Statement of Support – Adaptation of Regulations to Incorporate Swaps – Records of Transactions
Chairman Gary Gensler
December 17, 2012
I support the final rule to amend 1.31 and 1.35(a) of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) regulations to conform them to recordkeeping requirements for swap dealers and major swap participants. The rule enhances the Commission’s enforcement program for the futures market to promote market integrity and protect customers.
These conforming amendments integrate the CFTC’s regulations with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), which expanded the scope of the Commodity Exchange Act to include swaps.
As proposed, the rule would have required members of a designated contract market (DCM) or swap execution facility (SEF) to record all oral communications that lead to the execution of a transaction in a cash commodity. The Commission received numerous comments about the effect of such a requirement on members of the agricultural community that trade in cash commodities and are not required to be registered with the Commission other than, in some cases, as floor traders.
In consideration of comments, the Commission adopted modifications that preserve the rule’s purpose without adversely affecting the agricultural community. Only those oral communications that lead to a transaction in a commodity interest (i.e. a commodity futures contract, commodity option contract, foreign exchange contract, or swap) will have to be recorded. Furthermore, only FCMs, certain introducing brokers (IBs), retail foreign exchange dealers (RFEDs), and those members of a DCM or SEF who are registered or required to be registered with the Commission (except for floor traders, commodity pool operators, swap dealers, major swap participants, and floor brokers who trade for themselves) will have to record oral communications.
Market participants that must comply will be required to record communications relating to: quotes, solicitations, bids, offers, instructions, trading, and prices that lead to the execution of a transaction in a commodity interest. Methods of communication that fall under the rule include telephone, voicemail, facsimile, instant messaging, electronic mail, mobile device, or other digital or electronic media. Thus, the rulemaking also clarifies that the existing requirement under regulation 1.35(a) to keep written records applies to electronic written communications, such as emails and instant messages. Records of oral communications must be kept for one year.
The rule will make enforcement investigations more efficient by preserving critical evidence that otherwise may be lost to memory lapses and inconsistent recollections. The Commission will have access to evidence of fraud and market manipulation, which is expected to increase the success of enforcement actions for the benefit customers, market participants and the markets. Moreover, it also will protect customers from abusive sales practices, lower the risk of transactional disputes and allow registrants to follow-up more effectively on customer complaints.
Last Updated: December 17, 2012