Farmers, Ranchers to Get Protection Against Misuse of Hedging Funds (CME)

The CME Group Inc. (NYSE: CME) has initiated a $100 million fund to provide protection to family farmers and ranchers who hedge their businesses on the company’s futures markets:

In light of the recent MF Global failure, in which a clearing firm violated CFTC regulations and misused customer monies that should have been kept segregated, CME Group is adding this extra security measure to protect the country’s food producers who are using CME Group futures markets to hedge their crops and livestock that feed the world.

The fund will pay up to $25,000 “in the case of losses resulting from the future insolvency of a clearing member or other market participant.” A co-operative could receive up to $100,000.