Release: 4727-02
For Release: December 12, 2002

CFTC Extends Comment Period on Rule Amendment Providing Flexibility for Banks, Mutual Funds, Pension Plans, and Insurance Companies that Want to Use Single-Stock Futures

Washington, D.C. -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has extended to January 13, 2003, the comment period on its proposed amendment to Rule 4.5 that would permit registered investment companies, insurance company separate accounts, bank trust funds, ERISA pension plans, and similar otherwise regulated entities to trade commodity interests with notional values not exceeding the liquidation value of their portfolios.

The proposed amendment was published in the Federal Register on October 28, 2002, at 67 Fed. Reg. 65743, and it was announced in CFTC Press Release 4718-02.

Copies of the Commission’s proposal, which includes an embedded registration no-action position pending final action on the proposed amendment, can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretariat, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21^st Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20581, (202) 418-5100, or by accessing the Commission's website at www.cftc.gov.