[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30513]


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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

17 CFR Parts 34 and 35


Concept Release Concerning Over-the-Counter Derivatives

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION: Concept release; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: On May 12, 1998, the Commission issued a concept release 
reexamining its approach to the over-the-counter derivatives market. 
The Commission has decided to withdraw the concept release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean A. Webb, Secretary of the 
Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette 
Center, 1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20581, (202) 418-5100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
issued a concept release concerning over-the-counter derivatives on May 
12, 1998 (63 FR 26114). In light of the comments received, the 
Commission has determined to withdraw the concept release from further 
consideration.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 17, 1999 by the Commission.
Jean A. Webb,
Secretary of the Commission.

Concurring Remarks of Commissioner Spears Withdrawal of Concept 
Release on Over-the-Counter Derivatives

    The Commission's May 1998 Concept Release on Over-the-Counter 
Derivatives has been widely perceived, both within the derivatives 
industry and among other financial regulators, as indicating an intent 
to expand the Commission's regulatory reach with respect to OTC 
derivatives. In view of that perception and any legal uncertainty it 
may have created, I agree to withdrawal of the Concept Release. 
However, as one of the Commissioners who signed off on issuing the 
Concept Release, I also wish to make clear my intent in originally 
approving publication of that document.
    The Concept Release was published in May of 1998. At that time, 
five years had passed since the last major Commission action involving 
OTC derivatives (the 1993 swaps, hybrids and energy exemptions). As 
noted in the Release's preamble, the OTC derivatives market had 
experienced a number of significant changes during that five-year 
period. In light of those changes, I viewed the Release strictly as an 
appropriate information gathering document. Thus, as stated in the 
preamble, the Release was published in hopes that the comments received 
would ``* * * constitute an important source of relevant data and 
analysis that [would] assist [the Commission] in determining whether 
its current regulatory approach continues to be appropriate or requires 
modification.'' \1\ More importantly, the preamble also clearly states:
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    \1\ 63 FR 26114, May 12, 1998.

    The Commission has no preconceived result in mind. The 
Commission is open both to evidence in support of easing current 
restrictions and evidence indicating a need for additional 
safeguards. The Commission also welcomes comment on the extent to 
which certain matters are being or can be adequately addressed 
through self-regulation * * *\2\ [emphasis supplied]
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    \2\ Id.
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Concurring Remarks of Commissioner Erickson

    I concur with the Commission's decision to withdraw the Concept 
Release on Over-the-Counter Derivatives because, in my view, the 
document has been rendered moot by subsequent events. The Commission 
published the Concept Release in May 1998, it asked the public to 
comment on a number of questions, and the public did so. No rules or 
orders were proposed and nothing related to the Concept Release 
currently is pending before the Commission. Moreover, representatives 
of the four federal financial regulators that comprise the President's 
Working Group on Financial Markets stated that they would use the 
comments received by the Commission to inform their study of OTC 
derivatives. I assume the public comments assisted the Working Group in 
preparing its report, which was issued on November 9, 1999.
    I am concerned, however, about the potential precedent established 
by today's Commission action for future Commission actions, future 
Commissions, and, more broadly, for other federal agencies. I have 
reviewed 31 comment letters submitted to the Commission in response to 
the Concept Release and have examined related testimony given by 
various interested parties before several House and Senate committees. 
I am struck by the fact that despite the opposition the release 
provoked in some segments of the industry and among other regulators, 
nothing I saw cast any doubt on the substantive validity of the 
questions themselves. In fact, it seems to me that the Concept Release 
framed many of the issues we are currently discussing and, I believe, 
sparked the current dialogue regarding whether our existing regulatory 
structure fits today's financial markets.
    I am not willing to concede that it was wrong for the Commission to 
ask questions about the application of its existing regulations in an 
evolving market. In fact, I believe it is our duty as an agency to 
constantly examine and re-examine the vitality and effectiveness of our 
regulatory scheme, and we should not be expected to defer to anyone 
else in fulfilling this duty. I am troubled that on a going-forward 
basis, the Commission may feel obliged to delegate to others its 
judgment about what kinds of questions are acceptable to ask about its 
own regulations.
    Nonetheless, I am hopeful that through today's action this 
Commission will rededicate itself to addressing the derivatives 
industry issues unique to our time.

[FR Doc. 99-30513 Filed 11-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6351-01-M