The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has frozen...

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has frozen all applications from U.S. exchanges to launch new stock index futures contracts while their role in the October stock crash is explored, officials announced. A CFTC official said approvals for the 12 index contracts now pending have been suspended indefinitely. Various government agencies, including a special presidential commission and a congressional committee, and the exchanges themselves are examining the impact of the stock futures and options contracts in the 508-point Oct. 19 crash.