[Federal Register: July 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 128)] [Notices] [Page 38000-38001] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02jy08-118] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-58020; File No. SR-ISE-2008-48] Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Short Term Options Series Pilot Program June 25, 2008. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that on June 23, 2008, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (``Exchange'' or ``ISE'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated this proposal as non- controversial under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The ISE proposes to amend its rules to extend the Short Term Options Series Pilot Program (``Pilot Program'') for an additional year. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.ise.com), at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose On July 12, 2005, the Commission approved the Pilot Program that allows ISE to list and trade options series that expire one week after being opened for trading (``Short Term Options Series'').\5\ Under the terms of the Pilot Program, the Exchange can select up to five options classes on which Short Term Options Series may be opened on any Short Term Options Series opening date. The Exchange also may list Short Term Options Series on any options class selected by other securities exchanges employing a similar pilot program under their respective rules. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52012 (July 12, 2005), 70 FR 41246 (July 18, 2005) (SR-ISE 2005-17). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pilot Program was subsequently extended \6\ and the current Pilot Program is set to expire on July 12, 2008.\7\ The purpose of this proposed rule change is to extend the Pilot Program for an additional year. The Exchange believes that Short Term Options Series provide investors with a flexible and valuable tool to manage risk exposure, minimize capital outlays, and be more responsive to the timing of events affecting the securities underlying options contracts. Although ISE has not listed any Short Term Options Series during the Pilot Program, there has been investor interest in trading short term options at the Chicago Board Options Exchange. For competitive reasons and in order to have the ability to respond to customer interest in Short Term Options Series, the Exchange proposes to extend its Pilot Program. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54117 (July 10, 2006), 71 FR 40564 (July 17, 2006) (SR-ISE 2006-37). \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56047 (July 11, 2007), 72 FR 39106 (July 17, 2007) (SR-ISE 2007-54). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the original proposal to establish the Pilot Program, the Exchange stated that if it were to propose an extension or an expansion of the Pilot Program, the Exchange would submit, along with any filing proposing such amendments to the Pilot Program, a report (``Pilot Program Report'') analyzing the Pilot Program, which would cover the entire period during which the Pilot Program was in effect. Since the Exchange has not listed any Short Term Options Series under the Pilot Program, there is no data available to compile such a report at this time. Therefore, the Exchange is not submitting a Pilot Program Report with this proposal. Finally, the Exchange represents that it has the necessary systems capacity to support the listing of Short Term Options Series should it determine to do so in the future. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that short-term options series increase the variety of listed options available to investors and provide investors with a valuable tool to manage risk exposure, minimize capital outlays and be more responsive to the timing of events affecting the securities underlying options contracts. For these reasons, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with [[Page 38001]] Section 6(b) of the Act.\8\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\9\ which requires that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, serve to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b). \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as one that: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) does not become operative for 30 days from the date of filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \10\ and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\11\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has fulfilled this requirement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the operative delay to permit the proposed rule change to become operative prior to the 30th day after filing. The Commission has determined that waiving the 30-day operative delay of the Exchange's proposal is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest and will promote competition because such waiver will allow ISE to continue the existing Pilot Program without interruption.\12\ Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon filing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \12\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate the rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http:// www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File No. SR-ISE-2008-48 on the subject line. Paper Comments Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2008-48. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/ sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-ISE-2008-48 and should be submitted on or before July 23, 2008. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\13\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florence E. Harmon, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. E8-14927 Filed 7-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P
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