[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47007-47008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23937]


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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION


Chicago Mercantile Exchange: Proposed Amendments to the Cash 
Settlement Provisions of the CME Russian Ruble Futures Contract

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed amendments to the terms and 
conditions of commodity futures contract.

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SUMMARY: The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME or Exchange) has 
submitted proposed amendments related to the cash settlement provisions 
of its Russian Ruble futures contract. If the Moscow Interbank Currency 
Exchange (MICEX) did not determine and/or disseminate a rubles per 
dollar spot exchange rate on the last day of trading, then, under the 
proposal, the CME would set the cash settlement price based on the 
results of its survey of Russian ruble-US dollar interbank market 
participants used to determine the ruble/dollar exchange rate on that 
day. The Director of the Division of Economic Analysis (Division) of 
the Commission, acting pursuant to the authority delegated by 
Commission Regulation 140.96, has determined that publication of the 
proposals for comment is in the public interest, will assist the 
Commission in considering the views of interested persons, and is 
consistent with the purpose of the Commodity Exchange Act.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit their views and comments to 
Jean A. Webb, Secretary, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three 
Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20581. In 
addition, comments may be sent by facsimile transmission to facsimile 
number (202) 418-5521, or by electronic mail to [email protected]. 
Reference should be made to the amendments to the CME Russian Ruble 
futures contract.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please contact Thomas Leahy of the Division of Economic Analysis, 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st 
Street NW, Washington, 20581, telephone (202) 418-5278. Facsimile 
number: (202) 418-5527. Electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under current rules for the CME ruble 
futures contract, the cash settlement price is the reciprocal of the 
spot rate of Russian rubles per US dollar determined by the Moscow 
Interbank Currency Exchange on the last day of trading. In the event 
that MICEX does not determine and/or disseminate that spot exchange 
rate, CME rules provide for the declaration of an emergency pursuant to 
existing Exchange rule 3025.J.
    To preclude an emergency declaration, the Exchange proposes to 
adopt in its rules, backup procedures that would be used if the MICEX 
does not determine and/or disseminate the spot rate of Russian rubles 
per US dollar on the last trading day of the subject contract. The 
backup cash settlement price would be based on the exchange rate 
derived from the CME's daily survey of banks. The daily CME survey was 
initiated on August 28, 1998.
    The daily CME survey is conducted as follows. The CME surveys eight 
reference institutions from a list of at least twelve institutions that 
are active participants in the market for spot and/or non-deliverable 
forward markets. At 11:00 a.m. (Moscow time), each randomly selected 
participant is asked for its perception of the prevailing bid and offer 
for a typically sized Russian ruble per US dollar spot transaction in 
the Moscow marketplace. The midpoint of each bid/offer pair is 
determined, and the highest two and the lowest two midpoints are 
eliminated. The remaining four midpoints are averaged and the 
reciprocal of that average is the daily rate, which could be used as 
the final settlement price, as noted above.
    If the CME is unable to obtain eight responses, but is able to 
obtain at least five responses, then the CME determines the midpoints 
of each bid/offer pair and eliminates the highest and the lowest 
midpoint and average the remaining midpoints. The daily rate, that may 
be the final settlement price, is the reciprocal of that average. If 
fewer than five responses are received, then the CME would invoke its 
emergency provisions.
    The CME proposes to implement the changes to the proposed 
amendments to the cash settlement provisions immediately upon 
Commission approval for application to all existing and newly listed 
contracts. The first contract month to which the amendments could apply 
is the September 1998 contract which expires on September 15, 1998.
    The Division requests comment on the proposed changes and 
implementation plan. The comment period is abbreviated in view of the 
short time period remaining to the expiration date of the September 
contract and in view of the recent suspension by MICEX of its daily 
fixing of the rubles per dollar exchange rate.
    Copies of the proposed amendments will be available for inspection 
at the Office of the Secretariat, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 
Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20581. 
Copies of the terms and conditions can be obtained through the Office 
of the Secretariat by mail at the above address or by phone at (202) 
418-5097.
    Other materials submitted by the CME may be available upon request 
pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the 
Commission's regulations thereunder (17 C.F.R. Part 145 (1987)), except 
to the extent they are entitled to confidential treatment as set forth 
in 17 C.F.R. 145.5 and 145.9. Requests for copies of such materials 
should be made to the FOI, Privacy and Sunshine Act Compliance Staff of 
the Office of the Secretariat at the Commission's headquarters in 
accordance with 17 C.F.R. 145.7 and 145.8.
    Any person interested in submitting written data, views, or 
arguments on the proposed amendments, or with respect to other 
materials submitted by the CME, should send such comments to Jean A. 
Webb, Secretary, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three

[[Page 47008]]

Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st St., NW, Washington, DC 20581 by the 
specified date.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 1, 1998.
Steven Manaster,
Director.
[FR Doc. 98-23937 Filed 9-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6351-01-M