SIFMA and ISDA Complaint Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on CFTC’s Rule on Position Limits

Published on:
December 2, 2011

SIFMA, together with the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA), filed a legal challenge to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) final rules that limit the positions that investors may own in certain commodities. The associations believe that the Position Limits Rule may adversely impact commodities markets and market participants, including end-users, by reducing liquidity and increasing price volatility. In addition, the Associations contend that the CFTC’s decision-making process in enacting the Rule was procedurally flawed.

While the associations strongly support financial regulatory reform that reduces systemic risks and helps to create a more robust and transparent global financial system, unfortunately, the Position Limits Rule as adopted by the CFTC was poorly crafted based on an incorrect reading of the law, and absent any sound economic or cost benefit analysis. It has the potential to harm markets at a time when they can least afford it.

For more information, visit’s SIFMA Issue Area on Position Limits

Related filing:
Petition for Review filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Details

Download

More Content

  • Letters
    Jan 13, 2026

    National Securities Exchange Fee Filings

    SIFMA submitted a comment letter to the SEC urging the suspension and disapproval of recent national securities exchange fee increases.
  • Letters
    Dec 19, 2025

    Prohibition on the Use of Reserve Funds by the Consolidated Audit Trail National Market System Plan

    SIFMA submitted a letter to the SEC opposing the proposed amendment to the CAT NMS Plan, which seeks to readopt a vacated funding model. They argue that using reserves built under the invalid model for CAT funding is unlawful and contradicts the court's decision. SIFMA recommends holding reserves in escrow until a new funding path is established.
  • Letters
    Dec 16, 2025

    Regulation of Tokenized Securities Markets (SIFMA and SIFMA AMG)

    SIFMA and SIFMA AMG provided feedback to the SEC Crypto Task Force, emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks for blockchain-based digital assets.

Get the latest trends, stats, and research on financial markets and securities.