CME ClearPort Clearing

Overview
CME ClearPort is a comprehensive set of flexible solutions for mitigating counterparty risk in OTC trading. Launched in 2002 to provide centralized clearing services and mitigate risk in the energy marketplace, today CME ClearPort clears transactions across multiple asset classes around the world.

With OTC clearing through CME ClearPort, you can conduct business off-exchange, and gain the advantages of security, efficiency and confidence. In addition, CME ClearPort enables you to:

Access independent, third-party valuations
Enhance your efficiency
Know your costs
Trust more than a century of experience

Growth in Customer Base and Contract Listings
CME ClearPort is growing as more OTC market participants take advantage of the opportunity to mitigate the counterparty risk they face. Today, CME ClearPort:

Clears an average of more than 500,000 contracts daily
Brings together more than 10,000 registered users around the world.
- Commercial, banking, hedge funds, trading entities
- IDBs, FCMs and clearing firms
Features more than 700 listed contracts available for clearing, with more to come

News & Highlights

Seven new petroleum futures will launch Jan. 24
The first listed month will be the Feb. 2010 contract.

Argus Sour Crude Index futures begin trading Jan. 24
Exchange of Futures for Related Position (EF) will be allowed.

New timeline for clearing of ex-pit transactions through CME ClearPort
Q1 2010 is the target for most of the asset classes.

Markets Available for Clearing through CME ClearPort

Natural Gas	Green Products	NYMEX Softs	S & P GSCI Swaps
Crude Oil	Electricity	Indexes
Petroleum Products	Coal	Uranium
Ethanol	Metals	NGL / Plastics
Freight	Currency	Grain Swaps

Comprehensive Clearing Services
CME ClearPort offers an array of clearing services that depend on the nature of the product you trade.

Products from multiple asset classes can be cleared or reported through CME ClearPort.

Available Now	Coming Soon
Agricultural Commodities	Credit
Energy	Equities
Green	FX
	Interest Rates
Metals	Weather

How CME ClearPort Works
CME ClearPort preserves the customer and dealer relationship and adds an extra level of protection to the transaction.

Customers (such as hedge funds, corporate treasuries, asset management firms and proprietary trading firms) continue to negotiate transactions through their IDB or dealer. Then they clear those transactions through a clearing member of CME Clearing (the central counterparty clearing house).
Clearing members collect margin from clients, who in turn provide margin to the central counterparty.
In the event your original counterparty (clearing member/dealer/other customer) defaults, the central counterparty covers the counterparty’s obligations, insulating other clearing members dealers and other customers from losses.

How to Get Started on CME ClearPort Clearing
To begin submitting trades through CME ClearPort:

1.	Establish an account with a CME, CBOT, NYMEX or COMEX clearing member, depending on the type of markets you wish to clear.
2.	Complete the online Exchange User License Agreement (EULA) whether you are a broker or a trader.
3.	Once you have received your username and password, contact the clearing or risk staff person at your clearing member firm and request that your clearing account be added to RAV (Risk Allocation Value) Manager. You should inform your clearing firm as to which OTC brokers (if any) should be allowed to enter trades for clearing on your behalf. You will then be given permission for any markets you wish to clear.

DEMO: How to Register and Enter Trades through CME ClearPort

How to Access CME ClearPort

Through a CME ClearPort Web-based portal, via a broker or end user
Directly, through an API that connects to CME ClearPort
By contacting the CME ClearPort Facilitation Desk via phone, e-mail or IM, along with a submitted spreadsheet

To learn more about API connections, click here

CME ClearPort Hours
5:00 p.m. Sunday – 4:15 p.m. Friday, Chicago Time (CT)
45-minute break from 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays CT

CME ClearPort Market Operations
Call: 800-438-8616 or 212-299-2670
E-mail: CustCare@cmegroup.com

Important Links

ConfirmHub Registration
Getting Started - Exchange User License Agreement (EULA)
Login to CME ClearPort
CME ClearPort Product Slate
CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX Clearing Members
DEMO: How to Register and Enter Trades through CME ClearPort
User Guide for CME ClearPort GUI
Cleared OTC Transactions Regulatory Q&A
Find a CME ClearPort Broker
CME ClearPort API Information