The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Divisions of Market Oversight (DMO), Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (DSIO), and Clearing and Risk (DCR) (together, the Divisions) issued CFTC Letter 20-17 to remind Designated Contract Markets (DCMs), Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) and Derivatives Clearing Organizations (DCOs) of their obligations to prepare for extreme market volatility, low liquidity and possibly negative pricing for certain contracts. The Divisions issued the advisory in light of unusually high volatility and negative pricing experienced in the May 2020 West Texas Intermediate (WTI), Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures contract on April 20 (the penultimate day of trading and expiration of the contract), although the guidance also applies to trading in other commodities.
Continue Reading CFTC Staff Issues Advisory Addressing Current Market Conditions

At the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) open meeting on April 14, the CFTC unanimously approved proposed amendments to Part 190 of its rules governing bankruptcy proceedings of commodity brokers, including futures commission merchants (FCMs) and derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs). The proposed amendments are intended to comprehensively update Part 190 to reflect current market practices. Among other revisions, the proposed amendments to Part 190 would:
Continue Reading CFTC Approves Proposed Amendments to Its Bankruptcy Rules

On February 20, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) unanimously approved two proposed rules to revise its regulations relating to swap data reporting, dissemination and public reporting requirements for market participants.
Continue Reading CFTC Approves Revisions to Swap Data Reporting, Dissemination and Public Reporting Requirements for Market Participants

On September 13, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced the extension of the public comment periods for two rule proposals. First, the CFTC announced that it will extend the comment period from September 17 to November 18 for the proposed alternative compliance framework for derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs) organized outside of the United States that do not pose substantial risk to the US financial system (Alternative Compliance Framework Proposal). Under the Alternative Compliance Framework Proposal, these DCOs would be able to register with the CFTC, yet comply with the core principles applicable to DCOs in the Commodity Exchange Act through their compliance with the regulatory regime of their home country, subject to certain conditions and limitations.
Continue Reading CFTC Extends Public Comment Period for Proposed Rules Pertaining to Cross-Border Clearing

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has published for comment two proposals intended to reduce the regulatory obligations that certain non-US clearing organizations would otherwise be subject. In accordance with section 5b(a) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), it is unlawful for any clearing organization to clear swaps on behalf of US persons unless that clearing organization is registered with the CFTC as a derivatives clearing organization (DCO). However, CEA section 5b(h) authorizes the CFTC to exempt from registration any non-US clearing organization that is “subject to comparable, comprehensive supervision and regulation” by its home country regulator. In the exercise of this latter authority, the CFTC has proposed to permit those non-US clearing organizations that the CFTC determines do not pose a substantial risk to the US financial system to elect either 1) registration as a DCO with alternative compliance obligations; or 2) an exemption from registration altogether.
Continue Reading CFTC Proposes Amendments to Reduce Regulatory Obligations on Certain Non-US Clearing Organizations

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued an order granting registration as a derivatives clearing organization (DCO) to Eris Clearing, LLC. The order permits Eris Clearing to clear fully collateralized virtual currency futures contracts. These contracts will be listed for trading on Eris Clearing’s affiliate, Eris Exchange, LLC.
Continue Reading CFTC Grants DCO Registration to Eris Clearing

On June 25, 2019, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced that it had approved the application of LedgerX LLC (LedgerX) for designation as a contract market under Section 5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and Part 38 of the CFTC’s regulations. LedgerX has been registered with the CFTC as a swap execution facility and

On April 29, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission proposed a series of amendments to regulations that apply to derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs) under Part 39 of the CFTC’s regulations, which implements the statutory core principles for DCOs (Rule Proposal). The Rule Proposal is intended, among other things, to streamline the DCO registration and reporting process,

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission will host an open meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, at which it expects to cover the following topics:

  1. notice of proposed rulemaking regarding amendments to regulations on certain swap data depository and swap data reporting requirements;
  2. notice of proposed rulemaking regarding amendments to derivatives clearing organization general