24 July 2010

CFTC's Bart Chilton On Financial Reform, Position Limits, and Curbing 'Disruptive Practices'


Actions will speak much louder than words, especially given the many disappointments in the past from the SEC and CFTC. Position limits are a good idea. Let's see how long banks like JPM and HSBC have to implement them if they are covered at all. And as for 'disruptive practices' in the market, I will be impressed if Goldman Sachs and Citigroup are ever called out for their abusive market practices in the US as they have been in Europe and Asia.

I like Bart Chilton, quite a bit actually. If he delivers on these promises, I would work for him to be elected or appointed to higher office. But after the great disappointment of Obama, it will take actions first to gain people's enthusiasm for a reformer.

We are all for you Bart, but now you must deliver.

Here is an introduction to this presentation by Bart Chilton from another good guy, GATA's Chris Powell:

"The member of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission who has been advocating imposing position limits on traders in the precious metals markets, Bart Chilton, has made a video explaining why he thinks the financial regulation law just enacted by Congress and President Obama promises great progress, particularly in making the commodity markets freer and more transparent. The law, Chilton explains, requires the CFTC to establish position limits and authorizes the commission to prosecute "disruptive trading practices." Chilton says he is especially pleased with that, because the commission's market manipulation standards have failed almost completely for many years.

Chilton has been amazingly conscientious on the precious metals manipulation issue and has been amazingly responsive to gold and silver investors who have complained to the CFTC about market manipulation. He'll need their support as the CFTC writes the position limits regulations required by the new law. The big commercial shorts are sure to be heard as the commission continues to take public comment, so gold and silver investors can't let up yet."