The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Center for Risk Management Education and Research (CRMER) at Kansas State University will host AgCon2019, the 2nd annual agricultural commodity futures conference on April 11-12 in Overland Park, Kansas. The CFTC and CRMER will again jointly host the conference, which brings together federal, state, and local governments with agribusiness and academia to discuss a range of topics that are important to the agricultural community who depend on the futures markets. “We are excited to once again partner with K-State to discuss significant derivatives-markets issues affecting the agricultural community. AgCon2018 brought together stakeholders....
Reminder: New Virtual Currency Disclosure Requirements
Due to the significant growth of the virtual currency market, the NFA has proposed an interpretive notice to the CFTC invoking the “ten-day” provision and will make it effective 10 days after receipt of submission. The notice was put forth because of concerns that customers do not fully understand the nature, volatility, and substantial risk involved with trading virtual currencies. Therefore, NFA is implementing new disclosure requirements for NFA Members engaging in virtual currency products. For IBs and FCMs, an Investor Advisory: — Futures on Virtual Currencies Including Bitcoin an the CFTC Customer Advisory: Understand the Risk of Virtual Currency....
5th Annual Cyber Risk Conference at DePaul University
New and evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, machine learning and robotic process automation are now an everyday reality. Similarly, use of the Cloud and third-party systems have grown dramatically as the technology has become more complex. Business practices are being rapidly transformed in all sectors—from expediting insurance claims, automating financial processes and revolutionizing search algorithms to heralding a paradigm shift in cyber security and military technology. These emerging technologies provide a host of new benefits, but also create a horde of new risks. In this conference, we’ll discuss the real impact that these technologies have on all....
Options on Futures as Strategic Investment Vehicles
A new report from Tabb Group explores why more companies are using instruments like options on futures. From explosive growth in electronic trading to regulatory tailwinds incentivizing their use, options on futures present expanded opportunities in today’s financial markets. Read case studies on how options on futures enhance many hedging and trading strategies – and deliver more cost efficiencies than over-the counter alternatives. [Read Report]...
Chairman’s Letter – November 2018
When January and February were added to the Roman calendar and November became the eleventh month of the year, it retained its original Latin name novem meaning nine — I think I’ve got that right this month Rob! (See last month’s correction) November in the United States means Thanksgiving, National Apple Cider Day (18th) and Black Friday (23th). Most of us are also familiar with Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year. But Cyber Tuesday, organized and presented by DePaul University, Downtown Campus is a not-to-be missed event for NIBA members. Now in its 5th year, this....
NIBA Advisory Group
Four years ago, NIBA created an Advisory Group (AG). The AG includes participants from all areas of the derivatives industry –including among others, regulation, agriculture, marketing, legal, education and brokerage. The purpose of the group is to advise, suggest and create dialogue which will help the board of directors develop and implement programs which meet its mission to provide education, compliance information and revenue-generating ideas to our members. Rodney Dow, (The Dow Corp) is the NIBA board member who currently chairs the AG, which meets once each year. This year’s meeting is scheduled for November 28. The Advisory Group for....
CTA/CPO Ratio Errors; NFA PQR and PR Filings
This month NFA put out a fantastic reminder about common CTA/CPO ratio errors and the obligations facing reporting firms. In particular they have laid out their expectations for CTA and CPO ratio reporting. Please consider the following directly from NFA as a number of CPOs and CTAs have been incorrectly reporting these financial ratios: 1) Ratios must be calculated using the accrual method of accounting CPOs and CTAs are incorrectly calculating these ratios because they are using cash basis of accounting. Both ratios must be computed using the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting....
CFTC to Hold Open Commission Meeting 11/5
Washington, DC — Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo announced today that the CFTC will hold an open meeting on Monday, November 5, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. to consider the following: Final Rule: Amending the De Minimis Exception to the Swap Dealer Definition Proposed Rule: Amendments to Regulations on Swap Execution Facilities and the Trade Execution Requirement Request for Comment regarding the Practice of “Post-Trade Name Give-Up” on Swap Execution Facilities The meeting is open to the public with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public may also watch a live webcast or listen....
A Correction from Melinda Schramm…
Rob DeMuria, Compliance Supervisors Inc., noticed something wrong in the October Chairman’s Letter posted two weeks ago. I wrote: “In Latin, ‘octo’ means eight. October, the eighth month of the year is recognized traditionally throughout the world as the gateway to winter.” October is obviously not the eighth month of the year! I went wrong when I edited my own writing, and deleted a portion of the paragraph. It should have read, “In Latin, ‘octo’ means eight. October, the eighth month of the year in the old Roman calendar (prior to the addition of January and February into the....
NFA BoD Executive Rep Reminder
Executive Representative Reminder and Board and Nominating Committee Members Whose Terms Will Expire at the Board’s 2019 Regular Annual Meeting Executive Representative Reminder In August 2016, NFA’s Bylaws were amended to implement an electronic voting process for Directors’ elections, contested Nominating Committee member elections and Articles’ amendments approval votes. If elections are necessary, NFA has engaged Corporate Election Services (CES), a third-party service provider, to administer the electronic voting process. To facilitate the electronic voting process, each Member shall designate an Executive Representative who will have the Member’s sole authority to sign nominating petitions, receive notices of Member meetings and....