CME Group » Clearing » CME Clearing: Overview » CME Clearing's Financial Safeguards System
CME Clearing's Financial Safeguards System
CME Clearing's Financial Safeguards System

CME Group is vitally aware of its role in international financial markets and believes that its $8 billion financial safeguard system, designed for the benefit and protection of both clearing members and their customers, is second to none.

Functions of the Financial Safeguards System
Risk management and financial surveillance are the two primary functions of CME Clearing's Financial Safeguards system.

CME Clearing helps to avert default by any participant in the clearing process, and thereby protects all clearing members and their customers from the consequences of any default. The system:

  • Is designed to provide the highest level of safety and the early detection of unsound financial practices on the part of any clearing member
  • Is continually updated to reflect the most advanced risk management and financial surveillance techniques
  • Is directed by senior management from the Audit, Clearing, Finance, Legal, Market Regulation, Risk Management, and executive areas of CME Group.

The financial integrity of CME Clearing is a foremost consideration of CME Group Board of Directors, Clearing House Risk Committee, and management. CME Group is vitally aware of its role in international financial markets and believes that its financial safeguard system, designed for the benefit and protection of both clearing members and their customers, is second to none.

In the event of a default, as of June 30, 2010, CME Group may draw on all or a portion of the following resources to satisfy the outstanding obligation:

Aggregate Performance Bond Deposits $81,931,000,000
Market Value of CME Pledged Shares/Trading Rights $783,000,000 (as of December 31, 2009)
Surplus Funds $100,000,000
Security Deposit Requirement $2,250,000,000
Assessment Powers $6,189,000,000
Total $91,253,000,000

Read complete details on CME Clearing's Financial Safeguards system.