Overview

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC') and the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC') (together, the "Commissions') are adopting a new rule and amending an existing rule under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA') and adopting two new rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act'). The rules will modify the applicable statutory listing standards requirements to permit security futures to be based on individual debt securities or a narrow-based security index composed of such securities. In addition, these rules and rule amendment will exclude from the definition of "narrow-based security index' debt securities indexes that satisfy specified criteria. A future on a debt securities index that is excluded from the definition of narrow-based security index will not be a security future and may trade subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the CFTC.