Release: 5404-07

For Release: October 24, 2007

CFTC Amends Commission Recordkeeping Rule to Improve Market Oversight

Washington, DC – Today, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced a final recordkeeping rule amendment that will enhance the Commission’s ability to deter and prevent market manipulation, while also helping to prevent systemic risk.

The Commission amended Regulation 18.05 to clarify:

1. that traders holding reportable positions are required to keep information relating to those positions – including information regarding positions and transactions held or executed outside the regulated market – and to provide that information to the Commission upon request;

2. what constitutes hedging activity with respect to a reportable position.

“This clarification will bring added transparency. It also serves as an important complement to the CFTC’s report released to Congress today recommending an increase in the oversight of some trading activity on electronic trading facilities know as Exempt Commercial Markets,” said CFTC Acting Chairman Walt Lukken.

The amendments will be published in the Federal Register soon, and will become effective 30 days after publication. Copies may be obtained by contacting the Commission’s Office of the Secretariat, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20581, 202-418-5100 or by accessing the Commission’s website, www.cftc.gov.

Media Contacts
Ianthe Zabel
202-418-5080

R. David Gary
202-418-5085

Last Updated: October 24, 2007