Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Physical Delivery of CLS-Eligible Foreign Currencies, 35607-35609 [2014-14539]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 120 / Monday, June 23, 2014 / Notices
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
proposed rule changes to revise
Exchange Rules related to fees and to
add a new provision regarding fee
disputes should reduce possible
confusion regarding the procedures for
establishing, invoicing and collecting
fees, dues and other charges. Since the
Exchange proposes no substantive
changes regarding fees applicable to
Members, the proposal does not impose
any burden on competition.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule
change does not: (i) Significantly affect
the protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant
burden on competition; and (iii) become
operative for 30 days after the date of
the filing, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act 10 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 11
thereunder.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
should be approved or disapproved.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
10 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give
the Commission written notice of its intent to file
the proposed rule change at least five business days
prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
change, or such shorter time as designated by the
Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this
requirement.
11 17
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17:33 Jun 20, 2014
Jkt 232001
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
MIAX–2014–27 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–MIAX–2014–27. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change;
the Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–MIAX–
2014–27 and should be submitted on or
before July 14, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.12
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–14542 Filed 6–20–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
12 17
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Fmt 4703
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–72413; File No. SR–CME–
2014–22]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.;
Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to Physical Delivery
of CLS-Eligible Foreign Currencies
June 17, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Exchange Act’’ or ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby
given that on June 9, 2014, Chicago
Mercantile Exchange Inc. (‘‘CME’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change described in Items
I and II below, which Items have been
prepared primarily by CME. CME filed
the proposal pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act,3 and Rule 19b–
4(f)(4)(ii) 4 thereunder, so that the
proposal was effective upon filing with
the Commission. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
CME is filing the proposed rule
change that is limited to its business as
a derivatives clearing organization.
More specifically, the proposed rule
change would make amendments to its
current procedures for facilitating
physical delivery of CLS-eligible foreign
currencies.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission,
CME included statements concerning
the purpose and basis for the proposed
rule change and discussed any
comments it received on the proposed
rule change. The text of these statements
may be examined at the places specified
in Item IV below. CME has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B,
and C below, of the most significant
aspects of such statements.
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(4)(ii).
2 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Sfmt 4703
35607
E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM
23JNN1
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
35608
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 120 / Monday, June 23, 2014 / Notices
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
CME is registered as a DCO with the
Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (‘‘CFTC’’) and offers
clearing services for many different
futures and swaps products. The
proposed rule change that is the subject
of this filing is limited to CME’s
business as a DCO offering clearing
services for CFTC-regulated products.
More specifically, the change is limited
to the delivery processing timelines for
CME FX futures paired delivery
contracts. As discussed below, the
proposed change, which would
facilitate continued physical delivery of
CLS-eligible foreign currencies, would
not materially affect the nature or level
of risks presented to CME and its
clearing members.
The operation and purpose of the
proposed change is as follows.
Currently, CME facilitates physical
deliveries for CLS eligible currencies
through a CME account at CLS
Settlement Member banks for the
purpose of efficiently matching CLS
instructions. To facilitate this
arrangement, CME has an agreement as
a 3rd party customer with a CLS
settlement member bank, henceforth
termed as CLS agent bank. CME
maintains accounts with two CLS agent
banks for operational redundancy. The
CLS agent bank plays an operational
role in the CLS process. CME clearing
members use their own CLS settlement
banks or affiliates to physically settle
currency deliveries within CLS.
Currently, in a failure of physical
settlement, CME would administer the
failure under current CME Rule 702.
CME would be under no obligation to
secure the failed currency; it may,
however, facilitate the purchase of the
currency for impacted clearing firm due
to the fact that the currency of the
impacted firm would be in the account
of the CME at the CLS agent bank.
Under CME rules, CME will remove any
failed transactions from the CLS
settlement process and resolve the failed
physical settlements as set out under
current CME Rule 743.B.
CME’s CLS agent banks have
expressed an intention to discontinue
providing such services to central
counterparties, such as CME, beyond
September 2014. To maintain the
orderly functioning of the CME FX
Futures market and to avoid disruption
to CME clearing members and market
participants, it is required for CME to
migrate away from the current
operational mechanism described above
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:33 Jun 20, 2014
Jkt 232001
to the ‘‘paired delivery’’ model for the
September 2014 FX delivery cycle for
CLS eligible currencies. Given the long
history of operating under the current
operational mechanism, it is important
to provide the clearing members with an
orderly migration path with an initial
pilot physical delivery for the CAD/USD
contract in the June 2014 delivery cycle.
As a result, CME is amending the
process for physical delivery of CLSeligible foreign currencies to a paired
delivery process, which is similar to
that currently used for CME’s physically
settled products in the Treasury
complex. The operation of the paired
delivery process is as follows. The
process is an assignment-based process
where clearing members with open long
and short positions at the termination of
trading on expiration of the contract
will be matched against one another in
order to facilitate the delivery. The
assignment algorithm first matches
delivery positions within a clearing
firm. The algorithm then matches
remaining positions across clearing
firms. The algorithm for matching across
clearing firms is designed to reduce the
concentration of physical settlement.
The migration to the Paired Delivery
model does not impact or change the
Clearing Member’s ability to use their
existing CLS access arrangements. The
paired delivery process simplifies the
physical delivery process and provides
more transparency and certainty in the
event of a failure in physical settlement.
The physical settlement transactions
continue to receive the same level of
guarantee as defined under CME Rule
702.
Aside from the change described
above, nothing will otherwise change
from an operational or risk perspective.
Consequently, the proposed change
does not materially affect the nature or
level of risks presented to CME and its
clearing members.
After implementation of the proposed
change, CME teams would continue to
monitor clearing members going
through delivery to assess their ability
to perform for their house and client
accounts; this is comparable to the
process currently used for Treasury
deliveries. Moreover, for FX futures,
clearing members would be able to
continue to use their existing CLS
arrangements for currency deliveries.
This is comparable to the current CME
Treasury delivery process; in that
process, clearing members are able to
utilize their own banking relationships
provided the relationship meets the
standards outlined in applicable CME
rules. Clearing members can also
continue to use the offset benefit they
currently get with the spot FX physical
PO 00000
Frm 00097
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
settlements through CLS. As noted
above, the physical settlement
transactions continue to receive the
same level of guarantee as defined
under CME Rule 702.
The removal of the CLS agent banks
from the delivery process would not
result in the reduction of liquidity from
the delivery process. Under the
agreements, CME’s CLS agent banks are
under no contractual obligation to
provide services to secure the alternate
currency.
To facilitate an orderly transition to
the new process, CME will move FX
futures currency pairings on a staggered
basis to the new paired delivery process
beginning with the CAD/USD contract
for the June 2014 FX delivery cycle.
Additional currencies will be moved to
the new process for the September 2014
and December 2014 FX delivery cycles.
The change described in this filing is
limited to CME’s business as a DCO
clearing products under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the CFTC and does not
materially impact CME’s security-based
swap or futures clearing business in any
way. The change will become effective
immediately but will be operationalized
beginning June 18, 2014 and on a
staggered basis over the next few
currency delivery cycles. CME notes
that it has also certified the proposed
rule change that is the subject of this
filing to its primary regulator, the CFTC,
in a separate filing, CME Submission
No. 14–165.
CME believes the proposed rule
change is consistent with the
requirements of the Exchange Act
including Section 17A of the Exchange
Act.5 Currently, CME facilitates physical
deliveries for CLS-eligible currencies
through a CME account at third party
banks that are members of CLS for the
purpose of efficiently matching CLS
instructions for all CLS-eligible
currencies. These banks have expressed
an intention to discontinue providing
such services to central counterparties,
such as CME, beyond September 2014.
The amendments would facilitate
physical delivery of CLS-eligible foreign
currencies by amending the process for
physical delivery of CLS-eligible foreign
currencies to an assignment based
paired delivery process where clearing
members with open long and short
positions at the end of trading on last
trade date will be matched against one
another in order to facilitate a delivery.
These proposed amendments are
designed to continue the ability to offer
physical delivery of CLS-eligible foreign
currencies and as such are designed to
promote the prompt and accurate
5 15
E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78q–1.
23JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 120 / Monday, June 23, 2014 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
clearance and settlement of securities
transactions and, to the extent
applicable, derivatives agreements,
contracts, and transactions, to assure the
safeguarding of securities and funds
which are in the custody or control of
the clearing agency or for which it is
responsible, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest
consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of
the Exchange Act.6
Furthermore, the proposed change is
limited in its effect to products offered
under CME’s authority to act as a DCO.
The products that are the subject of this
filing are under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the CFTC. As such, the
proposed CME change is limited to
CME’s activities as a DCO clearing
futures that are not security futures and
swaps that are not security-based swaps
and forwards that are not security
forwards; CME notes that the policies of
the CFTC with respect to administering
the Commodity Exchange Act are
comparable to a number of the policies
underlying the Exchange Act, such as
promoting market transparency for overthe-counter derivatives markets,
promoting the prompt and accurate
clearance of transactions and protecting
investors and the public interest.
Because the proposed change is
limited in its effect to products offered
under CME’s authority to act as a DCO,
the proposed change is properly
classified as effecting a change in an
existing service of CME that:
(a) Primarily affects the clearing
operations of CME with respect to
products that are not securities,
including futures that are not security
futures, swaps that are not securitybased swaps or mixed swaps; and
forwards that are not security forwards;
and
(b) does not significantly affect any
securities clearing operations of CME or
any rights or obligations of CME with
respect to securities clearing or persons
using such securities-clearing service.
As such, the change is therefore
consistent with the requirements of
Section 17A of the Exchange Act 7 and
is properly filed under Section
19(b)(3)(A) 8 and Rule 19b–4(f)(4)(ii) 9
thereunder.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
CME does not believe that the
proposed rule change will have any
impact, or impose any burden, on
competition. Currently, CME facilitates
6 15
U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).
U.S.C. 78q–1.
8 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
9 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(4)(ii).
physical deliveries for CLS-eligible
currencies through a CME account at
third party banks that are members of
CLS for the purpose of efficiently
matching CLS instructions for all CLSeligible currencies. These banks have
expressed an intention to discontinue
providing such services to central
counterparties, such as CME, beyond
September 2014. The amendments
would facilitate physical delivery of
CLS-eligible foreign currencies by
amending the process for physical
delivery of CLS-eligible foreign
currencies to an assignment based
paired delivery process where clearing
members with open long and short
positions at the end of trading on last
trade date will be matched against one
another in order to facilitate a delivery.
These proposed amendments are
designed to continue the ability to offer
physical delivery of CLS-eligible foreign
currencies and should not be seen to
impact competition.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
CME has not solicited, and does not
intend to solicit, comments regarding
this proposed rule change. CME has not
received any unsolicited written
comments from interested parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) 10 of the Act and Rule 19b–
4(f)(4)(ii) 11 thereunder. At any time
within 60 days of the filing of the
proposed rule change, the Commission
summarily may temporarily suspend
such rule change if it appears to the
Commission that such action is
necessary or appropriate in the public
interest, for the protection of investors,
or otherwise in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File No. SR–
CME–2014–22 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CME–2014–22. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of CME and on CME’s Web site at
https://www.cmegroup.com/marketregulation/rule-filings.html.
All comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You
should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CME–2014–22 and should
be submitted on or before July 14, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.12
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–14539 Filed 6–20–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml), or
7 15
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:33 Jun 20, 2014
10 15
11 17
Jkt 232001
PO 00000
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(4)(ii).
Frm 00098
Fmt 4703
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35609
12 17
E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
23JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35607-35609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14539]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-72413; File No. SR-CME-2014-22]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.;
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change
Relating to Physical Delivery of CLS-Eligible Foreign Currencies
June 17, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Exchange Act'' or ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice
is hereby given that on June 9, 2014, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.
(``CME'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared primarily by CME. CME filed the
proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act,\3\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(4)(ii) \4\ thereunder, so that the proposal was effective upon
filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
CME is filing the proposed rule change that is limited to its
business as a derivatives clearing organization. More specifically, the
proposed rule change would make amendments to its current procedures
for facilitating physical delivery of CLS-eligible foreign currencies.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, CME included statements
concerning the purpose and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. CME has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B,
and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
[[Page 35608]]
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
CME is registered as a DCO with the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (``CFTC'') and offers clearing services for many different
futures and swaps products. The proposed rule change that is the
subject of this filing is limited to CME's business as a DCO offering
clearing services for CFTC-regulated products. More specifically, the
change is limited to the delivery processing timelines for CME FX
futures paired delivery contracts. As discussed below, the proposed
change, which would facilitate continued physical delivery of CLS-
eligible foreign currencies, would not materially affect the nature or
level of risks presented to CME and its clearing members.
The operation and purpose of the proposed change is as follows.
Currently, CME facilitates physical deliveries for CLS eligible
currencies through a CME account at CLS Settlement Member banks for the
purpose of efficiently matching CLS instructions. To facilitate this
arrangement, CME has an agreement as a 3rd party customer with a CLS
settlement member bank, henceforth termed as CLS agent bank. CME
maintains accounts with two CLS agent banks for operational redundancy.
The CLS agent bank plays an operational role in the CLS process. CME
clearing members use their own CLS settlement banks or affiliates to
physically settle currency deliveries within CLS.
Currently, in a failure of physical settlement, CME would
administer the failure under current CME Rule 702. CME would be under
no obligation to secure the failed currency; it may, however,
facilitate the purchase of the currency for impacted clearing firm due
to the fact that the currency of the impacted firm would be in the
account of the CME at the CLS agent bank. Under CME rules, CME will
remove any failed transactions from the CLS settlement process and
resolve the failed physical settlements as set out under current CME
Rule 743.B.
CME's CLS agent banks have expressed an intention to discontinue
providing such services to central counterparties, such as CME, beyond
September 2014. To maintain the orderly functioning of the CME FX
Futures market and to avoid disruption to CME clearing members and
market participants, it is required for CME to migrate away from the
current operational mechanism described above to the ``paired
delivery'' model for the September 2014 FX delivery cycle for CLS
eligible currencies. Given the long history of operating under the
current operational mechanism, it is important to provide the clearing
members with an orderly migration path with an initial pilot physical
delivery for the CAD/USD contract in the June 2014 delivery cycle.
As a result, CME is amending the process for physical delivery of
CLS-eligible foreign currencies to a paired delivery process, which is
similar to that currently used for CME's physically settled products in
the Treasury complex. The operation of the paired delivery process is
as follows. The process is an assignment-based process where clearing
members with open long and short positions at the termination of
trading on expiration of the contract will be matched against one
another in order to facilitate the delivery. The assignment algorithm
first matches delivery positions within a clearing firm. The algorithm
then matches remaining positions across clearing firms. The algorithm
for matching across clearing firms is designed to reduce the
concentration of physical settlement. The migration to the Paired
Delivery model does not impact or change the Clearing Member's ability
to use their existing CLS access arrangements. The paired delivery
process simplifies the physical delivery process and provides more
transparency and certainty in the event of a failure in physical
settlement. The physical settlement transactions continue to receive
the same level of guarantee as defined under CME Rule 702.
Aside from the change described above, nothing will otherwise
change from an operational or risk perspective. Consequently, the
proposed change does not materially affect the nature or level of risks
presented to CME and its clearing members.
After implementation of the proposed change, CME teams would
continue to monitor clearing members going through delivery to assess
their ability to perform for their house and client accounts; this is
comparable to the process currently used for Treasury deliveries.
Moreover, for FX futures, clearing members would be able to continue to
use their existing CLS arrangements for currency deliveries. This is
comparable to the current CME Treasury delivery process; in that
process, clearing members are able to utilize their own banking
relationships provided the relationship meets the standards outlined in
applicable CME rules. Clearing members can also continue to use the
offset benefit they currently get with the spot FX physical settlements
through CLS. As noted above, the physical settlement transactions
continue to receive the same level of guarantee as defined under CME
Rule 702.
The removal of the CLS agent banks from the delivery process would
not result in the reduction of liquidity from the delivery process.
Under the agreements, CME's CLS agent banks are under no contractual
obligation to provide services to secure the alternate currency.
To facilitate an orderly transition to the new process, CME will
move FX futures currency pairings on a staggered basis to the new
paired delivery process beginning with the CAD/USD contract for the
June 2014 FX delivery cycle. Additional currencies will be moved to the
new process for the September 2014 and December 2014 FX delivery
cycles.
The change described in this filing is limited to CME's business as
a DCO clearing products under the exclusive jurisdiction of the CFTC
and does not materially impact CME's security-based swap or futures
clearing business in any way. The change will become effective
immediately but will be operationalized beginning June 18, 2014 and on
a staggered basis over the next few currency delivery cycles. CME notes
that it has also certified the proposed rule change that is the subject
of this filing to its primary regulator, the CFTC, in a separate
filing, CME Submission No. 14-165.
CME believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the
requirements of the Exchange Act including Section 17A of the Exchange
Act.\5\ Currently, CME facilitates physical deliveries for CLS-eligible
currencies through a CME account at third party banks that are members
of CLS for the purpose of efficiently matching CLS instructions for all
CLS-eligible currencies. These banks have expressed an intention to
discontinue providing such services to central counterparties, such as
CME, beyond September 2014. The amendments would facilitate physical
delivery of CLS-eligible foreign currencies by amending the process for
physical delivery of CLS-eligible foreign currencies to an assignment
based paired delivery process where clearing members with open long and
short positions at the end of trading on last trade date will be
matched against one another in order to facilitate a delivery. These
proposed amendments are designed to continue the ability to offer
physical delivery of CLS-eligible foreign currencies and as such are
designed to promote the prompt and accurate
[[Page 35609]]
clearance and settlement of securities transactions and, to the extent
applicable, derivatives agreements, contracts, and transactions, to
assure the safeguarding of securities and funds which are in the
custody or control of the clearing agency or for which it is
responsible, and, in general, to protect investors and the public
interest consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Exchange Act.\6\
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\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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Furthermore, the proposed change is limited in its effect to
products offered under CME's authority to act as a DCO. The products
that are the subject of this filing are under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the CFTC. As such, the proposed CME change is limited
to CME's activities as a DCO clearing futures that are not security
futures and swaps that are not security-based swaps and forwards that
are not security forwards; CME notes that the policies of the CFTC with
respect to administering the Commodity Exchange Act are comparable to a
number of the policies underlying the Exchange Act, such as promoting
market transparency for over-the-counter derivatives markets, promoting
the prompt and accurate clearance of transactions and protecting
investors and the public interest.
Because the proposed change is limited in its effect to products
offered under CME's authority to act as a DCO, the proposed change is
properly classified as effecting a change in an existing service of CME
that:
(a) Primarily affects the clearing operations of CME with respect
to products that are not securities, including futures that are not
security futures, swaps that are not security-based swaps or mixed
swaps; and forwards that are not security forwards; and
(b) does not significantly affect any securities clearing
operations of CME or any rights or obligations of CME with respect to
securities clearing or persons using such securities-clearing service.
As such, the change is therefore consistent with the requirements of
Section 17A of the Exchange Act \7\ and is properly filed under Section
19(b)(3)(A) \8\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(ii) \9\ thereunder.
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\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4)(ii).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
CME does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any
impact, or impose any burden, on competition. Currently, CME
facilitates physical deliveries for CLS-eligible currencies through a
CME account at third party banks that are members of CLS for the
purpose of efficiently matching CLS instructions for all CLS-eligible
currencies. These banks have expressed an intention to discontinue
providing such services to central counterparties, such as CME, beyond
September 2014. The amendments would facilitate physical delivery of
CLS-eligible foreign currencies by amending the process for physical
delivery of CLS-eligible foreign currencies to an assignment based
paired delivery process where clearing members with open long and short
positions at the end of trading on last trade date will be matched
against one another in order to facilitate a delivery. These proposed
amendments are designed to continue the ability to offer physical
delivery of CLS-eligible foreign currencies and should not be seen to
impact competition.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
CME has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments
regarding this proposed rule change. CME has not received any
unsolicited written comments from interested parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) \10\ of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(ii) \11\ thereunder.
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change,
the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it
appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate
in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4)(ii).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml), or
Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File No. SR-CME-2014-22 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CME-2014-22. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available
for inspection and copying at the principal office of CME and on CME's
Web site at https://www.cmegroup.com/market-regulation/rule-filings.html.
All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission
does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You
should submit only information that you wish to make available
publicly.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CME-2014-22 and
should be submitted on or before July 14, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
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\12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-14539 Filed 6-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P