Ouch. I remember reading that the CME was soon going to start implementing harsher penalties on entities that did not co-operate with investigative events...Looks like it's starting to happen. http://www.cmegroup.com/notices/dis...ONG-KONG-WEIYE-INDUSTRY-LTD.html#pageNumber=1 I applaud it. I cannot imagine the backlog of violations the Chicago crew is facing.
They're kicking ass and taking names! http://www.cmegroup.com/notices/dis...-ELDORADO-TRADING-GROUP-LLC.html#pageNumber=1
I haven't looked at the notices lately, but the latest one had this... http://www.cmegroup.com/notices/dis...X-15-0292-BC-3-FUNG-HON-FAN.html#pageNumber=1 The newest few entries on that list show those same serious penalties for non-cooperative parties. Total ouch.
The terminology for these things is always interpretative. It's only a "hammer" because there's been a bit of a downtrend in the markets, recently: under other, more favourable circumstances, it might be called a "hanging man".