Commodity Futures Trading Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On May 30, 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed modifications to part 151 of the Commission's regulations. The modifications addressed the policy for aggregation under the Commission's position limits regime for 28 exempt and agricultural commodity futures and options contracts and the physical commodity swaps that are economically equivalent to such contracts. In an Order dated September 28, 2012, the District Court for the District of Columbia vacated part 151 of the Commission's regulations. The Commission is now proposing modifications to the aggregation provisions of part 150 of the Commission's regulations that are substantially similar to the aggregation modifications proposed to part 151, except that the modifications address the policy for aggregation under the Commission's position limits regime for futures and option contracts on nine agricultural commodities set forth in part 150. Separately, the Commission is also proposing today to establish speculative position limits for the 28 exempt and agricultural commodity futures and options contracts and the physical commodity swaps that are economically equivalent to such contracts that previously had been covered by part 151 of its regulations. If both proposals are finalized, the modifications proposed here to the aggregation provisions of part 150 would apply to the position limits regimes for both the futures and option contracts on nine agricultural commodities and the 28 exempt and agricultural commodity futures and options contracts and the physical commodity swaps that are economically equivalent to such contracts. However, the Commission may determine to adopt the modifications proposed here separately from any other amendment to the position limits regime.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the ``Commission'') is issuing final rules implementing new statutory provisions enacted by Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the ``Dodd-Frank Act''). Specifically, the final rule contained herein imposes requirements on swap dealers (``SDs'') and major swap participants (``MSPs'') with respect to the treatment of collateral posted by their counterparties to margin, guarantee, or secure uncleared swaps. Additionally, the final rule includes revisions to ensure that, for purposes of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, securities held in a portfolio margining account that is a futures account or a Cleared Swaps Customer Account constitute ``customer property''; and owners of such account constitute ``customers.''

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is adopting an amendment to its regulations to clarify certain responsibilities of a swap dealer or major swap participant regarding its employees who solicit, accept or effect swaps in a clerical or ministerial capacity.

U.S. derivatives markets have experienced a fundamental transition from human-centered trading venues to highly automated and interconnected trading environments. The operational centers of modern markets now reside in a combination of automated trading systems (``ATSs'') and electronic trading platforms that can execute repetitive tasks at speeds orders of magnitude greater than any human equivalent. Traditional risk controls and safeguards that relied on human judgment and speeds, and which were appropriate to manual and/or floor-based trading environments, must be reevaluated in light of new market structures. Further, the Commission and market participants must ensure that regulatory standards and internal controls are calibrated to match both current and foreseeable market technologies and risks. This Concept Release on Risk Controls and System Safeguards for Automated Trading Environments (``Concept Release'') reflects the Commission's continuing commitment to the safety and soundness of U.S. derivatives markets in a time of rapid technological change. The Concept Release serves as a platform for cataloguing existing industry practices, determining their efficacy and implementation to date, and evaluating the need for additional measures, if any. The Commission welcomes all public comments.

On December 14, 2011, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') issued in the Federal Register an interpretation (``Interpretation'') regarding the meaning of the term ``actual delivery,'' as set forth in the Commodity Exchange Act. The Commission also requested public comment on whether the Interpretation accurately construed the statutory language. In response to the comments received, the Commission has determined to clarify its Interpretation.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is adopting final regulations pursuant to its authority under section 4(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'') allowing cooperatives meeting certain conditions to elect not to submit for clearing certain swaps that such cooperatives would otherwise be required to submit for clearing in accordance with section 2(h)(1) of the CEA.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'') is proposing amendments to its regulations to establish additional standards for compliance with the derivatives clearing organization (``DCO'') core principles set forth in Section 5b(c)(2) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'') for systemically important DCOs (``SIDCOs'') and DCOs that elect to opt-in to the SIDCO regulatory requirements (``Subpart C DCOs''). SIDCOs and Subpart C DCOs would be required to comply with the requirements applicable to all DCOs, which are set forth in the Commission's DCO regulations on compliance with core principles, to the extent those requirements are not inconsistent with the requirements of the regulations in this proposed rule. The proposed amendments include: Procedural requirements for opting in to the regulatory regime as well as substantive requirements relating to governance, financial resources, system safeguards, special default rules and procedures for uncovered losses or shortfalls, risk management, additional disclosure requirements, efficiency, and recovery and wind-down procedures. These additional requirements would also be consistent with the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures (``PFMIs'') published by the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems and the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (``CPSS-IOSCO''). In addition, the Commission is proposing certain delegation provisions and certain technical clarifications.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of June 4, 2013 (78 FR 33476). The final rule applies to the registration and operation of a new type of regulated entity named a swap execution facility, and implements provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

On January 7, 2013, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') issued a final order (``January Order'') that granted market participants temporary conditional relief from certain provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA''), as amended by Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-Frank Act'' or ``Dodd-Frank'') (and Commission regulations thereunder). The January Order expires on July 12, 2013. In this Exemptive Order (``Exemptive Order''), the Commission provides temporary conditional relief effective upon the expiration of the January Order in order to facilitate transition to the Dodd-Frank swaps regime.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued an Amended Order expanding, through mutual acceptance by international regulators, the list of Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) that can be used by registered entities and swap counterparties in complying with CFTC's swap data reporting regulations once the conditions provided in the Amended Order are fulfilled. The Amended Order revises CFTC's order of July 23, 2012, which directed all registered entities and swap counterparties required by CFTC rules to use LEIs in swap recordkeeping and swap data reporting to use LEIs provided by DTCC-SWIFT, the utility designated by the CFTC as the provider of LEIs until establishment of the global LEI system.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has submitted information collection 3038-0017, Market Surveys, to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13). The information collected pursuant to these rules is in the public interest and is necessary for market surveillance.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is adopting new rules, guidance, and acceptable practices to implement certain statutory provisions enacted by Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-Frank Act''). The final rules, guidance, and acceptable practices, which apply to the registration and operation of a new type of regulated entity named a swap execution facility (``SEF''), implement the Dodd- Frank Act's new statutory framework that, among other requirements, adds a new section 5h to the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'' or ``Act'') concerning the registration and operation of SEFs, and adds a new section 2(h)(8) to the CEA concerning the execution of swaps on SEFs.

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.