Commodity Futures Trading Commission November 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is amending Commission regulations to require introducing brokers (``IBs'') submitting CFTC financial Forms 1-FR-IB that are certified by independent public accountants to file such financial reports electronically with the National Futures Association (``NFA''). The amendments also require that certified Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single Reports (``FOCUS'' Reports), submitted by IBs registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'') as securities brokers or dealers (``B/Ds'') in lieu of Form 1-FR-IB, be filed either electronically or in paper form in accordance with the rules of the NFA. The CFTC also is amending Commission regulations to require that, with respect to any such electronic filing, a paper copy including the original signed certification be maintained by the IB in its records for a period of five years in accordance with Commission Regulation 1.31.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is issuing a Statement of Policy that affirms the use of the no-action process to permit foreign boards of trade to provide direct access to their electronic trading systems to U.S. members or authorized participants, and provides additional guidance and procedural enhancements.\1\