[Federal Register: July 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 128)] [Notices] [Page 38010-38012] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02jy08-122] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-58018; File No. SR-CBOE-2008-62] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Quarterly Options Series Pilot Program Until July 10, 2009 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 12, 2008, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') 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 [[Page 38011]] 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 CBOE proposes to extend for one year an existing pilot program (``Pilot'') under which the Exchange lists Quarterly Options Series, which are options series that expire at the close of business on the last business day of a calendar quarter. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.cboe.org/ legal), 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 10, 2006, the Exchange filed with the Commission SR-CBOE- 2006-65, which was effective on filing.\5\ That proposed rule change allowed the Exchange to establish a pilot program in which the Exchange lists Quarterly Options Series. The Exchange subsequently extended the duration of the Pilot for one year, so that it would expire on July 10, 2008.\6\ On March 3, 2008, the Commission approved a proposed rule change amending the Pilot to permit the listing of additional series and to implement a delisting policy for outlying series with no open interest.\7\ The Exchange hereby proposes to extend the Pilot, as amended, for an additional year, so that it will expire on July 10, 2009. This proposal does not request any other changes to the Pilot. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54123 (July 11, 2006), 71 FR 40558, (July 17, 2006) (SR-CBOE-2006-65). \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56035 (July 10, 2007), 72 FR 38851, (July 16, 2007) (SR-CBOE-2007-70). \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57410 (March 3, 2008), 73 FR 12483 (March 7, 2008) (SR-CBOE-2007-96). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In SR-CBOE-2006-65, the Exchange stated that it would submit, in connection with any proposed extension of the Pilot, a Pilot Program Report (``Report'') that would provide an analysis of the Pilot covering the entire period during which the Pilot was in effect. The Exchange further stated that the Report would include, at a minimum: (1) Data and written analysis on the open interest and trading volume in the classes for which Quarterly Options Series were opened; (2) an assessment of the appropriateness of the option classes selected for the Pilot; (3) an assessment of the impact of the Pilot on the capacity of CBOE, OPRA, and on market data vendors (to the extent data from market data vendors is available); (4) any capacity problems or other problems that arose during the operation of the Pilot and how CBOE addressed such problems; (5) any complaints that CBOE received during the operation of the Pilot and how CBOE addressed them; and (6) any additional information that would assist in assessing the operation of the Pilot. In connection with SR-CBOE-2007-96, the Commission further requested that the Report include analysis of: (1) The impact of the additional series on the Exchange's market and quote capacity, and (2) the implementation and effects of the delisting policy, including the number of series eligible for delisting during the period covered by the report, the number of series actually delisted during that period (pursuant to the delisting policy or otherwise), and documentation of any customer requests to maintain Quarterly Options Series strikes that were otherwise eligible for delisting. The Exchange has submitted, under separate cover, a Report and supplement (``Supplement'') in connection with the present proposed rule change, which Report seeks confidential treatment under the Freedom of Information Act. The Exchange represents that the Report and Supplement clearly support CBOE's belief that extension of the Pilot Program is proper.\8\ Among other things, the Exchange represents that the Report and the Supplement show the strength and efficacy of the Pilot Program on the Exchange as reflected by the strong volume of Quarterly Options traded on the Exchange since the Pilot's inception in July 2006. The Exchange also represents that the Report and the Supplement establish that the Pilot Program has not created, and in the future should not create, capacity problems for the Exchange's or OPRA's systems. Moreover, the Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the Pilot Program will not have an adverse impact on capacity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ See electronic mail sent June 24, 2008 from Jennifer Yeadon, Exchange, to Heidi Pilpel, Attorney, Division of Trading and Markets, Commission. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Section 6(b) of the Act.\9\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\10\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b). \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will 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 No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. 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 [[Page 38012]] Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \11\ and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\12\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). \12\ 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 CBOE to continue the existing Pilot without interruption.\13\ Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon filing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ 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-CBOE-2008-62 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-CBOE-2008-62. 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-CBOE-2008-62 and should be submitted on or before July 23, 2008. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florence E. Harmon, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. E8-14922 Filed 7-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P
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