On February 1, 2018, the CFTC issued an order settling charges against the US investment arm of an international bank for attempted manipulation of the US dollar International Swaps and Derivatives Association Fix (USD ISDAFIX), a global benchmark that indicates the prevailing mid-market rate for the fixed leg of a standard fixed-for-floating interest rate swap.
The order alleges that from at least January 2007 through May 2012, the firm attempted to manipulate the USD ISDAFIX by bidding, offering and executing transactions in targeted interest rate products near the time of the benchmark's daily publication in order to influence the final published rate and improve the firm's positions. The order also alleges that certain employees of the firm who were responsible for making USD ISDAFIX submissions attempted to manipulate the published rate by submitting rates that were false and misleading in order to move the USD ISDAFIX to a more desirable level that would benefit the firm's positions.
The firm agreed to a $70 million fine to settle the charges. In the order, the CFTC recognized the firm's cooperation with the investigation and remedial actions taken by the firm to strengthen internal controls and policies relating to all benchmarks, including the USD ISDAFIX. The CFTC's press release is available at: http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/pr7692-18.
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