CFTC Wants to Limit Leverage to 1:10

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has put up a new regulatory proposition for the market participants to discuss. In addition to the capital, regulatory and risk-disclosure requirements, the FCMs (futures commission merchants) and RFEDs (retail foreign exchange dealers) will be limited to 1:10 leverage maximum. Considering the popularity of 1:100 leverage in the on-line Forex industry, such a limit, if implemented, would hit hard the Forex broekrs registered or operating in United States. CFTC announced this proposal on January 13th and the part about the leverage in it reads:

For example, FCMs and RFEDs would be required to maintain net capital of $20 million plus 5% of the amount, if any, by which liabilities to retail forex customers exceed $10 million. Leverage in retail forex customer accounts would be subject to a 10-to-1 limitation.

The good thing that it’s still just a proposal and that CFTC is expecting a feedback from the market participants to evaluate the necessity and possibility of such means. You may send your opinion to CFTC via the e-mail: secretary@cftc.gov (don’t forget to use “Regulation of Retail Forex” as the subject) or via the postal mail:
David Stawick, Secretary, Commodity Futures Trading Commission
1155 21st Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20581
In either case include RIN 3038-AC61 identification number in the body of your mail.

If you have any comments on questions regarding the new CFTC rules for the Forex market in U.S., please, reply using the form below.