block sizes during the initial period. However, 
when the Commission publishes the post-initial appropriate minimum 
block sizes in accordance with Sec.  43.6(f), it will also publish 
post-initial cap sizes for each swap category by applying a 75-percent 
notional amount calculation on data collected by SDRs. The Commission 
will apply the 75-percent notional amount calculation to a one-year 
rolling window of such data corresponding to each relevant swap 
category for each calendar year.
3. Costs Relevant to the Amendments to Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and (h)
    SDRs will bear some costs of complying with the amendments to Sec.  
43.4(d)(4) and (h).\661\ The Commission set forth the potential costs 
of these provisions in the Further Block Proposal and requested 
comments regarding its estimates. The Commission did not receive any 
comments regarding its estimates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \661\ The Commission anticipates that reporting parties, SEFs 
and DCMs would not incur any new costs related to the amendments to 
Sec.  43.4 because this section relates to the data that an SDR must 
publicly disseminate. Section 43.3 of the Commission's regulations 
sets out the requirements for reporting parties, SEFs and DCMs in 
terms of what is transmitted to an SDR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission anticipates that these entities already will have 
made non-recurring expenditures in technology and personnel in 
connection with the requirements set forth in part 43 and part 49 
(which contain rules regarding the registration and regulation of 
SDRs). As such, SDRs already will be required to pay recurring expenses 
associated with systems maintenance, support and compliance as 
described in the cost-benefit discussion in the Real-Time Reporting 
Final Rule.\662\ Notwithstanding these recurring expenses, an SDR will 
have additional non-recurring expenditures associated with the 
amendments to Sec.  43.4. Specifically, the Commission estimated that 
updating existing technology will impose an initial non-recurring 
burden of approximately 34 personnel hours at an approximate cost of 
$3,190 for each SDR.\663\ This cost estimate included an estimate of 
the number of potential burden hours required to amend internal 
procedures, reprogram systems and implement processes to capture and 
publicly disseminate swap transaction and pricing data for block trades 
and large notional off-facility swaps in

[[Page 32929]]

compliance with the requirements set forth in Sec.  43.4(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \662\ See 76 FR 54572-75. As noted in SDR final rule, SDRs (that 
do not enter into contracts with a third party) would have 
incremental costs related to compliance with part 43 beyond those 
costs identified in the release adopting part 49 of the Commission's 
regulations. See 76 FR 54573. In the Real-Time Reporting Final Rule, 
the Commission stated that each SDR would have: (i) A recurring 
burden of approximately $856,666 and an annual burden of $666,666 
for system maintenance per SDR; (ii) non-recurring costs to publicly 
disseminate ($601,003 per SDR); and (iii) recurring cots to publicly 
disseminate ($360,602 per SDR). See 77 FR 1238.
    \663\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Sr. Programmer at 
20 hours) + (Sr. Systems Analyst at 10 hours) + (Compliance Manager 
at 2 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 2 hours) = 34 hours per 
SDR. A senior programmer has adjusted hourly wages of $81.52. A 
senior systems analyst has adjusted hourly wages of $64.50. A 
compliance manager has adjusted hourly wages of $77.77. A director 
of compliance has adjusted hourly wages of $158.21. The total number 
was calculated incorrectly in the Further Block Proposal. The 
initial cost to an SDR should have been $2,747, rather than $3,190.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission is revising its estimates based on updated wage rate 
data. The Commission estimates the updated approximate cost required to 
amend internal procedures, reprogram systems and implement processes to 
capture and publicly disseminate swap transaction and pricing data for 
block trades and large notional off-facility swaps in compliance with 
the requirements set forth in Sec.  43.4(d) to be $2,930 for each 
SDR.\664\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \664\ This estimate is calculated as follows: (Sr. Programmer at 
20 hours) + (Sr. Systems Analyst at 10 hours) + (Compliance Manager 
at 2 hours) + (Director of Compliance at 2 hours) = 34 hours per 
SDR. A senior programmer has adjusted hourly wages of $86.89. A 
senior systems analyst has adjusted hourly wages of $70.45. A 
compliance manager has adjusted hourly wages of $74.16. A director 
of compliance has adjusted hourly wages of $169.16.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Commission believes that Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) 
will result in some incremental, recurring costs for SDRs because they 
will be required to publicly disseminate other commodity swaps data 
that were not previously within the scope of the public dissemination 
requirement in Sec.  43.4. The Commission estimates that there will be 
approximately 50,000 additional swaps reported to an SDR each year in 
the other commodity asset class, which the Commission estimates will be 
$154,021 in annualized costs.\665\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \665\ The Commission estimates that there will be 5 SDRs, which 
will collect swaps data in the other commodity asset class. Each SDR 
would collect swaps data on approximately 10,000 swap transactions 
in the other commodity asset class. The commission estimates that it 
will take each SDR on average approximately 1 minute to publicly 
disseminate swaps data related to these new swap transactions. The 
number of burden hours for these SDRs would be 833 hours. As 
referenced in note 523 supra, the total labor costs for a swap 
trader is $184.90. Thus, the total number of burden hour costs equal 
the total number of burden hours (833 burden hours) x $184.90.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also anticipates that Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) will 
result in some indirect costs to the market through reduced 
information, since notional values of transactions beyond the cap size 
limits will not be revealed to the public. The Commission lacks data to 
quantify the costs associated with the reduction of information. 
However, given the statutory mandate to protect market participant 
identities, the Commission believes such costs are warranted and 
contemplated by Congress.
    The Commission also received a number of comments regarding 
potential costs arising from the established level for cap size. GFMA 
stated that the same rationale should apply to cap and block sizes, as 
both have potential negative impacts on liquidity.\666\ ICI stated that 
the 75 percent notional amount would be too high for determining cap 
size because the lack of depth and liquidity in the swaps market could 
cause public reporting of block sizes to reveal identities, business 
transactions, and market positions of participants, and recommends a 67 
percent notional amount calculation for determining cap size in the 
post-initial period.\667\ ISDA/SIFMA stated that the added transparency 
from reporting transaction sizes between 67 percent and 75 percent 
would be outweighed by the harm to liquidity from additional 
disclosure, and urges the Commission to ensure that the post-initial 
cap size is always equal to the relevant block size.\668\ MFA stated 
that it is unnecessary for the Commission to establish cap sizes that 
differ from minimum block sizes as there is not a meaningful 
transparency benefit that would outweigh the resource burdens on the 
Commission, SDRs, SEFs, and other market participants.\669\ SIFMA 
stated that the Commission should set the notional cap size at the 
block threshold, as the added public dissemination could harm liquidity 
in the same manner that a higher block trade size threshold might.\670\ 
Vanguard stated that it is essential that the cap match the block trade 
threshold, as to do otherwise would compromise the liquidity 
protections afforded by the nuanced assessment of block trade 
thresholds.\671\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \666\ CL-GFMA at 5.
    \667\ CL-ICI at 8.
    \668\ CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 15.
    \669\ CL-MFA at 8-9.
    \670\ CL-SIFMA at 12.
    \671\ CL-Vanguard at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The additional information provided to the market regarding the 
size of block trades that are below the cap size may enhance price 
discovery by publicly disseminating more information relating to market 
depth and the notional sizes of publicly reportable swap transactions. 
This, in turn, promotes increased market liquidity.
    In addition, the rule incorporates flexibility to adjust post-
initial cap sizes in response to changing markets. Section 43.4(h) will 
permit the Commission to set cap sizes no less than once annually 
during the post-initial period. If swap market conditions change 
significantly after the implementation of the provisions of this 
rulemaking, then the Commission can react in a timely manner to further 
improve price transparency or to mitigate adverse effects on market 
liquidity.\672\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \672\ This benefit is consistent with one of the considerations 
for implementation identified by ISDA and SIFMA in their January 18, 
2011 report. See Block trade reporting for over-the-counter 
derivatives markets, note 32 supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Benefits Relevant to the Amendments to Sec.  43.4
    The Commission anticipates that the anonymity provisions of Sec.  
43.4 will generate several overarching benefits to swap market 
participants, registered entities and the general public. In the first 
instance, the Commission anticipates that the cap size amendments to 
Sec.  43.4(h) will benefit market participants, registered entities and 
the general public by providing greater price transparency with respect 
to swaps with notional amounts that fall between the post-initial 
appropriate minimum block size and post-initial cap size for a 
particular swap category. During the post-initial period, the 
Commission will set appropriate minimum block sizes based on the 67 
percent notional amount calculation \673\ and cap sizes based on the 
75-percent notional amount calculation.\674\ Although swaps with 
notional amounts that fall between these two sizes will be subject to a 
time delay, the exact notional amounts of these swaps eventually will 
be publicly disclosed. The delayed public disclosure of the notional 
amount of these swaps will provide market participants, registered 
entities and the general public with meaningful price transparency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \673\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(1).
    \674\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The masking provisions in the amendment to Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and 
appendix D to part 43 will further benefit market participants, 
registered entities and the general public by enhancing price discovery 
with respect to swaps that currently are not required to be publicly 
disclosed under part 43. Section 43.4(d)(4) currently requires SDRs to 
publicly disseminate swap transaction and pricing data for publicly 
reportable swap transactions that reference or are economically related 
to the 29 contracts identified in appendix B to part 43. However, the 
Commission believes there are a significant number of swaps in the 
other commodity asset class that are not economically related to the 29 
contracts identified on this appendix to part 43. The amendment 
creating new Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) will require the public 
dissemination of data on these swaps. The real-time public reporting of 
these swaps will enhance price discovery in the other commodity asset 
class.

[[Page 32930]]

    In addition, the rule incorporates flexibility to adjust post-
initial cap sizes in response to changing markets. Section 43.4(h) will 
permit the Commission to set cap sizes no less than once annually 
during the post-initial period. If swap market conditions change 
significantly after the implementation of the provisions of this 
rulemaking, then the Commission can react in a timely manner to further 
improve price transparency or to mitigate adverse effects on market 
liquidity.\675\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \675\ This benefit is consistent with one of the considerations 
for implementation identified by ISDA and SIFMA in their January 18, 
2011 report. See Block trade reporting for over-the-counter 
derivatives markets, note 32 supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Alternatives
    The Commission received numerous comments supporting alternatives 
to the proposed anonymity provisions in Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and (h). These 
alternatives fall into two basic categories: (1) Post-initial cap size 
level; and (2) preventing public disclosure of swap market participant 
identity. In regard to cap size, seven commenters recommended that the 
Commission set post-initial cap sizes matching the minimum block size 
thresholds established by the Commission. AII supported setting the 
post-initial cap size for each swap category at the same level as the 
block size threshold and states that the 75 percent notional amount 
calculation is far too high.\676\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \676\ CL-AII at 12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the initial period, AII and ISDA/SIFMA argued that the cap size 
should be the lower of block size and the interim cap size in Sec.  
43.4(h)(1).\677\ Barclays recommended that the post initial period cap 
sizes be introduced at more nuanced levels that reflect the differences 
between product's traded volumes.\678\ EEI stated that the initial cap 
size of $25 million for both the Electricity Swap Contracts and the 
Other Commodity Electricity Swap Category is too high, as is the 75 
percent notional amount for the post-initial period. EEI recommended 
that the Commission adopt a fixed cap size of $3 million for both 
periods.\679\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \677\ CL-AII at 12; CL-ISDA/SIFMA at 15.
    \678\ CL-Barclays at 6.
    \679\ CL-EEI at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has evaluated these various alternatives concerning 
post-initial cap size levels against the statutory requirements imposed 
upon it by Section 2(a)(13): bring real-time public reporting to the 
swaps market subject to time delays for block trades and large notional 
off-facility swaps that it determines appropriate.\680\ However, the 
statute only calls for a time delay--it does not provide for 
information to be kept from the market in perpetuity. All of the 
information regarding a block trade is reported to the market at the 
end of the block time delay. Notional or principal amount information 
above cap sizes, on the other hand, is never expressed to the market. 
Because the notional amount of the trade is neither reported to the 
market in real-time, nor reported to the market at all, the Commission 
believes that cap sizes should be set at a higher level than block 
sizes. The 75 percent notional test balances the competing interests of 
providing meaningful real-time public reporting to the swaps market and 
protecting the anonymity of swap market participants, while taking into 
account potential impacts on market liquidity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \680\ Section 2(a)(13)(E) of the CEA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The additional information provided to the market regarding the 
size of block trades that are below the cap size may enhance price 
discovery by publicly disseminating more information relating to market 
depth and the notional sizes of publicly reportable swap transactions. 
This, in turn, promotes increased market liquidity.
    In regard to alternatives for preventing the public disclosure of 
the identities of swap market participants, the Commission received 
three comments regarding the masking of specific delivery or pricing 
detail of energy and power swaps. EEI recommended that the Commission 
mask data regarding Other Commodity Electricity Swaps according to the 
North American Electric Reliability Corporation eight regions rather 
than the FERC regions proposed.\681\ Barclays recommended that the 
Commission use wider geographic regions when publicly disseminating 
data for commodity swaps with very specific underlying assets and/or 
delivery points and develop an appropriate process to avoid identifying 
issuers of debt.\682\ Spring Trading supported further measures to 
prevent public disclosure of identities, business transactions, and 
market positions of swap market participants, and recommended 
disclosing a subset of data on a collective basis at a later date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \681\ CL-EEI at 12-13.
    \682\ CL-Barclays at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of the alternatives suggested by commenters, 
the Commission is adopting Sec.  43.4(d)(iii) with the following 
modification that it believes affords greater anonymity protection 
relative to the Further Block Proposal, without adversely impacting 
transparency. The modification is: For publicly reportable swap 
transactions that have electricity and sources as an underlying asset 
and have a specific delivery or pricing point in the United States, the 
Commission is requiring SDRs to public disseminate the specific 
delivery or pricing point based on a description of one of the North 
American Electric Reliability Corporation (``NERC'') regions for 
publicly disseminating delivery or pricing points for electricity swaps 
described in proposed Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii). Using the regions 
suggested by EEI further masks specific delivery details and thus 
provides additional protection against public disclosure of identities, 
business transactions, and market positions of swap market 
participants, as recommended by Barclays and Spring Trading.
    The Commission also considered the alternative of having DCMs and 
SEFs set cap sizes. The Commission ultimately chose to determine cap 
sizes itself for the reason that doing so limits the direct burden on 
registered entities to determine and implement appropriate cap sizes 
themselves. As such, the chosen approach will promote market efficiency 
for market participants and registered entities.
6. Application of the Section 15(a) Factors to the Amendments to Sec.  
43.4
a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    The amendments to Sec.  43.4 protect swap counterparty anonymity on 
an ongoing basis. While cap sizes for some transactions can exceed 
appropriate minimum block sizes in certain circumstances (resulting in 
the public dissemination of notional/principal-amount information after 
a time delay), the Commission believes that for the vast majority of 
impacted swap transactions, the cap-size process and methodology is 
sufficient to distinguish correctly between those for which masking of 
notional or principal amount is required to maintain anonymity and 
those for which it is not.\683\ The Commission believes that setting 
post-initial cap sizes above appropriate minimum block sizes will 
provide additional pricing information with respect to large swap 
transactions, which are large enough to be treated as block trades (or 
large notional off-facility swaps), but small enough that they do not 
exceed the applicable post-

[[Page 32931]]

initial cap size. This additional information may enhance price 
discovery by publicly disseminating more information relating to market 
depth and the notional sizes of publicly reportable swap transactions, 
while still protecting the anonymity of swap counterparties and their 
ability to lay off risk when executing extraordinarily large swap 
transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \683\ The Commission recognizes that adoption of rules that 
delineate cap sizes insufficient to provide anonymity could cause 
prospective counterparties to forego swap transactions, thus 
adversely impacting market liquidity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Efficiency, Competitiveness and Financial Integrity \684\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \684\ Although by its terms, section 15(a)(2)(B) applies to 
futures and not swaps, the Commission finds this factor useful in 
analyzing the costs and benefits of swaps regulation, as well. 7 
U.S.C. 19(a)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that amendments to Sec.  43.4(h) promote 
market efficiencies and competitiveness since the approach will provide 
market participants with the ability to continue transacting swaps with 
the protection of anonymity, while promoting greater price 
transparency.
    The Commission does not believe that the implementation of the 
anonymity protections established in Sec.  43.4(h) will adversely 
impact the financial integrity of swap markets. The Commission has 
considered the comments provided regarding impacts on liquidity arising 
out of the 75 percent notional cap size. The Commission does not agree 
that the cap size will have a substantial negative impact on market 
liquidity. As stated above, the additional pricing information 
available to the market as a result of the 75 percent notional cap size 
promotes enhanced price discovery by publicly disseminating more 
information relating to market depth and the notional sizes of publicly 
reportable swap transactions, while still protecting the anonymity of 
swap counterparties and their ability to lay off risk when executing 
extraordinarily large swap transactions. This, in turn, promotes market 
liquidity.
c. Price Discovery
    The cap size amendments to Sec.  43.4(h) should benefit market 
participants, registered entities and the general public by providing 
greater price transparency with respect to swaps with notional amounts 
that fall between the post-initial appropriate minimum block size and 
post-initial cap size for a particular swap category. During the post-
initial period, the Commission will set appropriate minimum block sizes 
based on the 67 percent notional amount calculation \685\ and cap sizes 
based on the 75-percent notional amount calculation.\686\ Although 
swaps with notional amounts that fall between these two sizes will be 
subject to a time delay, the exact notional amounts of these swaps will 
be publicly disclosed after the established time delay for blocks and 
large notional off-facility swaps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \685\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(1).
    \686\ See proposed Sec.  43.6(c)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The masking provisions in the amendment to Sec.  43.4(d)(4) and 
appendix D to part 43 further benefit market participants, registered 
entities and the general public by enhancing price discovery with 
respect to swaps that currently are not required to be publicly 
disclosed under part 43. The amendment creating new Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(iii) will require the public dissemination of data on these 
swaps. The Commission expects that the real-time public reporting of 
these swaps will enhance price discovery in the other commodity asset 
class.
d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    To the extent that the amendments to Sec.  43.4 mask the identity, 
business transactions and market positions of swap counterparties, the 
Commission expects that the amendments to Sec.  43.4 provide those 
traders with the anonymity and time delay they require to manage their 
market risk efficiently.
e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    The Commission does not anticipate that the amendment to Sec.  
43.4(h) will have a material effect on public interest considerations 
other than those identified above.

F. Costs and Benefits Relevant to Sec.  43.6(h)(6)--Aggregation

    Section 43.6(h)(6) specifies that, except as otherwise provided, it 
is impermissible to aggregate orders for different accounts in order to 
satisfy minimum block trade or cap size requirements. The rule further 
provides that aggregation may be permitted on a DCM or SEF if done by a 
person who: (i)(A) is a CTA who is registered pursuant to Section 4n of 
the Act or is exempt from registration under the Act, or a principal 
thereof, and has discretionary trading authority or directs client 
accounts, (B) is an investment adviser who has discretionary trading 
authority or directs client accounts and satisfies the criteria of 
Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) of the Commission's regulations, or (C) is a foreign 
person who performs a role or function similar to the persons described 
in (A) or (B) and is subject as such to foreign regulation, and (ii) 
has more than $25,000,000 in total AUM.
1. Overview of Comments Received
    The Commission received a number of comments with the proposed 
aggregation rule but none directly addressing the costs and benefits 
considerations of the rule.
    JP Morgan commented that the rule appears to reflect a concern that 
private negotiation affords less protection to unsophisticated 
investors than trading through the central markets, and that since all 
entities that transact in the OTC market already must be ECPs, the 
analogous concern about customer protection in the swaps market is 
already addressed.\687\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \687\ CL-JPM at 9, n.13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICI opposed the minimum assets under management requirement in 
proposed Sec.  43.6(h)(6)(ii) and argued that the Commission did not 
articulate a rationale or policy reason for this requirement.\688\ ICI 
also disagreed that an investment adviser seeking to aggregate orders 
must satisfy the criteria of Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) of the Commission's 
regulations.\689\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \688\ CL-ICI at 3.
    \689\ Id. at 4. An investment adviser satisfies the criteria of 
Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) if the investment adviser registers pursuant to 
Sec.  203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or pursuant to the 
laws of any state, and the investment adviser has been registered 
and active for two years or provides security investment advice to 
securities accounts which, in the aggregate, have total assets in 
excess of $5,000,000 deposited at one or more registered securities 
brokers. 17 CFR 4.7(a)(2)(v).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to JP Morgan's comment, the Commission notes that 
customers trading swaps on DCMs do not have to be ECPs. As discussed 
further below, adopted Sec.  43.6(i)(1) allows non-ECP customers to be 
parties to block trades through a qualifying CTA, investment adviser, 
or similar foreign person.\690\ It is possible, therefore, that those 
non-ECP DCM customers may not be aware if they received the best terms 
for their individual swap transactions that are aggregated with other 
transactions. Protection for such customers is therefore necessary, as 
it is for unsophisticated customers in other markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \690\ See infra Section II.C.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to ICI's opposition to the minimum asset threshold 
under Sec.  43.6(h)(6)(ii), the Commission notes that this threshold 
reflects common industry practice.\691\ CME, for example, has enforced 
the $25 million threshold

[[Page 32932]]

in its rules since September 2000.\692\ CME has stated that the 
threshold ``is an effort to establish the professionalism and 
sophistication of the registrant'' \693\ while also expanding the 
number of CTAs and investment advisers eligible to aggregate 
trades.\694\ The Commission believes that the $25 million threshold is 
an appropriate requirement to ensure that persons allowed to aggregate 
trades are appropriately sophisticated with these transactions, while 
at the same time not excluding an unreasonable number of CTAs, 
investment advisers, and similar foreign persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \691\ See, e.g., CME Rule 526. See also CBOE Futures Exchange 
LLC Rule 415(a)(i); Chicago Board of Trade Rule 526; Eris Exchange, 
LLC Rule 601(b)(10); ICE Futures U.S. Rule 4.07; NASDAQ OMX Futures 
Exchange, Inc. Rule E23; New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. Rule 
526(I); NYSE Liffe US, LLC Rule 423; and OneChicago LLC Rule 417.
    \692\ See CME Submission 00-99 (Sept. 21, 2000) (modifying CME 
Rule 526 to reduce the threshold from $50,000,000 to $25,000,000). 
CME originally planned to lower the threshold from $50,000,000 to 
$5,000,000, but withdrew the submission and instead proposed to 
lower the threshold to $25,000,000, based on customer suggestions. 
See CME Submission 00-93 (Sept. 1, 2000); CME Submission 00-99 at 5-
6.
    \693\ Id. at 6 (quoting letter addressed to Jean A. Webb, 
Secretary of the Commission from John G. Gaine, President, Managed 
Funds Association dated April 24, 2000 regarding ``Chicago 
Mercantile Exchange new Proposed Rule 526'').
    \694\ Id. at 4, 6-7. CME also stated in the filing that it 
planned to readdress the threshold amount as it gained experience 
with block trades, but has declined to modify the amount.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also disagrees with ICI's contention that investment 
advisers should not be required to satisfy the criteria under Sec.  
4.7(a)(2)(v), which requires an investment adviser to (1) be registered 
and active as an investment adviser for two years or (2) provide 
securities investment advice to securities accounts which, in the 
aggregate, have total assets in excess of $5 million deposited at one 
or more registered securities brokers.\695\ The Commission first 
adopted provisions similar to current Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) in 1992 \696\ 
as objective indications that a person had the investment 
sophistication and experience needed to evaluate the risks and benefits 
of investing in commodity pools or a portfolio large enough to indicate 
the same, along with the financial resources to withstand the 
investment risks.\697\ In 2000,\698\ the Commission extended the same 
criteria in current Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) to registered investment 
advisers for the same reasons.\699\ The Commission believes that these 
objective criteria, which demonstrate that an investment adviser 
possesses the necessary investment expertise, should also apply with 
respect to allowing such persons to aggregate client orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \695\ 17 CFR 4.7(a)(2)(v).
    \696\ 57 FR 34853, 34854-55 (Aug. 7, 1992). The final rule 
reduced the amount on deposit threshold to $5 million from the $10 
million required by the proposed rule. See 57 FR 3148, 3152 (Jan. 
28, 1992).
    \697\ See 57 FR at 34854 (quoting 57 FR at 3152).
    \698\ 65 FR 11253, 11257-58 (Mar. 2, 2000).
    \699\ Id. at 11257 (quoting 57 FR at 3152).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that the $25 million threshold, as well as 
requiring investment advisers to satisfy the criteria under Sec.  
4.7(a)(2)(v), are both important for certifying that persons allowed to 
aggregate trades are appropriately sophisticated and important for 
protection of market participants and public.
2. Costs
    The Commission expects that there will be some incremental cost 
attendant to compliance with Sec.  43.6(h)(6). The Commission believes 
that the overall benefits to the market of allowing for the aggregation 
of orders under certain circumstances (i.e., if done on a designated 
contract market or a swap execution facility by certain CTAs, 
investment advisers or foreign persons) will mitigate costs of reduced 
market liquidity that could result from execution of such transactions 
away from the centralized marketplace. The Commission also expects 
there to be some advisors who will be prohibited from aggregating 
orders for different trading accounts in order to satisfy the minimum 
block size, or cap size requirements. The Commission also believes that 
as a result of some advisers not being allowed to aggregate, there 
might be some minimal unquantifiable cost associated with a decrease in 
competition among such traders in the market.
3. Benefits
    The rule is designed, in large part, to prevent circumvention of 
the exchange trading requirements and of the real-time reporting 
obligations associated with non-block transactions. Absent this 
prohibition, the goals of the Commission's regulations regarding block 
trading, namely increased transaction transparency, better price 
discovery and improved competitiveness in the markets as well as better 
risk management, could be frustrated by those whose trades individually 
fail to meet the minimum block trade threshold (and cap size threshold 
as a result), but nevertheless achieve the benefits intended for 
extraordinarily large positions by aggregating those individual trades. 
In other words, such entities would be able to evade the exchange-
trading and reporting obligations that are integral to price 
transparency.
4. Section 15(a) Factors
a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    The Commission believes that the rule will protect market 
participants from unfair practices by preventing trades that do not 
meet the minimum block trade threshold from enjoying extended reporting 
times. This means that trades that are not extraordinarily large, and 
hence, that do not need extra reporting time will not qualify as block 
trades and will be made public as soon as technologically practicable. 
Hence, the rule will increase transparency of non-block transactions, 
and thus, would protect market participants by informing their trading 
determinations through increased transparency and price discovery.
b. Efficiency, Competitiveness, and Financial Integrity of the Futures 
Markets
    The Commission expects the prohibition of aggregation of trades to 
improve efficiency and competitiveness in the markets by allowing more 
trades to be reported without the time delay that is applied to 
qualifying block trades. This means that a higher number of trades will 
be eligible for real time reporting, and that will increase market 
transparency as well as promote competition in the swap markets. The 
rule also will protect the integrity of the derivatives market by 
ensuring that smaller trades, which do not qualify as block 
transactions, are executed on the trading system where there is pre-
trade and post-trade transparency.
    The Commission also recognizes that advisors who are prohibited 
from aggregating orders in order to satisfy the minimum block size or 
cap size requirements might not trade at the most favorable prices in 
the market, which might have a negative effect on the number of such 
traders in the market. While the Commission expects that competition in 
the market may be negatively affected as a result of prohibiting 
aggregation, the Commission anticipates that the positive effects of 
the rule on competition outweigh its negative effects.
c. Price Discovery
    The Commission expects the rule to improve price discovery in the 
swap markets by preventing aggregation of trades and as a result 
promoting more trades to be publicly reported as soon as 
technologically practicable. This will result in enhanced swap market 
price discovery, since market participants and the public will be able 
to observe real-time pricing information for a higher

[[Page 32933]]

percentage of transactions in the market. In addition, the Commission 
expects that the rule will enhance price discovery by ensuring that 
smaller trades, which do not qualify as block transactions, are 
executed on the trading system where there is pre-trade and post-trade 
transparency and where buyers and sellers may make informed trading 
decisions based on the market's transparency.
d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    The Commission anticipates that the criteria will likely result in 
enhanced price discovery as discussed above. With better and more 
accurate data, swap market participants will likely be better able to 
measure and manage risk. The Commission believes that if the 
prohibition of aggregation of trades was not adopted, swap transactions 
may not be reported to an SDR ``as soon as technologically 
practicable.'' The Commission also believes that by preventing this 
delay in the reporting period of a swap transaction to an SDR, the 
Commission will possess the information it needs to monitor the 
transfer and positions of risk among counterparties in the swaps 
market.
e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    The Commission has not identified any other public interest 
considerations regarding the rule.

G. Costs and Benefits Relevant to Sec.  43.6(i)--Eligible Block Trade 
Parties

1. Overview of Comments Received
    The Commission received few comments with respect to the eligible 
block trade parties rule. As discussed above, similar comments 
regarding the exceptions to the prohibitions against aggregation for 
certain persons were submitted with respect to the exception to certain 
persons transacting blocks on a DCM on behalf of non-ECPs. For example, 
ICI opposed the minimum assets under management requirement in proposed 
Sec.  43.6(i)(1) and similarly argued that the Commission did not 
articulate a rationale or policy reason for this requirement.\700\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \700\ CL-ICI at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission received one specific comment related to costs on 
proposed Sec.  43.6(i)(2). SIFMA commented that proposed Sec.  
43.6(i)(2) may require asset managers to obtain consent from each 
client for whom they will engage in block trades.\701\ SIFMA contended 
that this requirement would be costly and unnecessary, and that notice 
to the customers \702\ or a general grant of investment discretion in 
the investment management agreement, power of attorney, or similar 
document should be sufficient.\703\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \701\ CL-SIFMA at 1.
    \702\ Id. at 2.
    \703\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission disagrees with SIFMA's contention regarding the 
burdens of obtaining consent. This burden consent will be minimal 
because Sec.  43.6(i)(2) states that the instruction or consent may be 
provided through a power of attorney or similar document that provides 
discretionary trading authority or the authority to direct trading in 
the account. The consent may therefore be included in existing and 
future customer agreements. The Commission further disagrees that a 
general grant of investment discretion or notice to the customer should 
satisfy Sec.  43.6(i)(2). A customer's written instruction or consent 
is necessary because a customer potentially may not receive the best 
terms for an individual swap transaction that is part of an 
aggregation. The written instruction or consent makes the customer 
aware that block trades may be used on its behalf, allowing the 
customer to decide whether to allow these transactions, through which 
the rule has the added benefit of protection of market participants and 
public. The Commission also would like to point out that a cost 
estimate for that burden has already been presented in the proposed 
rule and received no direct comments on that cost estimate.
2. Costs
    Section 43.6(i)(1) requires that parties to a block trade must be 
eligible contract participants, as defined under the CEA and Commission 
regulations, except that a DCM may allow: (i) A CTA registered pursuant 
to Section 4n of the Act or exempt from registration under the Act, or 
a principal thereof, and who has discretionary trading authority or 
directs client accounts, (ii) an investment adviser who has 
discretionary trading authority or directs client accounts and 
satisfies the criteria of Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) of the Commission's 
regulations, or (iii) a foreign person who performs a similar role or 
function to the persons described in (i) or (ii) and is subject as such 
to foreign regulation, to transact block trades for customers who are 
not eligible contract participants, if such CTA, investment adviser or 
foreign person has more than $25,000,000 in total AUM. This rule 
codifies, in part, the requirement under Section 2(e) of the CEA, which 
requires that ``[i]t shall be unlawful for any person, other than an 
eligible contract participant, to enter into a swap unless the swap is 
entered into on, or subject to the rules of[hellip].a designated 
contract market.'' In addition, the provisions allowing certain 
entities (as described in this release) to enter into block trades on 
behalf of their non-ECP customers on DCMs is substantially similar to 
the existing DCM rules that allow block trading in the futures market.
    Section 43.6(i)(2) further provides that no person may conduct a 
block trade on behalf of a customer unless the person receives prior 
written instruction or consent to do so. The rule further provides that 
such instruction or consent may be provided in the power of attorney or 
similar document by which the customer provides the person with 
discretionary trading authority or the authority to direct the trading 
in its account. The Commission is of the view that the cost associated 
with the written instruction or consent is minimal. The Commission 
estimates that a prior written instruction or consent requirement would 
impose an initial non-recurring burden of approximately 2 personnel 
hours at an approximate cost of $155.54 for each CTA, investment 
adviser or foreign person.\704\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \704\ The estimate is calculated as follows: Compliance manager 
at 2 hours. A compliance manager's adjusted hourly wage is $77.77. 
See note 521 supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Benefits
    The Commission has determined that the benefits of Sec.  43.6(i) 
are significant. The rule allows customers who are not ECPs to engage 
in block trade transactions through certain entities as outlined in the 
rule. By permitting certain CTAs, investment advisers and foreign 
persons to transact swaps on behalf of non-ECP customers, the rule 
provides important safeguards for non-ECPs when entering into block 
transactions in swaps. The Commission believes that access to block 
trades will allow customers who are not ECPs to diversify their risk or 
improve their investment strategies. In addition, the Commission also 
anticipates the access to block trades for non-ECPs to increase their 
participation in swap markets, increasing liquidity in the markets for 
everyone.
    The Commission acknowledges that Sec.  43.6(i)(2) has the added 
benefit of protection of market participants and public since the 
written instruction or consent required in Sec.  43.6(i)(2) of the rule 
makes the customer aware that block trades may be used on its behalf, 
allowing the customer to decide whether to allow these transactions.

[[Page 32934]]

4. Section 15(a) Factors
a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    As discussed above, Sec.  43.6(i)(2), by requiring that no person 
may conduct a block trade on behalf of a customer unless the person 
receives prior written instruction or consent to do so, protects the 
customer by making sure the customer is aware that block trades may be 
used on its behalf. This means better protection for market 
participants and the public since no one will be able to conduct a 
block trade on their behalf without their consent.
b. Efficiency, Competitiveness, and Financial Integrity of the Futures 
Markets
    The Commission expects the rule to improve competitiveness in the 
markets by allowing customers who are not ECPs to have access to block 
trades through certain CTAs, investment advisers and foreign persons. 
The Commission anticipates an increase in competitiveness due to the 
fact that more customers would use the swap markets as a result of this 
rule. An increased participation in a market will also serve to 
increase liquidity, as well as competition, in that market.
c. Price Discovery
    The Commission does not anticipate the rule to have any significant 
effect on price discovery in the market.
d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    The Commission does not anticipate the rule to have any significant 
effect on risk management practices.
e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    The Commission has not identified any other public interest 
considerations regarding the rule.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA'') requires Federal agencies 
to consider the impact of its rules on ``small entities.'' \705\ A 
regulatory flexibility analysis or certification typically is required 
for ``any rule for which the agency publishes a general notice of 
proposed rulemaking pursuant to'' the notice-and-comment provisions of 
the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b).\706\ With respect to 
the Further Block Proposal, the Commission provided in its RFA 
statement that the proposed rule would have a direct effect on a number 
of entities, specifically DCMs, SEFs, SDs, MSPs, and certain single 
end-users.\707\ In the Further Block Proposal, the Chairman, on behalf 
of the Commission, certified that the rulemaking would not have a 
significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities. 
Comments on that certification were sought.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \705\ See 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    \706\ See 5 U.S.C. 601(2), 603, 604, and 605.
    \707\ As discussed more fully in the Further Block Proposal, the 
Commission is of the view that registered entities such as SDs and 
MSPs are not small businesses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the Further Block Proposal, the Commission provided that it 
previously had established that certain entities subject to its 
jurisdiction are not small entities for purposes of the RFA. 
Specifically, the Commission stated that it had previously determined 
that SEFs and DCMs are not small businesses.\708\ The Commission also 
stated that it is of the view that SDs and MSPs are not small 
businesses.\709\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \708\ 77 FR at 15499. See 17 CFR part 40 Provisions Common to 
Registered Entities, 75 FR 67282 (Nov. 2, 2010); see also 47 FR 
18618, 18619, Apr. 30, 1982 and 66 FR 45604, 45609, Aug. 29, 2001.
    \709\ 77 FR at 15499.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission recognized that the proposed rule could impose 
direct burdens on parties to a swap, which the Commission has 
determined previously may include a percentage of small end users that 
are considered small businesses for the purposes of the RFA.\710\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \710\ See 77 FR 1240 (``[T]he Commission recognized that the 
proposed rule could have an economic effect on certain single end 
users, in particular those end users that enter into swap 
transactions with another end-user. Unlike the other parties to 
which the proposed rulemaking would apply, these end users are not 
subject to designation or registration with or to comprehensive 
regulation by the Commission. The Commission recognized that some of 
these end users may be small entities.''). The term reporting party 
also includes swap dealers and major swap participants.
    The Commission previously has determined that these entities do 
fall within the definition of small business for the purpose of the 
RFA. See 75 FR at 76170.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notwithstanding the imposition of this burden, however, the 
determination to certify pursuant to Sec.  605(b) of the RFA that the 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic effect on a 
substantial number of small entities was based upon two major 
considerations. First, Section 43.3 of the Commission's regulations 
already requires these entities to report their swap transaction and 
pricing data to an SDR.\711\ The Commission is of the view that 
requiring these entities to include an additional notification or field 
in conjunction with the reporting of such data would impose, at best, a 
marginal and incremental cost. Second, the proposed rule was structured 
so that most swaps that are expected to be executed by an end user 
would not require notification of the election by the end user, but 
rather by a party that is subject to Commission registration and 
regulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \711\ See 77 FR 1240.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission did not receive any comments respecting its RFA 
certification. Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the Further 
Proposal and set forth above, the Commission continues to believe that 
the rulemaking will not have a significant impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. Therefore, the Chairman, on behalf of the 
Commission, hereby certifies, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that the 
procedure to establish appropriate minimum block sizes adopted herein 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

VII. Example of a Post-initial Appropriate Minimum Block Size 
Determination Using the 67-percent Notional Amount Calculation

    The example below describes the steps necessary for the Commission 
to determine the post-initial appropriate minimum block size based on 
Sec.  43.6(c)(1) for a sample set of data in ``Swap Category Z.'' For 
the purposes of this example, Swap Category Z had 35 transactions over 
the given observation period. The observations are described in table A 
below and are ordered by time of execution (i.e., Transaction 
1 was executed prior to Transaction 2).

                                      Table A--Swap Category Z Transactions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Transaction 1                    i>2                    i>3                    i>4                    i>5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,000,000              25,000,000             50,000,000             1.05                   3,243,571
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 32935]]

 
 Transaction 6                     i>7                    i>8                    i>9                   i>10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100,000,000            525,000,000            10,000,000             15,000,000             25,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Transaction 11                   i>12                   i>13                   i>14                   i>15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100,000,000            265,000,000            25,000,000             100,000,000            100,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Transaction 16                   i>17                   i>18                   i>19                   i>20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100,000,000            150,000,000            50,000,000             100,000,000            50,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Transaction 21                   i>22                   i>23                   i>24                   i>25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75,000,000             82,352,124             100,000,000            1,235,726              60,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Transaction 26                   i>27                   i>28                   i>29                   i>30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100,000,000            50,000,000             50,000,000             100,000,000            100,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Transaction 31                   i>32                   i>33                   i>34                   i>35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100,000,000            100,000,000            32,875,000             50,000,000             440,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Step 1: Remove the transactions that do not fall within the 
definition of ``publicly reportable swap transactions'' as described in 
Sec.  43.2.
    In this example, assume that five of the 35 transactions in Swap 
Category Z do not fall within the definition of ``publicly reportable 
swap transaction.'' These five transactions, listed in table B below 
would be removed for the data set that will be used to determine the 
post-initial appropriate minimum block size.

    Table B--Transactions That Do Not Fall Within the Definition of ``Publicly Reportable Swap Transaction''
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Transaction 4                    i>13                   i>16                   i>20                  i>21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.05                   25,000,000             100,000,000            50,000,000             75,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Step 2A: Convert the publicly reportable swap transactions in the 
swap category to the same currency or units.
    In order to accurately compare the transactions in a swap category 
and apply the appropriate minimum block size calculation, the 
transactions must be converted to the same currency or unit.
    In this example, the publicly reportable swap transactions were all 
denominated in U.S. dollars, so no conversion was necessary. If the 
notional amounts of any of the publicly reportable swap transactions in 
Swap Category Z had been denominated in a currency other than U.S. 
dollars, then the notional amounts of such publicly reportable swap 
transactions would have been adjusted by the daily exchange rates for 
the period to arrive at the U.S. dollars equivalent notional amount.
    Step 2B: Examine the remaining data set for any outliers and remove 
any such outliers, resulting in a trimmed data set.
    The publicly reportable swap transactions are examined to identify 
any outliers. If an outlier is discovered, then it would be removed 
from the data set. To conduct this analysis, the notional amounts of 
all of the publicly reportable swap transactions remaining after step 1 
and step 2A are transformed by Log10. The average and 
standard deviation (``STDEV'') of these transformed notional amounts 
would then be calculated. Any transformed notional amount of a publicly 
reportable swap transaction that is larger than the average of all 
transformed notional amounts plus four times the standard deviation 
would be omitted from the data set as an outlier.
    In the data set used in this example, none of the observations were 
large enough to qualify as an outlier, as shown in the calculations 
described in Table C.

               Table C--Testing for Outliers in the Publicly Reportable Swap Transaction Data Set
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Log10 Average...............................              7.75  4*STDEV+Average...............              10.2
Log10 STDEV.................................          0.611359  Omitted Values................              None
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
4* STDEV....................................              2.45
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Step 3: Sum the notional amounts of the remaining publicly 
reportable swap transactions in the data set resulting after step 2B. 
Note: The notional amounts being summed in this step are the original 
amounts following step 2A and not the Log10 transformed 
amounts used for the process in step 2B used to identify and omit any 
outliers.
    Using the equation described immediately below, the notional 
amounts are added to determine the

[[Page 32936]]

sum total of all notional amounts remaining in the data set for a 
particular swap category. In this example, the notional amounts of the 
30 remaining publicly reportable swap transactions in Swap Category Z 
are added together to come up with a net value of 2,989,706,421.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR31MY13.000

30 = Notional amount of swap transaction
i = Index variable of summation for the set
Ti = Indicator for publicly reportable swap transactions
PRSTNV = Sum total of the notional amounts of all remaining publicly 
reportable swap transactions in the set

PRSTNV = 2,989,706,421

    Step 4: Calculate the 67 Percent Notional Amount.
    Using the resulting amount from step 2B, a 67-percent notional 
amount value would be calculated by using the equation:

PRSTNV * 0.67 = G

G = 67 percent of the sum total of the notional amounts of all 
remaining publicly reportable swap transactions in the set.

G = 2,003,103,302

    Step 5: Order and rank the observations based on notional amount of 
the publicly reportable swap transaction from least to greatest.
    The remaining publicly reportable swap transactions having 
previously been converted to U.S. dollar equivalents must be ranked, 
based on the notional sizes of such transactions, from least to 
greatest. The resulting ranking yields the PRSTi[squ]. Table D below 
reflects the ranking of the remaining publicly reportable swap 
transactions based on their notional amount sizes for this example.

PRSTi = a publicly reportable swap transaction in the data set 
ranked from least to greatest based on the notional amounts of such 
transactions.

    Step 6A: Calculate the running sum of all PRSTi.
    A running sum would be calculated by adding together the ranked and 
ordered publicly reportable swap transactions from step 5 (PRSTi) in 
least to greatest order. The calculations of running sum values with 
respect to this example are reflected in Table D below.

RS Values = Running sum values

                                                           Table D--PRSTi Values and RS Values
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Rank Order 1                 i>2                 i>3                 i>4                 i>5
PRSTi Values........................................           1,235,726           3,243,571           5,000,000          10,000,000          15,000,000
RS Values...........................................           1,235,726           4,479,297           9,479,297          19,479,297          34,479,297
                                                      Rank Order 6                 i>7                 i>8                 i>9                i>10
PRSTi Values........................................          25,000,000          25,000,000          32,875,000          50,000,000          50,000,000
RS Values...........................................          59,479,297          84,479,297         117,354,297         167,354,297         217,354,297
                                                      Rank Order 11                i>12                i>13                i>14                i>15
PRSTi Values........................................          50,000,000          50,000,000          50,000,000          60,000,000          82,352,124
RS Values...........................................         267,354,297         317,354,297         367,354,297         427,354,297         509,706,421
                                                      Rank Order 16                i>17                i>18                i>19                i>20
PRSTi Values........................................         100,000,000         100,000,000         100,000,000         100,000,000         100,000,000
RS Values...........................................         609,706,421         709,706,421         809,706,421         909,706,421       1,009,706,421
                                                      Rank Order 21                i>22                i>23                i>24                i>25
PRSTi Values........................................         100,000,000         100,000,000         100,000,000         100,000,000         100,000,000
RS Values...........................................       1,109,706,421       1,209,706,421       1,309,706,421       1,409,706,421       1,509,706,421
                                                      Rank Order 26                i>27                i>28                i>29                i>30
PRSTi Values........................................         100,000,000         150,000,000         265,000,000         440,000,000         525,000,000
RS Values...........................................       1,609,706,421       1,759,706,421       2,024,706,421       2,464,706,421       2,989,706,421
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Step 6B: Select first RS Value that is greater than or equal to G.
    In this example, G is equal to 2,003,103,302, meaning that the RS 
Value that must be selected would have to be greater than that number. 
The first RS Value that is greater than or equal to G can be found in 
the observation that corresponds to Rank Order 28 (see Table 
D). The RS Value of the Rank Order 28 observation is 
2,024,706,421.
    Step 7: Select the PRSTt that corresponds to the observation 
determined in step 6B.
    In this example, the PRSTt that corresponds to the RS Value 
determined in step 6B (Rank Order 28) is 265,000,000.
    Step 8: Determine the rounded notional amount.
    Calculate the rounded notional amount under the process described 
in the proposed amendment to Sec.  43.2. The 265,000,000 amount would 
be rounded to the nearest 10 million for public dissemination, or 
270,000,000.
    Step 9: Set the appropriate minimum block size at the amount 
calculated in step 8.
    In this example, the appropriate minimum block size for swap 
category Z would be 270,000,000 for the observation period.

Post-Initial Appropriate Minimum Block Size = $270,000,000

VIII. List of Commenters Who Responded to the Further Block Proposal

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Acronym/Abbreviation                       Commenter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbott....................................  Abbott, Robert.
AFR.......................................  Americans for Financial
                                             Reform.
ABC.......................................  American Benefits Counsel.
Arbor.....................................  Arbor Research & Trading,
                                             Inc.
AII.......................................  Association of Institutional
                                             Investors.
Barclays..................................  Barclays Bank PLC.
Barnard...................................  Barnard, Chris.
Better Markets............................  Better Markets, Inc.
CIEBA.....................................  Committee on the Investment
                                             of Employee Benefit Assets.
CME Group.................................  CME Group Inc.

[[Page 32937]]

 
CRT.......................................  CRT Capital Group LLC.
Currenex..................................  Currenex, Inc.
EEI.......................................  Edison Electric Institute.
FIA.......................................  Futures Industry Association
                                             Principle Traders Group.
Freddie...................................  Freddie Mac.
GFMA......................................  Global Foreign Exchange
                                             Division of the Global
                                             Financial Markets
                                             Association.
ICAP Energy...............................  ICAP Energy LLC.
ICAP......................................  ICAP North America Inc.
ISDA/SIFMA................................  International Swaps and
                                             Derivatives Association and
                                             the Securities Industry and
                                             Financial Markets
                                             Association.
ICI.......................................  Investment Company
                                             Institute.
Javelin...................................  Javelin Capital Markets,
                                             LLC.
Jefferies.................................  Jefferies & Co., Inc.
JPM.......................................  J.P. Morgan.
Kearney...................................  Kearney, Timothy.
Kinetix...................................  Kinetix Trading Solutions.
MFA.......................................  Managed Funds Association.
Morgan Stanley............................  Morgan Stanley.
ODEX......................................  ODEX Group.
Parascandola..............................  Parascandola, James.
Parity....................................  Parity Energy, Inc.
Pierpont..................................  Pierpont Securities Holdings
                                             LLC.
R.J. O'Brien..............................  R.J. O'Brien & Associates,
                                             Inc.
SIFMA.....................................  Asset Management Group of
                                             the Securities Industry and
                                             Financial Markets
                                             Association.
SDMA......................................  Swaps & Derivatives Market
                                             Association.
Spring Trading............................  Spring Trading, Inc.
Vanguard..................................  Vanguard.
WMBAA.....................................  Wholesale Market Brokers'
                                             Association, Americas.
Wolkoff...................................  Wolkoff Consulting Services
                                             LLC.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Subjects in 17 CFR Part 43

    Real-time public reporting, Block trades, Large notional off-
facility swaps, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, for the reasons discussed in the preamble, the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission amends 17 CFR part 43 as follows:

PART 43--REAL-TIME PUBLIC REPORTING

0
1. The authority citation for part 43 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2(a), 12a(5) and 24a, as amended by Pub. L. 
111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).


0
2. Amend Sec.  43.2 by adding the following definitions in alphabetical 
order to read as follows:


Sec.  43.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Cap size means, for each swap category, the maximum notional or 
principal amount of a publicly reportable swap transaction that is 
publicly disseminated.
* * * * *
    Economically related means a direct or indirect reference to the 
same commodity at the same delivery location or locations, or with the 
same or a substantially similar cash market price series.
* * * * *
    Futures-related swap means a swap (as defined in section 1a(47) of 
the Act and as further defined by the Commission in implementing 
regulations) that is economically related to a futures contract.
* * * * *
    Major currencies means the currencies, and the cross-rates between 
the currencies, of Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, 
South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland.
    Non-major currencies means all other currencies that are not super-
major currencies or major currencies.
* * * * *
    Physical commodity swap means a swap in the other commodity asset 
class that is based on a tangible commodity.
* * * * *
    Reference price means a floating price series (including 
derivatives contract prices and cash market prices or price indices) 
used by the parties to a swap or swaption to determine payments made, 
exchanged or accrued under the terms of a swap contract.
* * * * *
    Super-major currencies means the currencies of the European 
Monetary Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and United States.
    Swaps with composite reference prices means swaps based on 
reference prices that are composed of more than one reference price 
from more than one swap category.
* * * * *
    Trimmed data set means a data set that has had extraordinarily 
large notional transactions removed by transforming the data into a 
logarithm with a base of 10, computing the mean, and excluding 
transactions that are beyond four standard deviations above the mean.
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  43.4 as follows:
0
A. Revise paragraph (d)(4)(i);
0
B. Revise paragraph (d)(4)(ii)(B);
0
C. Add paragraph (d)(4)(iii);
0
D. Revise paragraph (h).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  43.4  Swap transaction and pricing data to be publicly 
disseminated in real-time.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (i) A registered swap data repository shall publicly disseminate 
swap transaction and pricing data for publicly reportable swap 
transactions in the other commodity asset class in the manner described 
in paragraphs (d)(4)(ii) and (d)(4)(iii) of this section.
    (ii) * * *
    (B) Any publicly reportable swap transaction that is economically 
related to one of the contracts described in Appendix B of this part; 
or
* * * * *

[[Page 32938]]

    (iii) The underlying assets of swaps in the other commodity asset 
class that are not described in paragraph (d)(4)(ii) of this section 
shall be publicly disseminated by limiting the geographic detail of the 
underlying assets. The identification of any specific delivery point or 
pricing point associated with the underlying asset of such other 
commodity swap shall be publicly disseminated pursuant to Appendix E of 
this part.
* * * * *
    (h) Cap sizes.
    (1) Initial cap sizes. Prior to the effective date of a Commission 
determination to establish an applicable post-initial cap size for a 
swap category as determined pursuant to paragraph (h)(2) of this 
section, the initial cap sizes for each swap category shall be equal to 
the greater of the initial appropriate minimum block size for the 
respective swap category in Appendix F of this part or the respective 
cap sizes in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(v) of this section. If 
Appendix F of this part does not provide an initial appropriate minimum 
block size for a particular swap category, the initial cap size for 
such swap category shall be equal to the appropriate cap size as set 
forth in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(v) of this section.
    (i) For swaps in the interest rate asset class, the publicly 
disseminated notional or principal amount for a swap subject to the 
rules in this part shall be:
    (A) USD 250 million for swaps with a tenor greater than zero up to 
and including two years;
    (B) USD 100 million for swaps with a tenor greater than two years 
up to and including ten years; and
    (C) USD 75 million for swaps with a tenor greater than ten years.
    (ii) For swaps in the credit asset class, the publicly disseminated 
notional or principal amount for a swap subject to the rules in this 
part shall be USD 100 million.
    (iii) For swaps in the equity asset class, the publicly 
disseminated notional or principal amount for a swap subject to the 
rules in this part shall be USD 250 million.
    (iv) For swaps in the foreign exchange asset class, the publicly 
disseminated notional or principal amount for a swap subject to the 
rules in this part shall be USD 250 million.
    (v) For swaps in the other commodity asset class, the publicly 
disseminated notional or principal amount for a swap subject to the 
rules in this part shall be USD 25 million.
    (2) Post-initial cap sizes. Pursuant to the process described in 
Sec.  43.6(f)(1), the Commission shall establish post-initial cap sizes 
using reliable data collected by registered swap data repositories, as 
determined by the Commission, based on the following:
    (i) A one-year window of swap transaction and pricing data 
corresponding to each relevant swap category recalculated no less than 
once each calendar year; and
    (ii) The 75-percent notional amount calculation described in Sec.  
43.6(c)(3) applied to the swap transaction and pricing data described 
in paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this section.
    (3) Commission publication of post-initial cap sizes. The 
Commission shall publish post-initial cap sizes on its Web site at 
https://www.cftc.gov.
    (4) Effective date of post-initial cap sizes. Unless otherwise 
indicated on the Commission's Web site, the post-initial cap sizes 
shall be effective on the first day of the second month following the 
date of publication.

0
4. Add Sec.  43.6 to read as follows:


Sec.  43.6  Block trades and large notional off-facility swaps.

    (a) Commission determination. The Commission shall establish the 
appropriate minimum block size for publicly reportable swap 
transactions based on the swap categories set forth in paragraph (b) of 
this section in accordance with the provisions set forth in paragraphs 
(c), (d), (e), (f) or (h) of this section, as applicable.
    (b) Swap categories. Swap categories shall be established for all 
swaps, by asset class, in the following manner:
    (1) Interest rates asset class. Interest rate asset class swap 
categories shall be based on unique combinations of the following:
    (i) Currency by:
    (A) Super-major currency;
    (B) Major currency; or
    (C) Non-major currency; and
    (ii) Tenor of swap as follows:
    (A) Zero to 46 days;
    (B) Greater than 46 days to three months (47 to 107 days);
    (C) Greater than three months to six months (108 to 198 days);
    (D) Greater than six months to one year (199 to 381 days);
    (E) Greater than one to two years (382 to 746 days);
    (F) Greater than two to five years (747 to 1,842 days);
    (G) Greater than five to ten years (1,843 to 3,668 days);
    (H) Greater than ten to 30 years (3,669 to 10,973 days); or
    (I) Greater than 30 years (10,974 days and above).
    (2) Credit asset class. Credit asset class swap categories shall be 
based on unique combinations of the following:
    (i) Traded Spread rounded to the nearest basis point (0.01) as 
follows:
    (A) 0 to 175 points;
    (B) 176 to 350 points; or
    (C) 351 points and above;
    (ii) Tenor of swap as follows:
    (A) Zero to two years (0-746 days);
    (B) Greater than two to four years (747-1,476 days);
    (C) Greater than four to six years (1,477-2,207 days);
    (D) Greater than six to eight-and-a-half years (2,208-3,120 days);
    (E) Greater than eight-and-a-half to 12.5 years (3,121-4,581 days); 
and
    (F) Greater than 12.5 years (4,582 days and above).
    (3) Equity asset class. There shall be one swap category consisting 
of all swaps in the equity asset class.
    (4) Foreign exchange asset class. Swap categories in the foreign 
exchange asset class shall be grouped as follows:
    (i) By the unique currency combinations of one super-major currency 
paired with one of the following:
    (A) Another super major currency;
    (B) A major currency; or
    (C) A currency of Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, 
Mexico, Poland, Russia, and Turkey; or
    (ii) By unique currency combinations not included in paragraph 
(b)(4)(i) of this section.
    (5) Other commodity asset class. Swap contracts in the other 
commodity asset class shall be grouped into swap categories as follows:
    (i) For swaps that are economically related to contracts in 
Appendix B of this part, by the relevant contract as referenced in 
Appendix B of this part; or
    (ii) For swaps that are not economically related to contracts in 
Appendix B of this part, by the following futures-related swaps--
    (A) CME Cheese;
    (B) CBOT Distillers' Dried Grain;
    (C) CBOT Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index;
    (D) CBOT Ethanol;
    (E) CME Frost Index;
    (F) CME Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI), (GSCI Excess Return 
Index);
    (G) NYMEX Gulf Coast Sour Crude Oil;
    (H) CME Hurricane Index;
    (I) CME Rainfall Index;
    (J) CME Snowfall Index;
    (K) CME Temperature Index;
    (L) CME U.S. Dollar Cash Settled Crude Palm Oil; or
    (iii) For swaps that are not covered in paragraphs (b)(5)(i) and 
(b)(5)(ii) of this section, the relevant product type as referenced in 
Appendix D of this part.

[[Page 32939]]

    (c) Methodologies to determine appropriate minimum block sizes and 
cap sizes. In determining appropriate minimum block sizes and cap sizes 
for publicly reportable swap transactions, the Commission shall utilize 
the following statistical calculations--
    (1) 50-percent notional amount calculation. The Commission shall 
use the following procedure in determining the 50-percent notional 
amount calculation:
    (i) Select all of the publicly reportable swap transactions within 
a specific swap category using a one-year window of data beginning with 
a minimum of one year's worth of data;
    (ii) Convert to the same currency or units and use a trimmed data 
set;
    (iii) Determine the sum of the notional amounts of swaps in the 
trimmed data set;
    (iv) Multiply the sum of the notional amount by 50 percent;
    (v) Rank order the observations by notional amount from least to 
greatest;
    (vi) Calculate the cumulative sum of the observations until the 
cumulative sum is equal to or greater than the 50-percent notional 
amount calculated in paragraph (c)(1)(iv) of this section;
    (vii) Select the notional amount associated with that observation;
    (viii) Round the notional amount of that observation to two 
significant digits, or if the notional amount associated with that 
observation is already significant to two digits, increase that 
notional amount to the next highest rounding point of two significant 
digits; and
    (ix) Set the appropriate minimum block size at the amount 
calculated in paragraph (c)(1)(viii) of this section.
    (2) 67-percent notional amount calculation. The Commission shall 
use the following procedure in determining the 67-percent notional 
amount calculation:
    (i) Select all of the publicly reportable swap transactions within 
a specific swap category using a one-year window of data beginning with 
a minimum of one year's worth of data;
    (ii) Convert to the same currency or units and use a trimmed data 
set;
    (iii) Determine the sum of the notional amounts of swaps in the 
trimmed data set;
    (iv) Multiply the sum of the notional amount by 67 percent;
    (v) Rank order the observations by notional amount from least to 
greatest;
    (vi) Calculate the cumulative sum of the observations until the 
cumulative sum is equal to or greater than the 67-percent notional 
amount calculated in paragraph (c)(2)(iv) of this section;
    (vii) Select the notional amount associated with that observation;
    (viii) Round the notional amount of that observation to two 
significant digits, or if the notional amount associated with that 
observation is already significant to two digits, increase that 
notional amount to the next highest rounding point of two significant 
digits; and
    (ix) Set the appropriate minimum block size at the amount 
calculated in paragraph (c)(2)(viii) of this section.
    (3) 75-percent notional amount calculation. The Commission shall 
use the following procedure in determining the 75-percent notional 
amount calculation:
    (i) Select all of the publicly reportable swap transactions within 
a specific swap category using a one-year window of data beginning with 
a minimum of one year's worth of data;
    (ii) Convert to the same currency or units and use a trimmed data 
set;
    (iii) Determine the sum of the notional amounts of swaps in the 
trimmed data set;
    (iv) Multiply the sum of the notional amount by 75 percent;
    (v) Rank order the observations by notional amount from least to 
greatest;
    (vi) Calculate the cumulative sum of the observations until the 
cumulative sum is equal to or greater than the 75-percent notional 
amount calculated in paragraph (c)(3)(iv) of this section;
    (vii) Select the notional amount associated with that observation;
    (viii) Round the notional amount of that observation to two 
significant digits, or if the notional amount associated with that 
observation is already significant to two digits, increase that 
notional amount to the next highest rounding point of two significant 
digits; and
    (ix) Set the appropriate minimum block size at the amount 
calculated in paragraph (c)(3)(viii) of this section.
    (d) No appropriate minimum block sizes for swaps in the equity 
asset class. Publicly reportable swap transactions in the equity asset 
class shall not be treated as block trades or large notional off-
facility swaps.
    (e) Initial appropriate minimum block sizes. Prior to the 
Commission making a determination as described in paragraph (f)(1) of 
this section, the following initial appropriate minimum block sizes 
shall apply:
    (1) Prescribed appropriate minimum block sizes. Except as otherwise 
provided in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, for any publicly 
reportable swap transaction that falls within the swap categories 
described in paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(4)(i), (b)(5)(i) or 
(b)(5)(ii) of this section, the initial appropriate minimum block size 
for such publicly reportable swap transaction shall be the appropriate 
minimum block size that is in Appendix F of this part.
    (2) Certain swaps in the foreign exchange and other commodity asset 
classes. All swaps or instruments in the swap categories described in 
paragraphs (b)(4)(ii) and (b)(5)(iii) of this section shall be eligible 
to be treated as a block trade or large notional off-facility swap, as 
applicable.
    (3) Exception. Publicly reportable swap transactions described in 
paragraph (b)(5)(i) of this section that are economically related to a 
futures contract in Appendix B of this part shall not qualify to be 
treated as block trades or large notional off-facility swaps (as 
applicable), if such futures contract is not subject to a designated 
contract market's block trading rules.
    (f) Post-initial process to determine appropriate minimum block 
sizes.
    (1) Post-initial period. After a registered swap data repository 
has collected at least one year of reliable data for a particular asset 
class, the Commission shall establish, by swap categories, the post-
initial appropriate minimum block sizes as described in paragraphs 
(f)(2) through (f)(5) of this section. No less than once each calendar 
year thereafter, the Commission shall update the post-initial 
appropriate minimum block sizes.
    (2) Post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes for certain swaps. 
The Commission shall determine post-initial appropriate minimum block 
sizes for the swap categories described in paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), 
(b)(4)(i) and (b)(5) of this section by utilizing a one-year window of 
swap transaction and pricing data corresponding to each relevant swap 
category reviewed no less than once each calendar year, and by applying 
the 67-percent notional amount calculation to such data.
    (3) Certain swaps in the foreign exchange asset class. All swaps or 
instruments in the swap category described in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of 
this section shall be eligible to be treated as a block trade or large 
notional off-facility swap, as applicable.
    (4) Commission publication of post-initial appropriate minimum 
block sizes. The Commission shall publish the appropriate minimum block 
sizes determined pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section on its 
Web site at https://www.cftc.gov.
    (5) Effective date of post-initial appropriate minimum block sizes. 
Unless otherwise indicated on the Commission's Web site, the post-
initial appropriate minimum block sizes described in paragraph (f)(1) 
of this

[[Page 32940]]

section shall be effective on the first day of the second month 
following the date of publication.
    (g) Required notification.
    (1) Block trade election.
    (i) The parties to a publicly reportable swap transaction that has 
a notional amount at or above the appropriate minimum block size shall 
notify the registered swap execution facility or designated contract 
market, as applicable, pursuant to the rules of such registered swap 
execution facility or designated contract market, of its election to 
have the publicly reportable swap transaction treated as a block trade.
    (ii) The registered swap execution facility or designated contract 
market, as applicable, pursuant to the rules of which a block trade is 
executed shall notify the registered swap data repository of such a 
block trade election when transmitting swap transaction and pricing 
data to such swap data repository in accordance with Sec.  43.3(b)(1).
    (2) Large notional off-facility swap election. A reporting party 
who executes an off-facility swap that has a notional amount at or 
above the appropriate minimum block size shall notify the applicable 
registered swap data repository that such swap transaction qualifies as 
a large notional off-facility swap concurrent with the transmission of 
swap transaction and pricing data in accordance with this part.
    (h) Special provisions relating to appropriate minimum block sizes 
and cap sizes. The following special rules shall apply to the 
determination of appropriate minimum block sizes and cap sizes--
    (1) Swaps with optionality. The notional amount of a swap with 
optionality shall equal the notional amount of the component of the 
swap that does not include the option component.
    (2) Swaps with composite reference prices. The parties to a swap 
transaction with composite reference prices may elect to apply the 
lowest appropriate minimum block size or cap size applicable to one 
component reference price's swap category of such publicly reportable 
swap transaction.
    (3) Notional amounts for physical commodity swaps. Unless otherwise 
specified in this part, the notional amount for a physical commodity 
swap shall be based on the notional unit measure utilized in the 
related futures contract market or the predominant notional unit 
measure used to determine notional quantities in the cash market for 
the relevant, underlying physical commodity.
    (4) Currency conversion. Unless otherwise specified in this part, 
when the appropriate minimum block size or cap size for a publicly 
reportable swap transaction is denominated in a currency other than 
U.S. dollars, parties to a swap and registered entities may use a 
currency exchange rate that is widely published within the preceding 
two business days from the date of execution of the swap transaction in 
order to determine such qualification.
    (5) Successor currencies. For currencies that succeed a super-major 
currency, the appropriate currency classification for such currency 
shall be based on the corresponding nominal gross domestic product 
classification (in U.S. dollars) as determined in the most recent World 
Bank, World Development Indicator at the time of succession. If the 
gross domestic product of the country or nation utilizing the successor 
currency is:
    (i) Greater than $2 trillion, then the successor currency shall be 
included among the super-major currencies;
    (ii) Greater than $500 billion but less than $2 trillion, then the 
successor currency shall be included among the major currencies; or
    (iii) Less than $500 billion, then the successor currency shall be 
included among the non-major currencies.
    (6) Aggregation. Except as otherwise stated in this paragraph, the 
aggregation of orders for different accounts in order to satisfy the 
minimum block trade size or the cap size requirement is prohibited. 
Aggregation is permissible on a designated contract market or swap 
execution facility if done by a person who:
    (i) (A) Is a commodity trading advisor registered pursuant to 
Section 4n of the Act, or exempt from registration under the Act, or a 
principal thereof, who has discretionary trading authority or directs 
client accounts,
    (B) Is an investment adviser who has discretionary trading 
authority or directs client accounts and satisfies the criteria of 
Sec.  4.7(a)(2)(v) of this chapter, or
    (C) Is a foreign person who performs a similar role or function as 
the persons described in paragraphs (h)(6)(i)(A) or (h)(6)(i)(B) of 
this section and is subject as such to foreign regulation; and,
    (ii) Has more than $25,000,000 in total assets under management.
    (i) Eligible Block Trade Parties.
    (1) Parties to a block trade must be ``eligible contract 
participants,'' as defined in Section 1a(18) of the Act and the 
Commission's regulations. However, a designated contract market may 
allow:
    (i) A commodity trading advisor registered pursuant to Section 4n 
of the Act, or exempt from registration under the Act, or a principal 
thereof, who has discretionary trading authority or directs client 
accounts,
    (ii) An investment adviser who has discretionary trading authority 
or directs client accounts and satisfies the criteria of Sec.  
4.7(a)(2)(v) of this chapter, or
    (iii) a foreign person who performs a similar role or function as 
the persons described in paragraphs (i)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section 
and is subject as such to foreign regulation, to transact block trades 
for customers who are not eligible contract participants if such 
commodity trading advisor, investment adviser or foreign person has 
more than $25,000,000 in total assets under management.
    (2) A person transacting a block trade on behalf of a customer must 
receive prior written instruction or consent from the customer to do 
so. Such instruction or consent may be provided in the power of 
attorney or similar document by which the customer provides the person 
with discretionary trading authority or the authority to direct the 
trading in its account.

0
5. Add Sec.  43.7 to read as follows:


Sec.  43.7  Delegation of authority.

    (a) Authority. The Commission hereby delegates, until it orders 
otherwise, to the Director of the Division of Market Oversight or such 
other employee or employees as the Director may designate from time to 
time, the authority:
    (1) To determine whether swaps fall within specific swap categories 
as described in Sec.  43.6(b);
    (2) To determine and publish post-initial, appropriate minimum 
block sizes as described in Sec.  43.6(f); and
    (3) To determine post-initial cap sizes as described in Sec.  
43.4(h).
    (b) Submission for Commission consideration. The Director of the 
Division of Market Oversight may submit to the Commission for its 
consideration any matter that has been delegated pursuant to this 
section.
    (c) Commission reserves authority. Nothing in this section 
prohibits the Commission, at its election, from exercising the 
authority delegated in this section.

0
6. Amend Appendix B to Part 43 to add the following contracts under the 
heading ``Energy'' after the existing listing for ``New York Mercantile 
Exchange New York Harbor Heating Oil'':

Appendix B to Part 43--Enumerated Physical Commodity Contracts and 
Other Contracts

* * * * *

[[Page 32941]]

Energy

* * * * *
ICE Futures SP-15 Day-Ahead Peak Fixed Price
ICE Futures SP-15 Day-Ahead Off-Peak Fixed Price
ICE Futures PJM Western Hub Real Time Peak Fixed Price
ICE Futures PJM Western Hub Real Time Off-Peak Fixed Price
ICE Futures Mid-Columbia Day-Ahead Peak Fixed Price
ICE Futures Mid-Columbia Day-Ahead Off-Peak Fixed Price
Chicago Basis
HSC Basis
Socal Border Basis
Waha Basis
ICE Futures AB NIT Basis
NWP Rockies Basis
PG&E Citygate Basis
* * * * *


0
7. Add Appendix D to Part 43 to read as follows:

Appendix D to Part 43--Other Commodity Swap Categories

Other Commodity Group

Individual Other Commodity

Grains
    Oats
    Wheat
    Corn
    Rice
    Grains--Other
Livestock/Meat Products
    Live Cattle
    Pork Bellies
    Feeder Cattle
    Lean Hogs
    Livestock/Meat Products--Other
Dairy Products
    Milk
    Butter
    Cheese
    Dairy Products--Other
Oilseed and Products
    Soybean Oil
    Soybean Meal
    Soybeans
    Oilseed and Products--Other
Fiber
    Cotton
    Fiber--Other
Foodstuffs/Softs
    Coffee
    Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice
    Sugar
    Cocoa
    Foodstuffs/Softs--Other
Petroleum and Products
    Jet Fuel
    Ethanol
    Biodiesel
    Fuel Oil
    Heating Oil
    Gasoline
    Naphtha
    Crude Oil
    Diesel
    Petroleum and Products--Other
Natural Gas and Related Products
    Natural Gas Liquids
    Natural Gas
    Natural Gas and Related Products--Other
Electricity and Sources
    Coal
    Electricity
    Uranium
    Electricity and Sources--Other
Precious Metals
    Palladium
    Platinum
    Silver
    Gold
    Precious Metals--Other
Base Metals
    Steel
    Copper
    Base Metals--Other
Wood Products
    Lumber
    Pulp
    Wood Products--Other
Real Estate
    Real Estate
Chemicals
    Chemicals
Plastics
    Plastics
Emissions
    Emissions
Weather
    Weather
Multiple Commodity Index
    Multiple Commodity Index
Other Agricultural
    Other Agricultural
Other Non-Agricultural
    Other Non-Agricultural

0
8. Add Appendix E to Part 43 to read as follows:

Appendix E to Part 43--Other Commodity Geographic Identification for 
Public Dissemination Pursuant to Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii)

    Registered swap data repositories are required by Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(iii) to publicly disseminate any specific delivery point 
or pricing point associated with publicly reportable swap 
transactions in the ``other commodity'' asset class pursuant to 
Tables E1 and E2 in this appendix. If the underlying asset of a 
publicly reportable swap transaction described in Sec.  
43.4(d)(4)(iii) has a delivery or pricing point that is located in 
the United States, such information shall be publicly disseminated 
pursuant to the regions described in Table E1 in this appendix. If 
the underlying asset of a publicly reportable swap transaction 
described in Sec.  43.4(d)(4)(iii) has a delivery or pricing point 
that is not located in the United States, such information shall be 
publicly disseminated pursuant to the countries or sub-regions, or 
if no country or sub-region, by the other commodity region, 
described in Table E2 in this appendix.

Table E1. U.S. Delivery or Pricing Points

Other Commodity Group
    Region
Natural Gas and Related Products
    Midwest
    Northeast
    Gulf
    Southeast
    Western
    Other--U.S.
Petroleum and Products
    New England (PADD 1A)
    Central Atlantic (PADD 1B)
    Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)
    Midwest (PADD 2)
    Gulf Coast (PADD 3)
    Rocky Mountains (PADD 4)
    West Coast (PADD 5)
    Other--U.S.
Electricity and Sources
    Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC)
    Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO)
    Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC)
    Reliability First Corporation (RFC)
    SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC)
    Southwest Power Pool, RE (SPP)
    Texas Regional Entity (TRE)
    Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
    Other--U.S.
All Remaining Other Commodities (Publicly disseminate the region. If 
pricing or delivery point is not region-specific, indicate ``U.S.'')
    Region 1--(Includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New 
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)
    Region 2--(Includes New Jersey, New York)
    Region 3--(Includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, 
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia)
    Region 4--(Includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)
    Region 5--(Includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Ohio, Wisconsin)
    Region 6--(Includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, 
Texas)
    Region 7--(Includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)
    Region 8--(Includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)
    Region 9--(Includes Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada)
    Region 10--(Includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)

Table E2. Non-U.S. Delivery or Pricing Points

Other Commodity Regions
    Country or Sub-Region
North America (Other than U.S.)
    Canada
    Mexico
Central America
South America
    Brazil
    Other South America
Europe
    Western Europe
    Northern Europe
    Southern Europe
    Eastern Europe (excluding Russia)
Russia
Africa
    Northern Africa
    Western Africa
    Eastern Africa
    Central Africa
    Southern Africa
Asia-Pacific
    Northern Asia (excluding Russia)

[[Page 32942]]

    Central Asia
    Eastern Asia
    Western Asia
    Southeast Asia
    Australia/New Zealand/Pacific Islands

0
9. Add Appendix F to Part 43 to read as follows:

Appendix F to Part 43--Initial Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes by Asset 
Class for Block Trades and Large Notional Off-Facility Swaps

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Currency group                         Currencies
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super-Major Currencies..........................  United States dollar
                                                   (USD), European Union
                                                   Euro Area euro (EUR),
                                                   United Kingdom pound
                                                   sterling (GBP), and
                                                   Japan yen (JPY).
Major Currencies................................  Australia dollar
                                                   (AUD), Switzerland
                                                   franc (CHF), Canada
                                                   dollar (CAD),
                                                   Republic of South
                                                   Africa rand (ZAR),
                                                   Republic of Korea won
                                                   (KRW), Kingdom of
                                                   Sweden krona (SEK),
                                                   New Zealand dollar
                                                   (NZD), Kingdom of
                                                   Norway krone (NOK),
                                                   and Denmark krone
                                                   (DKK).
Non-Major Currencies............................  All other currencies.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                               INTEREST RATE SWAPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Tenor less than or equal  50% Notional (in
             Currency group                  Tenor greater than                  to                 millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super-Major............................  ..........................  46 days..................             6,400
Super-Major............................  46 days...................  Three months (107 days)..             2,100
Super-Major............................  Three months (107 days)...  Six months (198 days)....             1,200
Super-Major............................  Six months (198 days).....  One year (381 days)......             1,100
Super-Major............................  One year (381 days).......  Two years (746 days).....               460
Super-Major............................  Two years (746 days)......  Five years (1,842 days)..               240
Super-Major............................  Five years (1,842 days)...  Ten years (3,668 days)...               170
Super-Major............................  Ten years (3,668 days)....  30 years (10,973 days)...               120
Super-Major............................  30 years (10,973 days)....  .........................                67
Major..................................  ..........................  46 days..................             2,200
Major..................................  46 days...................  Three months (107 days)..               580
Major..................................  Three months (107 days)...  Six months (198 days)....               440
Major..................................  Six months (198 days).....  One year (381 days)......               220
Major..................................  One year (381 days).......  Two years (746 days).....               130
Major..................................  Two years (746 days)......  Five years (1,842 days)..                88
Major..................................  Five years (1,842 days)...  Ten years (3,668 days)...                49
Major..................................  Ten years (3,668 days)....  30 years (10,973 days)...                37
Major..................................  30 years (10,973 days)....  .........................                15
Non-Major..............................  ..........................  46 days..................               230
Non-Major..............................  46 days...................  Three months (107 days)..               230
Non-Major..............................  Three months (107 days)...  Six months (198 days)....               150
Non-Major..............................  Six months (198 days).....  One year (381 days)......               110
Non-Major..............................  One year (381 days).......  Two years (746 days).....                54
Non-Major..............................  Two years (746 days)......  Five years (1,842 days)..                27
Non-Major..............................  Five years (1,842 days)...  Ten years (3,668 days)...                15
Non-Major..............................  Ten years (3,668 days)....  30 years (10,973 days)...                16
Non-Major..............................  30 years (10,973 days)....  .........................                15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                  Credit Swaps
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Traded tenor less than or  50% Notional (in
      Spread group (Basis Points)         Traded tenor greater than           equal to              Millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to 175..............  ..........................  Two years (746 days).....               320
Less than or equal to 175..............  Two years (746 days)......  Four years (1,477 days)..               200
Less than or equal to 175..............  Four years (1,477 days)...  Six years (2,207 days)...               110
Less than or equal to 175..............  Six years (2,207 days)....  Eight years and six                     110
                                                                      months (3,120 days).
Less than or equal to 175..............  Eight years and six months  Twelve years and six                    130
                                          (3,120 days).               months (4,581 days).
Less than or equal to 175..............  Twelve years and six        .........................                46
                                          months (4,581 days).
Greater than 175 and less than or equal  ..........................  Two years (746 days).....               140
 to 350.
Greater than 175 and less than or equal  Two years (746 days)......  Four years (1,477 days)..                82
 to 350.
Greater than 175 and less than or equal  Four years (1,477 days)...  Six years (2,207 days)...                32
 to 350.
Greater than 175 and less than or equal  Six years (2,207 days)....  Eight years and six                      20
 to 350.                                                              months (3,120 days).
Greater than 175 and less than or equal  Eight years and six months  Twelve years and six                     26
 to 350.                                  (3,120 days).               months (4,581 days).
Greater than 175 and less than or equal  Twelve years and six        .........................                63
 to 350.                                  months (4,581 days).
Greater than 350.......................  ..........................  Two years (746 days).....                66

[[Page 32943]]

 
Greater than 350.......................  Two years (746 days)......  Four years (1,477 days)..                41
Greater than 350.......................  Four years (1,477 days)...  Six years (2,207 days)...                26
Greater than 350.......................  Six years (2,207 days)....  Eight years and six                      13
                                                                      months (3,120 days).
Greater than 350.......................  Eight years and six months  Twelve years and six                     13
                                          (3,120 days).               months (4,581 days).
Greater than 350.......................  Twelve years and six        .........................                41
                                          months (4,581 days).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                 Foreign Exchange Swaps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          Super-major currencies
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      GBP (British      JPY (Japanese       USD (U.S.
                                                                                     EUR (Euro)          pound)             yen)             dollar)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super-major currencies.........................  EUR............................                           6,250,000         6,250,000        18,750,000
                                                 GBP............................        6,250,000*                           6,250,000         6,250,000
                                                 JPY............................        6,250,000*        6,250,000*                       1,875,000,000
                                                 USD............................       18,750,000*        6,250,000*    1,875,000,000*
Major currencies...............................  AUD............................        6,250,000*                 0        10,000,000        10,000,000
                                                 CAD............................        6,250,000*                 0        10,000,000        10,000,000
                                                 CHF............................        6,250,000*        6,250,000*        12,500,000        12,500,000
                                                 DKK............................                 0                 0                 0                 0
                                                 KRW............................                 0                 0                 0     6,250,000,000
                                                 SEK............................        6,250,000*                 0                 0        10,000,000
                                                 NOK............................        6,250,000*                 0                 0        10,000,000
                                                 NZD............................                 0                 0                 0         5,000,000
                                                 ZAR............................                 0                 0                 0        25,000,000
Non-major currencies...........................  BRL............................                 0                 0                 0         5,000,000
                                                 CZK............................       200,000,000                 0                 0       200,000,000
                                                 HUF............................     1,500,000,000                 0                 0     1,500,000,000
                                                 ILS............................                 0                 0                 0        50,000,000
                                                 MXN............................                 0                 0                 0        50,000,000
                                                 PLN............................        25,000,000                 0                 0        25,000,000
                                                 RMB............................        50,000,000                 0        50,000,000        50,000,000
                                                 RUB............................                 0                 0                 0       125,000,000
                                                 TRY............................        6,250,000*                 0                 0       10,000,000*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All values that do not have an asterisk are denominated in the currency of the left hand side.
All values that have an asterisk (*) are denominated in the currency indicated on the top of the table.


                                              Other Commodity Swaps
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Initial appropriate minimum
         Related futures contract                   block size                            Units
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           ............................  .......................................
AB NIT Basis (ICE).......................  62,500......................  MMBtu
Brent Crude (ICE and NYMEX)..............  25,000......................  bbl.
Cheese (CME).............................  400,000.....................  lbs.
Class III Milk (CME).....................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Cocoa (ICE and NYSE LIFFE and NYMEX).....  1,000.......................  metric tons
Coffee (ICE and NYMEX)...................  3,750,000...................  lbs.
Copper (COMEX)...........................  625,000.....................  lbs.
Corn (CBOT)..............................  NO BLOCKS...................  bushels
Cotton No. 2 (ICE and NYMEX).............  5,000,000...................  lbs.
Distillers' Dried Grain (CBOT)...........  1,000.......................  short tons
Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index (CBOT).....  30,000 times index..........  dollars
Ethanol (CBOT)...........................  290,000.....................  gallons
Feeder Cattle (CME)......................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Frost Index (CME)........................  200,000 times index.........  euros
Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (ICE)...  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Gold (COMEX and NYSE Liffe)..............  2,500.......................  troy oz.
Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI),      5,000 times index...........  dollars
 GSCI Excess Return Index (CME).
Gulf Coast Sour Crude Oil (NYMEX)........  5,000.......................  bbl.
Hard Red Spring Wheat (MGEX).............  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Hard Winter Wheat (KCBT).................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Henry Hub Natural Gas (NYMEX)............  500,000.....................  MMBtu
HSC Basis (ICE and NYMEX)................  62,500......................  MMBtu
Hurricane Index (CME)....................  20,000 times index..........  dollars
Chicago Basis (ICE and NYMEX)............  62,500......................  MMBtu

[[Page 32944]]

 
                                           ............................  .......................................
Lean Hogs (CME)..........................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Light Sweet Crude Oil (NYMEX)............  50,000......................  bbl.
Live Cattle (CME)........................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Mid-Columbia Day-Ahead Off-Peak Fixed      250.........................  MW/Hr.
 Price (ICE).
Mid-Columbia Day-Ahead Peak Fixed Price    4,000.......................  MW/Hr.
 (ICE).
New York Harbor RBOB (Blendstock)          1,050,000...................  gallons
 Gasoline (NYMEX).
New York Harbor No. 2 Heating Oil (NYMEX)  1,050,000...................  bbl.
NWP Rockies Basis (ICE and NYMEX)........  62,500......................  MMBtu
Oats (CBOT)..............................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Palladium (NYMEX)........................  1,000.......................  troy oz.
PG&E Citygate Basis (ICE and NYMEX)......  62,500......................  MMBtu
PJM Western Hub Real Time Off-Peak Fixed   3,900.......................  MW/Hr.
 Price (ICE).
PJM Western Hub Real Time Peak Fixed       8,000.......................  MW/Hr.
 Price (ICE).
Platinum (NYMEX).........................  500.........................  troy oz.
Rainfall Index (CME).....................  10,000 times index..........  dollars
Rough Rice (CBOT)........................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Silver (COMEX and NYSE Liffe)............  125,000.....................  troy oz.
Snowfall Index (CME).....................  10,000 times index..........  dollars
Socal Border Basis (ICE and NYMEX).......  62,500......................  MMBtu
Soybean (CBOT)...........................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Soybean Meal (CBOT)......................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Soybean Oil (CBOT).......................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
SP-15 Day-Ahead Peak Fixed Price (ICE)...  4,000.......................  MW/Hr.
SP-15 Day-Ahead Off-Peak Fixed Price       250.........................  MW/Hr.
 (ICE).
Sugar 11 (ICE and NYMEX)          5,000.......................  metric tons
 (futures).
Sugar 16 (ICE) (futures)........  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
Temperature Index (CME)..................  400 times index.............  currency units
U.S. Dollar Cash Settled Crude Palm Oil    250.........................  metrics tons
 (CME).
Waha Basis (ICE and NYMEX)...............  62,500......................  MMBtu
Wheat (CBOT).............................  NO BLOCKS...................  .......................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 16, 2013, by the Commission.
Christopher J. Kirkpatrick,
Deputy Secretary of the Commission.

Appendices to Procedures To Establish Appropriate Minimum Block Sizes 
for Large Notional Off-Facility Swaps and Block Trades--Commission 
Voting Summary and Statements of Commissioners

    Note:  The following appendices will not appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

Appendix 1--Commission Voting Summary

On this matter, Chairman Gensler and Commissioners Chilton and 
Wetjen voted in the affirmative; Commissioners Sommers and O'Malia 
voted in the negative.

Appendix 2--Statement of Chairman Gary Gensler

    I support the final block rule for swaps, which is critical to 
promoting transparency in this once opaque market. With this rule, 
the public will benefit from seeing the price and volume of the 
majority of swaps transactions in real time--as soon as 
technologically practicable--after a trade is executed. Further, 
with this rule the public will benefit from the competition that 
will arise as buyers and sellers must transact on transparent 
trading platforms.
    The methodology for determining block sizes is appropriately 
tailored to vary by asset class and by underlying referenced product 
or rate.
    The Commission also has established a phased-in approach for 
setting and implementing appropriate minimum block sizes. During an 
initial one-year period, block sizes in the interest rate and credit 
asset classes will be set such that 50 percent of the notional 
amount of a particular swap category will benefit from pre-trade and 
post-trade transparency. Also during this initial period, the block 
sizes for foreign exchange and other commodity asset classes will be 
based upon the block sizes that designated contract markets have set 
for economically related futures contracts.
    After the initial period, the Commission will determine block 
sizes using a methodology that relies on the data collected by swap 
data repositories. Block sizes will be set such that 67 percent of 
the notional amount of a particular swap category will benefit from 
pre-trade transparency and enhanced post-trade transparency.
    The rule also includes measures to protect the identities, 
market positions and business transactions of swap counterparties 
when their swap transactions and pricing are reported to the public.

[FR Doc. 2013-12133 Filed 5-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6351-01-P