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CX Futures Exchange, L.P.

Rule Amendment Submission #2019-8

September 26, 2019

1. The text of the rule changes to the CX Futures Exchange, L.P. (“Exchange” or “CX”) 

Rulebook is attached. Additions are underlined and deletions are stricken through. This rule has 

been approved by the Exchange. Capitalized terms, unless otherwise defined herein shall 

possess the meaning(s) ascribed in the Exchange Rulebook.

2. The proposed effective date is ten business days after receipt by the Commodity Futures 

Trading Commission (“CFTC” or “Commission”) of this submission. 

3. Attached, please find a certification that: (1) these rules comply with the Commodity 

Exchange Act and the Commission’s regulations thereunder; and (2) concurrent with this 

submission, CX Futures Exchange, L.P. posted on its website: (i) a notice of pending 

certification of the rule submissions with the Commission; and (ii) a copy of this submission.

4. A concise explanation and analysis of the operation, purpose, and effect of the amended 

rule appears below.

5. There were no opposing views expressed regarding these amended rules.

=====================================================================

CONCISE EXPLANATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE OPERATION, PURPOSE, AND 

EFFECT OF THE CERTIFIED RULE AND ITS COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE 

PROVISIONS OF THE ACT, INCLUDING CORE PRINCIPLES AND THE COMMISSION’S 

REGULATIONS THEREUNDER

Pursuant to Commission Rule 40.6(a)(7)(vi), the following is a concise explanation and analysis 

of the operation, purpose, and effect of the amended rules.

The Exchange currently offers the Daily Aggregate Rainfall Index Swaps Contract (the “DARI 

Contract”), which relates to the rainfall measurement on each calendar day at a given location.

With this change, several clarifications are being made to the contract rules and, furthermore, the 

rules now incorporate two key tables directly into the rule body, rather than by external 

reference.

Additionally, contract rule 3301(e)(i)(C) now provides for a DARI Conversion Factor of 0.01 for 

the “no rainfall” Strike Level “0” and a DARI Conversion Factor of 1.00 for the lowest strike 

level above zero with open interest. This change more correctly divides payouts between those 

hedgers seeking a hedge for “no rainfall” and those seeking a hedge for “some rainfall”. 
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Finally, the rule reduces the DARI Conversion Factor for any Strike Level that is 3” or more

below the DARI from 0.07 to 0.01. The change reduces the incentive for market participants to 

select artificially low Strike Levels.

Currently listed DARI Contracts with Final Settlement Dates before the effective date of this rule

change will continue to operate under the existing contract rules.

CX Futures Exchange has considered the Core Principles, in particular Core Principles 2 and 3,

and has determined that these changes will provide greater certainty to the contract’s terms and 

conditions and make other adjustments that will render the contracts more readily usable by

hedgers and other market participants. 

 
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CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5c OF THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE

ACT, 7 U.S.C. §7A-2 AND COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION RULE 40.6, 

17 C.F.R. §40.6

I hereby certify that:

(1) the amended Rules below comply with the Commodity Exchange Act, and the 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s regulations thereunder; and

(2) concurrent with this submission, CX Futures Exchange, L.P. posted on its 

website: (a) a notice of pending certification of the above Rules with the 

Commission; and (b) a copy of this submission. 

_________________________

By: Nolan Glantz

Title: COO

Date: September 26, 2019
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Attachment A — Rule Amendment

CX FUTURES EXCHANGE, L.P.

CHAPTER IX

CONTRACTS

... 

IX-3301. DAILY AGGREGATE RAINFALL INDEX SWAPS

(a) Scope and Underlying 

(i) These Contract Rules govern the trading on CX Futures Exchange, L.P. (the

“Exchange”) of the DAILY AGGREGATE RAINFALL INDEX SWAPS CONTRACT (“DARI

Contract”) and are “Contract Specifications” under Rule IX-1 of the Rules of the Exchange. In 

general, the DARI Contract is a swap (having the characteristics of a cash-settled option on an 

underlying index) that will settle based upon the rainfall measurement on each calendar day

(midnight to midnight local time of the given location) and will pay a dollar amount per contract 

to each position holder as calculated by applying thea conversion factor as calculated in Tables 2

and 3 (the “DARI Conversion Factor”).”) per Rule 3301(e) below.

(ii) Clearing of the DARI Contract will be governed by the rules of the CX 

Clearinghouse, L.P. (the “Clearinghouse”). These Contract Rules constitute “Contract Rules”

Under Rule I-7 of the Rules of the Clearinghouse. 

(iii) Capitalized terms used, but not defined herein, have the meanings ascribed to them 

in the Rules of the Exchange or the Rules of the Clearinghouse, as applicable.

(b) Calculation and Quotation of the Index

(i) The Daily Aggregate Rainfall Index (“DARI”) represents the total rainfall

measured, typically in hundredths of inches, by specific measuring stations during each station’s 

local calendar day (midnight to midnight, local time).

(ii) Each index point shall be quoted to the nearest one-hundredth of a point and each 

point represents one inch of reported rainfall at the specified location (e.g. a KNYC index value 

of 0.55 indicates that station KNYC has reported 0.55 inches of rainfall).

(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, any report of rainfall greater than 0.00” but less than 

0.01”, including “trace” or similar reports of rainfall that are discernable although insufficient for

measurement will result in a DARI value of 0.01.

(iv) The DARI will be calculated by the Exchange relying primarily on data published 

by the National Weather Service (“NWS”) in its Climate Report (“CLI”). Other weather products 

reported by the NWS may be used as necessary to supplement or confirm data appearing in the

CLI. The Exchange makes no warranties with respect to the accuracy of the data published by

the NWS and the Exchange in its discretion may use other public and private weather reporting
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sources to determine the value of the Daily Aggregate Rainfall Index when doing so is in the best 

interest of the marketplace.

(c) Placement of Bids

(i) Immediately after a DARI Contract is listed, Participants, through the Exchange,

will be able to bid for contracts by specifying the Ticker Symbol of the contract. All bids will be

at the contract premium price per contract specified in Table 1 and require Original Margin to be

deposited equal to the per-contract amount with the Clearinghouse.

Table 1

Trading

Days prior

to Final

Settlement

Contract Premium and

Original Margin

per Contract

7 or more $1.00

6 $1.25

5 $1.50

4 $1.75

3 $2.00

2 $2.25

1 $2.50

(ii) Bids may not be cancelled once entered onto the CX Direct System; provided

however, the Strike Level of a bid that has been entered may be modified if (A) the modified bid

is for the same measurement station and Final Settlement Date as the original bid and (B) the 

price difference, if any, between the original bid and the contract premium price per contract in 

effect at the time that the bid is modified (as specified in Table 1) is deposited as Original 

Margin with the Clearinghouse.

(iii) Once a position is created by the CX Direct System the position may not be

liquidated except by Final Settlement as provided under Rule IX-3301(e).

(d) [Reserved]

(e) Determination of Final Settlement Prices for each Strike Level

Each DARI position holder will receive a payout on his or her position equal to the 

number of contracts at each Strike Level times the respective Final Settlement Price for each 

contract. The Final Settlement Price for each contract at each Strike Level is calculated using the 

procedure in subparagraphs (i) to (iii) below and. Using this procedure, the values in Tables 2 

and 3, with a minimum Final Settlement Price for any contract ofis at least $0.01 and a 

maximum Final Settlement Price ofno more than $249.99.
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(i) After the DARI is determined for each measuring station for a given Final 

Settlement Date, then the Exchange will determine the DARI Conversion Factor applicable to 

each Strike Level for that measuring station on that date as shown in Table 2. If the DARI

Conversion Factor applicable to every Strike Level is 0.01, then the lowest Strike Level (in the

sequence “0.00”, “0.01”, “0.25”, et al) will have a DARI Conversion Factor of one (1.00) and all

other Strike Levels will have a DARI Conversion Factor of 0.01.

(A) For Strike Level “0.00”, if the DARI is zero (“0.00”), then the Conversion 

Factor will be 1.00, or for DARI values greater than zero, 0.01. 

(B) The DARI Conversion Factor for all other Strike Levels will be determined 

by Table 2 below.

Table 2

Subtract Strike Level

from DARI

(Add .01 for Strike .01),

then if this difference is:

DARI Conversion Factor

Less than zero 0.01

0.00" to 0.24" 1.00

0.25" to 0.49" 0.50

0.50" to 0.74" 0.33

0.75" to 0.99" 0.25

1.00" to 1.24" 0.20

1.25" to 1.49" 0.16

1.50" to 1.74" 0.14

1.75" to 1.99" 0.12

2.00" to 2.24" 0.11

2.25" to 2.49" 0.10

2.50" to 2.74" 0.09

2.75" to 2.99" 0.08

3" or more 0.01

(C) If, after applying (A) and (B) above, the DARI Conversion Factor for all

Strike Levels with open interest is 0.01, then the lowest Strike Level above zero (“0.00”) with 

open interest will be assigned a DARI Conversion Factor of 1.00 and all other Strike Levels will 

remain unchanged.

(ii) The Exchange will multiply the number of contracts bid at each Strike Level by

the DARI Conversion Factor and sum these values across all Strike Levels to obtain the 

contract's total Residual Bid Interest.
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(iii) The Final Settlement Price for each Strike Level will equal that Strike Level’s

DARI Conversion Factor times the total Original Margin applicable to the contract divided by

the total Residual Bid Interest, and then rounded down to the nearest one cent ($0.01).

(iv) After determination of the Final Settlement Price for each contract as provided 

above, the Exchange will post for each Strike Level (A) the bid interest; (B) the Residual Bid

Interest after application of the DARI Conversion Factor; and (C) the Final Settlement Price for

each Strike Level.

(v) Final Settlement of open positions in each contract will occur as soon as practical 

after the Exchange’s calculation and verification of each day’s Daily Aggregate Rainfall Index; 

for the avoidance of doubt, such time is generally not later than noon of the first Business Day

following the Final Settlement Date.

(f) Ticker Symbols 

Each DARI Contract will be uniquely identified by a “Ticker Symbol” that is composed 

of (A) station code (e.g. KNYC), (B) Final Settlement Date and (C) Strike Price. By way of 

example, for a contract on at least 0.25 inches of rainfall in New York City on April 10, 2019, 

the Ticker Symbol would be WXRAIN_KNYC20190410_0025.

(g) Final Settlement Date and Termination of Trading 

(i) The Final Settlement Date for each contract may be any calendar day that is not more

than ninety -one (91) days and not less than one (1) day from the current Trading Day as made

available to Participants on the CX Direct System.

(ii) Termination of Trading will occur at 5:00 PM ET on the Trading Day that precedes

the Final Settlement Date. For example, all contracts that have a February 15th Final Settlement 

Date will terminate trading at 5:00 PM ET on February 14th.

(h) Trading Hours 

Trading Hours shall begin at 5:00 PM ET on the First Trading Day and be available 

continuously until the Termination of Trading except that The Exchange may permit 

modifications to these Trading Days and Trading Hours for the purposes of (A) scheduled 

technology maintenance, (B) abbreviated holiday trading schedules, and (C) as required by

market or environmental considerations. All such changes shall be posted on the Exchange

website.

(i) Contract Locations

The Exchange may list contracts for any location that has adequate weather reporting

capabilities to calculate the Daily Aggregate Rainfall Index. The complete list of such locations 

may be found on the Exchange website.

(j) Valid Strike Levels
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The valid Strike Levels for DARI Contracts will be 0.00”, 0.01” and 0.25” increments 

thereafter

(k) Minimum Price Increment 

The minimum price increment of each DARI Contract is one cent ($0.01). 

(l) Position Accountability Levels 

The position accountability level shall be 10,000 contracts for all DARI contracts 

combined. 

(m) Original Margin Requirements 

Original Margin shall be sufficient to cover the maximum possible loss a Participant 

could incur upon liquidation or expiration of a contract.