On June 21, 2019, the SEC adopted security-based swap (SBS) capital, margin and segregation requirements (the SEC Rules) for SBS dealers (SBSDs) and major SBS participants, revised the capital and segregation requirements for broker-dealers that are not SBSDs to the extent they engage in SBS
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Meghan E. King
Ms. King is an associate in Davis Polk's Financial Institutions Group and the trading and markets practice. [Full Bio]
CFTC Chairman Giancarlo’s White Paper Outlines Specific Recommendations to Cross-Border Swaps Regulation
After a several-year pause, the CFTC is again re-assessing its approach to cross-border regulation of swap activities. The CFTC’s current approach is embodied in various rulemakings, guidance, orders, and agreements with non-U.S. regulators that have been adopted, issued, and entered into since 2013. The CFTC has, over the past several…
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CFTC Adopts Final Rule Amendments Simplifying CCO Duties and Annual Report Rules for FCMs, Swap Dealers and MSPs
The CFTC unanimously approved Final Rule amendments on August 21, 2018 to the regulations governing chief compliance officer (“CCO”) duties and annual compliance reporting requirements for FCMs, swap dealers and MSPs (“Registrants”). These amendments are the first substantive rule amendments to be adopted under Chairman Giancarlo’s…
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Public Memorandum: CFTC Proposes Maintaining Swap Dealer De Minimis Registration Threshold at $8 Billion with Expanded Exceptions
Our public memorandum here describes the notice of proposed rulemaking published by the CFTC on June 12, 2018 that would make permanent the $8 billion temporary swap dealer de minimis registration threshold currently in effect and would make other changes to the de minimis exception.
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CFTC Chairman Giancarlo’s White Paper on Swap Regulation Reform Envisions Near-Term Changes and Longer-Term Enhancements
CFTC Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo and CFTC Chief Economist Bruce Tuckman released a White Paper on April 26, 2018 that reflects the authors’ personal views on the need for swaps regulatory reforms in the United States in five key areas:
- swap execution on swap execution facilities (“SEFs”);
- trade
SEC Proposes Equity Market Study: Beginning of the End for the Maker-Taker Model?
In the first major trading and markets initiative under SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, on March 14, 2018, the SEC proposed to establish a transaction fee pilot program to study the effects of maker-taker fee structures. A pilot study was initially recommended by the SEC’s Equity Market Structure Advisory Committee in…
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The CAT is Peeking Out of the Bag
In a move that took some by surprise, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton on Tuesday rejected requests from the SROs to delay the implementation of the Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”), despite the SROs’ cybersecurity concerns and indications that the CAT is not yet operationally ready. Thus, the first phase of CAT…
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CFTC Chairman Requests Additional Year to Evaluate the Swap Dealer De Minimis Threshold
CFTC Chairman Giancarlo testified this morning that he intends to delay for an additional year a decision on whether to modify the currently effective swap dealer de minimis registration threshold of $8 billion notional of dealing swaps.[1] This request follows on the heels of a recommendation by the U.S. Treasury,…
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Security Concerns Prompt Questions Regarding Whether the SEC Should Delay the CAT
In the wake of a highly-publicized cybersecurity breach involving the SEC’s EDGAR system, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton has been in the hot seat at recent congressional hearings, fielding pointed questions as to whether the SEC should delay implementation of the Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”). The SEC has not announced a…
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Key Takeaways from CFTC Enforcement Director’s Speech and Q&A on Self-Reporting
There has been significant attention to the first major policy speech by the CFTC’s newly-minted Enforcement Division Director, James McDonald on September 25, 2017. Mr. McDonald’s speech outlined the Enforcement Division’s updated approach to self-reporting and cooperation, as described in an enforcement advisory update issued to coincide with his speech…
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