Federal Register, Volume 76 Issue 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14826-14827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6399]
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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
17 CFR Chapter I
RIN 3038-AD26
Antidisruptive Practices Authority
AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; notice of termination.
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SUMMARY: On November 2, 2010, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(``Commission'') issued in the Federal Register an advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (``ANPR''). In this ANPR, the Commission requested
public comment to assist it with promulgating rules and regulations to
implement the disruptive practices set forth in section 4c(a) of the
Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA''), as amended by section 747 of the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-Frank
Act''). After considering the comments that were submitted in response
to the ANPR, the Commission decided not to issue any regulations at
this time relating to new section 4c(a). Instead, the Commission is
publishing today elsewhere in the Federal Register a proposed order
interpreting new section 4c(a)(5). The Commission is also terminating
the ANPR issued on November 2, 2010.
DATES: Effective March 18, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Pease, Counsel to the Director
of Enforcement, 202-418-5863, [email protected]; Steven E. Seitz,
Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, 202-418-5615, [email protected];
or Mark D. Higgins, Counsel to the Director of Enforcement, 202-418-
5864, [email protected], Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three
Lafayette Centre, 1151 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed the
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. The
legislation was enacted to reduce risk, increase transparency, and
promote market integrity within the financial system by, among other
things: (1) Providing for the registration and comprehensive regulation
of swap dealers and major swap participants; (2) imposing 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. Section 747 of the Dodd-Frank
Act amends section 4c(a) of the CEA to add a new section entitled
``Disruptive Practices.''
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\1\ See Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act, Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010). The text of the
Dodd-Frank Act may be accessed at http://www.cftc.gov./
LawRegulation/OTCDERIVATIVES/index.htm.
\2\ Pursuant to Section 701 of the Dodd-Frank Act, Title VII may
be cited as the ``Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of
2010.''
\3\ 7 U.S.C. 1 et seq. (2006).
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[[Page 14827]]
New section 4c(a) expressly prohibits certain trading practices
that are disruptive of fair and equitable trading. New section 4c(a) of
the CEA makes it unlawful for any person to engage in any trading,
practice, or conduct on or subject to the rules of a registered entity
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that--
(A) Violates bids or offers;
(B) Demonstrates intentional or reckless disregard for the orderly
execution of transactions during the closing period; or
(C) Is, is of the character of, or is commonly known to the trade
as, ``spoofing'' (bidding or offering with the intent to cancel the
bid or offer before execution).
Section 747 of the Dodd-Frank Act also amended section 4c(a) by
granting the Commission authority to promulgate such ``rules and
regulations as, in the judgment of the Commission, are reasonably
necessary to prohibit the trading practices'' enumerated in section 747
``and any other trading practice that is disruptive of fair and
equitable trading.'' The prohibition on the disruptive practices
specified in new section 4c(a) will become effective 360 days after the
enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act.
On November 2, 2010, the Commission issued an ANPR inviting public
comment on all aspects of section 747 of the Dodd-Frank Act.\4\ After
reviewing the ANPR comments that were submitted, the Commission
determined that it should address the disruptive practices by issuing a
proposed order interpreting new CEA section 4c(a). Accordingly, this
document terminates the ANPR issued on November 2, 2010. The proposed
interpretive order referenced above, which incorporates the ANPR
comments, is being published today elsewhere in the notice section of
the Federal Register.
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\4\ Anti-Disruptive Trading Practices Authority Contained in the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 75 FR
211, Nov. 2, 2010.
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This proposed interpretive order will provide market participants
and the public with guidance on the scope of the three statutory
disruptive practices set forth in new CEA section 4c(a).
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 14, 2011, by the Commission.
David A. Stawick,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2011-6399 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6351-01-P
Last Updated: March 18, 2011