Under Commission Rule 21.02, upon call by the Commission, information related to futures or options positions held or introduced by futures commission merchants, members of contract markets, introducing brokers, and foreign brokers and, for options positions, must be furnished by each reporting market. This rule is designed to assist the Commission in prevention of market manipulation and is promulgated pursuant to the Commissionâs rulemaking authority contained in section 8a of the Commodity Exchange Act, 7 U.S.C. 12 a (2010). The information is used primarily by Surveillance and Market Analysts in order to fulfill their market surveillance function. Additionally, the data is used to provide a basis for reports to Congress as well as supporting various research projects and reports from Commission economists and analysts.
A reduction in the total annual number of responses from 400 in 2016 to 100 in 2019 has accordingly caused the estimated annual burden hours to lessen from 700 hours in the previous renewal to 175 hours currently. This reduction in annual responses can be attributed to improved methods and a considered approach surrounding the special call process, where the CFTC prudently exercises this option based on particular, carefully-weighed circumstances to avoid placing undue burdens on market participants.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.