The CFTC requested public comment on a petition submitted by LCH.Clearnet Ltd ("LCH") for an amendment to, and the consolidation of, its orders of registration as a derivatives clearing organization ("DCO"). Specifically, the amendment would permit LCH to provide clearing services for "swaps," as defined in the CEA and CFTC Rules, as well as futures and options on futures. Comments must be received by February 26, 2014, and can be submitted to the CFTC here. See: CFTC Press Release. Related news: CFTC No-Action Letter 13-52: LCH.Clearnet Ltd and Clearing Members (September 23, 2013); CFTC

The SEC published the revised Order and the announcement of the adoption of amendments to extend the expiration dates in its interim final rules in the Federal Register. The interim final rules provide exemptions for security-based swaps that are defined as "securities" under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and, prior to July 16, 2011, were security-based swap agreements. Under the amendments, the expiration dates in the interim final rules will be extended from February 11, 2014, to February 11, 2017. See: 79 FR 7731; 79 FR 7570. See also: SEC Rule Release; SEC Order Extending

IOSCO published a consultation report titled Code of Conduct Fundamentals for Credit Rating Agencies, which proposed significant revisions and updates to the current IOSCO code of conduct for credit rating agencies ("IOSCO CRA Code"). The IOSCO CRA Code was first published in 2004, when few jurisdictions had laws governing the activities of CRAs. It was later revised in 2008, after the outbreak of the global financial crisis, to include significant disclosure provisions. According to the report, the IOSCO CRA Code is intended to offer a set of "robust, practical measures" as a guide to and

ISDA issued monthly swaps analysis for February 2014 as part of its new "SwapsInfo" website to enhance transparency in over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives markets. The monthly swaps analysis takes a "periodic look at the data to discern key trends." According to the swaps report, the key trends include the following: total cleared notional amounts steadily rising since January 2013, driving total rates of notional amounts (cleared and uncleared) higher; total uncleared notional amounts rose more modestly from January 2013 through January 2014; SEF notional amounts steadily growing, rising 28%

The MSRB's Board of Directors announced that it is seeking qualified applicants to fill seven positions on the Board – three public member and four regulated member positions – beginning on October 1, 2014. To be considered for a position on the MSRB Board of Directors, candidates must submit an application no later than February 24, 2014. The names of all applicants will be published on the MSRB's website within one week of the announcement of the new Board members. See : MSRB Press Release. See also: Instructions for Applying.