79 FR 61 pgs. 18107-18108 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Acceptance of a New Series of Credit Default Swap Index Product
Type: NOTICEVolume: 79Number: 61Pages: 18107 - 18108
Pages: 18107, 18108Docket number: [Release No. 34-71799; File No. SR-CME-2014-09]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2014-07042 Filed 3-28-14; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-71799; File No. SR-CME-2014-09]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Acceptance of a New Series of Credit Default Swap Index Product
March 25, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act" or "Act"),1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2notice is hereby given that on March 14, 2014, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. ("CME") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") the proposed rule changes described in Items I and II below, which Items have been primarily prepared by CME. CME filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act3and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(ii)4thereunder so that the proposal was effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule changes from interested persons.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
4 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4)(ii).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Changes
CME is filing proposed rule changes that are limited to its business as a derivatives clearing organization. More specifically, the proposed rule changes involve CME's acceptance of a new credit default swap index product series.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Changes
In its filing with the Commission, CME included statements concerning the purpose and basis for the proposed rule changes and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule changes. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. CME has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Changes
CME is registered as a DCO with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and offers clearing services for many different futures and swaps products, including certain credit default swap index products. Currently, CME offers clearing of the Markit CDX North American Investment Grade Index Series 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. CME also offers clearing of the Markit CDX North American High Yield Index Series 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21.
The proposed rule changes would expand CME's Markit CDX North American Investment Grade ("CDX IG") Index and Markit CDX North American High Yield ("CDX HY") Index product offerings by incorporating the upcoming Series 22 for both sets of index products.
In addition to the changes to expand CME's CDX offering, CME also proposes to remove from the current list of accepted CDX indices certain products whose termination dates have passed. These products are set forth in the following table:
| CDX Index | Series | Termination date (scheduled termination date) |
|---|---|---|
| CDX North American Investment Grade (CDX.NA.IG) | 11 | 20 Dec 2013. |
| CDX North American Investment Grade (CDX.NA.IG) | 15 | 20 Dec 2013. |
| CDX North American High Yield (CDX.NA.HY) | 11 | 20 Dec 2013. |
Although these changes will be effective on filing, CME plans to operationalize the proposed changes as follows: CDX IG 22 will become available for clearing on March 20, 2014; CDX HY 22 will become available for clearing on March 27, 2014; the product deletions will be effective immediately.
The changes that are described in this filing are limited to CME's business as a DCO clearing products under the exclusive jurisdiction of the CFTC and do not materially impact CME's security-based swap clearing business in any way. CME notes that it has also certified the proposed rule changes that are the subject of this filing to its primary regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), in a separate filing, CME Submission 14-066.
CME believes the proposed rule changes are consistent with the requirements of the Exchange Act including Section 17A of the Exchange Act.5The proposed rule changes would expand CME's CDX IG and CDX HY product offerings by incorporating the upcoming Series 22 for both sets of index products and would therefore provide investors with an expanded range of derivatives products for clearing (and would also remove certain products whose termination dates have passed). As such, the proposed changes are designed to promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions and, to the extent applicable, derivatives agreements, contracts, and transactions, to assure the safeguarding of securities and funds which are in the custody or control of the clearing agency or for which it is responsible, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Exchange Act.6
Footnotes:
5 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
6 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
Furthermore, the proposed changes are limited in their effect to swaps products offered under CME's authority to act as a DCO. These products are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the CFTC. As such, the proposed CME changes are limited to CME's activities as a DCO clearing swaps that are not security-based swaps; CME notes that the policies of the CFTC with respect to administering the Commodity Exchange Act are comparable to a number of the policies underlying the Exchange Act, such as promoting market transparency for over-the-counter derivatives markets, promoting the prompt and accurate clearance of transactions and protecting investors and the public interest.
[top] Because the proposed changes are limited in their effect to swaps products
(a) primarily affects the clearing operations of CME with respect to products that are not securities, including futures that are not security futures, and swaps that are not security-based swaps or mixed swaps; and
(b) does not significantly affect any securities clearing operations of CME or any rights or obligations of CME with respect to securities clearing or persons using such securities-clearing service.
As such, the changes are therefore consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Exchange Act7and are properly filed under Section 19(b)(3)(A)8and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(ii)9thereunder.
Footnotes:
7 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
8 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
9 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4)(ii).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
CME does not believe that the proposed rule changes will have any impact, or impose any burden, on competition. The rule changes simply facilitate the offering of two new series of credit default swap index products.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Changes Received From Members, Participants, or Others
CME has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments regarding the proposed rule changes. CME has not received any unsolicited written comments from interested parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Changes and Timing for Commission Action
The foregoing rule changes has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)10of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(ii)11thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule changes, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule changes if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Footnotes:
10 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
11 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4)(ii).
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule changes are consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission's Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ), or
• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File No. SR-CME-2014-09 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CME-2014-09. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule changes that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule changes between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of CME and on CME's Web site at http://www.cmegroup.com/market-regulation/rule-filings.html.
All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CME-2014-09 and should be submitted on or before April 21, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.12
Footnotes:
12 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-07042 Filed 3-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P