Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend a Fee Waiver Program for Certain OTC FX Cleared-Only Products

Federal Register, Volume 79 Issue 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 2014)

Federal Register Volume 79, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 2014)

Notices

Pages 35838-35839

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2014-14657

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Release No. 34-72420; File No. SR-CME-2014-23

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend a Fee Waiver Program for Certain OTC FX Cleared-Only Products

June 18, 2014.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'' or ``Exchange Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that on June 9, 2014, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (``CME'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have been primarily prepared by CME. CME filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act,\3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \4\ thereunder, so that the proposal was effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

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1. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

   CME is proposing to extend an existing fee waiver program supporting certain CME cleared-only over-the-counter (``OTC'') foreign exchange (``FX'') products through December 31, 2014.

   The text of the proposed rule change is below. Italicized text indicates additions; bracketed text indicates deletions.

   * * * * *

   CME OTC FX Fee Waiver Program

   Program Purpose

   The purpose of this Program is to incentivize market participants to submit transaction in the OTC FX products listed below to the Clearing House for clearing. The resulting increase in volume benefits all participant segments in the market.

   Product Scope

   The following cleared only OTC FX products (``Products''):

   1. CME Cleared OTC FX--Emerging Markets

      1. USDBRL, USDCLP, USDCNY, USDCOP, USDIDR, USDINR, USDKRW, USDMYR, USDPEN, USDPHP, USDRUB, USDTWD Non-Deliverable Forwards.

      2. USDCZK, USDHUF, USDHKD, USDILS, USDMXN, USDPLN, USDSGD, USDTHB, USDTRY, USDZAR Cash-Settled Forwards.

   2. CME Cleared OTC FX--Majors

      1. AUDJPY, AUDUSD, CADJPY, EURAUD, EURCHF, EURGBP, EURJPY, EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, USDCAD, USDCHF, USDDKK, USDJPY, USDNOK, USDSEK Cash-Settled Forwards.

      Eligible Participants

      The temporary reduction in fees will be open to all market participants and will automatically be applied to any transaction in the Products submitted to the Clearing House for clearing.

      Program Term

      Start date is February 1, 2012. End date is June 30, 2014 December 31, 2014.

      Hours

      The Program will be applicable regardless of the transaction time.

      Program Incentives

      Fee Waivers. All market participants that submit transactions in the Products to the Clearing House will have their clearing fees waived.

      * * * * *

2. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

   In its filing with the Commission, CME included statements concerning the purpose and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. 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.

   1. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

      CME is registered as a derivatives clearing organization with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'') and currently offers clearing services for many different futures and swaps products. With this filing, CME proposes to make proposed changes to CME rules governing certain cleared-only OTC FX products.

      The proposed changes would extend an existing fee waiver program that applies to these OTC FX products.\5\ The only proposed changes are modifying the current June 30, 2014 termination date for the current fee waiver program to December 31, 2014.

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      \5\ See Exchange Act Release No. 34-71201 (December 30, 2013), 79 FR 688 (January 06, 2014) (SR-CME-2013-35).

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      There is no limit to the number of participants that may participate in the proposed fee waiver program; it will be open to all market participants and will be automatically applied to all transaction fees in the enumerated OTC FX products. The changes that are described in this filing are limited to fee changes for OTC FX products. The proposed changes would become effective on filing.

      The proposed fee changes are limited to CME's business as a derivatives clearing organization 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 has also certified the proposed rule changes that are the subject of this filing to the CFTC in CFTC Submission 14-216.

      CME believes the proposed rule changes are consistent with the requirements of the Exchange Act including Section 17A of the Exchange Act.\6\ More specifically, the proposed rule changes establish or change a member due, fee or other charge imposed by CME under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) \7\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \8\ thereunder. CME believes that the proposed fee change is consistent with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder and, in particular, to Section 17A(b)(3)(D),\9\ because the proposed fee changes apply equally to all market participants and therefore the proposed changes provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among participants. CME also notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct business to competing venues. As such, the proposed changes are appropriately filed pursuant to

      Page 35839

      Section 19(b)(3)(A) \10\ of the Act and paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.

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      \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.

      \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

      \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

      \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(D).

      \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

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   2. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

      CME does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any impact, or impose any burden, on competition. The proposed rule changes extend a currently operating OTC FX fee waiver program for an additional six months. These products are swaps under the exclusive jurisdiction of the CFTC, and, as such, these proposed changes do not affect the security-based swap clearing activities of CME in any way and therefore do not impose any burden on competition that is inappropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

   3. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

      CME has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments regarding this proposed rule change. CME has not received any unsolicited written comments from interested parties.

3. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

   The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) \11\ of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder.\12\ At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change 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.

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   \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

   \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

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4. Solicitation of Comments

   Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is 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-2014-23 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-2014-23. 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 change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change 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 or 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-2014-23 and should be submitted on or before July 15, 2014.

   For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\13\

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   \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

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   Kevin M. O'Neill,

   Deputy Secretary.

   FR Doc. 2014-14657 Filed 6-23-14; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 8011-01-P