2011-6399

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, rpease@cftc.gov; Steven E. Seitz,

Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, 202-418-5615, sseitz@cftc.gov;

or Mark D. Higgins, Counsel to the Director of Enforcement, 202-418-

5864, mhiggins@cftc.gov, 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