Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Establishment of a Pilot Program That Increases Position and Exercise Limits for Options on the iShares® Russell 2000® Index Fund, 5481-5483 [E7-1829]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 6, 2007 / Notices
Electronic Comments
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing proposed rule change is
subject to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the
Act 9 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder 10
because the proposal: (i) Does not
significantly affect the protection of
investors or the public interest; (ii) does
not impose any significant burden on
competition; and (iii) does not become
operative prior to 30 days after the date
of filing or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate if consistent
with the protection of investors and the
public interest.11
NASD has requested that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative
delay in this case. The Commission
believes that waiving the 30-day
operative delay is consistent with the
protection of investors and the public
interest because such waiver will allow
the benefits of the multiple MPID pilots
to continue uninterrupted. For this
reason, the Commission designates the
proposed rule change to be operative
upon filing with the Commission.12
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change the
Commission may summarily abrogate
such 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:
9 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
11 Rule 19b–4(f)(6) also requires the selfregulatory organization to give the Commission
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. NASD has satisfied the five-day prefiling requirement.
12 For the 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).
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
10 17
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16:03 Feb 05, 2007
Jkt 211001
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–NASD–2007–008 on the
subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC
20549–1090.
5481
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–55185; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2007–10]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change Relating to the
Establishment of a Pilot Program That
Increases Position and Exercise Limits
for Options on the iShares Russell
2000 Index Fund
January 29, 2007.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
All submissions should refer to File
notice is hereby given that on January
Number SR–NASD–2007–008. This file
25, 2007, the NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE
number should be included on the
Arca’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the
Securities and Exchange Commission
Commission process and review your
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
comments more efficiently, please use
change as described in Items I and II
only one method. The Commission will below, which Items have been
post all comments on the Commission’s substantially prepared by NYSE Arca.
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
NYSE Arca has filed the proposal
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the
submission, all subsequent
Act 3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder,4
amendments, all written statements
which renders the proposal effective
with respect to the proposed rule
upon filing with the Commission. The
change that are filed with the
Commission is publishing this notice to
Commission, and all written
solicit comments on the proposed rule
communications relating to the
change from interested persons.
proposed rule change between the
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Commission and any person, other than Statement of the Terms of Substance of
those that may be withheld from the
the Proposed Rule Change
public in accordance with the
NYSE Arca proposes to amend Rule
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
6.8 to exempt options on the iShares
available for inspection and copying in
Russell 2000 Index Fund (‘‘IWM’’)
the Commission’s Public Reference
from the position and exercise limits
Room. Copies of the filing also will be
provided for under the Rule 6.8 Pilot
available for inspection and copying at
Program and to increase the standard
the principal office of NASD. All
position and exercise limits for IWM as
comments received will be posted
part of an approximately six-month
without change; the Commission does
pilot (‘‘Rule 6.8 IWM Pilot Program’’).5
not edit personal identifying
The text of the proposed rule change is
information from submissions. You
available at NYSE Arca, the
should submit only information that
Commission’s Public Reference Room,
you wish to make available publicly. All and www.nysearca.com.
submissions should refer to File
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Number SR–NASD–2007–008 and
Statement of the Purpose of, and
should be submitted on or before
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
February 27, 2007.
Change
For the Commission, by the Division of
In its filing with the Commission,
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
NYSE Arca included statements
13
authority.
concerning the purpose of and basis for
Florence E. Harmon,
the proposed rule change and discussed
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7–1859 Filed 2–5–07; 8:45 am]
13 17
PO 00000
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00068
Fmt 4703
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
5 Due to the effective date of this filing, the
duration of the pilot will actually be slightly less
than six months so that the expiration date of the
pilot may coincide with similar pilot programs in
effect at other options exchanges.
2 17
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
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5482
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 6, 2007 / Notices
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. NYSE
Arca has prepared summaries, set forth
in Sections A, B, and C below, of the
most significant aspects of such
statements.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend
Commentary .06 to Rule 6.8 on an
approximately six-month pilot basis to
exempt options on IWM from the Rule
6.8 Pilot Program. Under the Rule 6.8
Pilot Program, the position and exercise
limits for IWM would be reduced on
January 22, 2007 from 500,000 to
250,000 contracts. The Exchange now
proposes to allow position and exercise
limits for options on IWM to remain at
500,000 contracts on a pilot basis, from
January 25, 2007 through July 22, 2007.
In June 2005, as a result of a 2-for-1
stock split, the position limit for IWM
options was temporarily increased from
250,000 contracts (covering 25,000,000
shares) to 500,000 contracts (covering
50,000,000 shares). At the time of the
split, the furthest IWM option
expiration date was January 2007.
Therefore, the temporary increase of the
IWM position limit will revert to the
pre-split level (as provided for in
connection with the Rule 6.8 Pilot
Program) of 250,000 contracts after
expiration in January 2007, or on
January 22, 2007.
The Exchange believes that a position
limit of 250,000 contracts is too low and
may be a deterrent to the successful
trading of IWM options. Importantly,
options on IWM are 1/10th the size of
options on the Russell 2000 Index
(‘‘RUT’’), which are presently listed on
both the Chicago Board Options
Exchange, Incorporated and the
International Securities Exchange, LLC,
have a position limit of 50,000
contracts.6 Traders on NYSE Arca who
trade IWM options to hedge positions in
RUT options would likely find a
position limit of 250,000 contracts in
IWM options too restrictive and
insufficient to properly hedge. For
example, if a trader held 50,000 RUT
options and wanted to hedge that
position with IWM options, the trader
would need—at a minimum-500,000
6 See CBOE Rule 24.4(a) and ISE Rule 2004(a).
While options on the RUT are presently not listed
on NYSE Arca, the Exchange has looked into the
feasibility of listing this product and may propose
to do so in a future filing.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:03 Feb 05, 2007
Jkt 211001
IWM options to properly hedge the
position. Therefore, the Exchange
believes that a position limit of 250,000
contracts is too low and may adversely
affect market participants’ ability to
provide liquidity in this product.
Additionally, IWM options have
grown to become one of the largest
options contracts in terms of trading
volume. For example, the volume in
options on IWM set a new single-day
record on June 8, 2006, when 760,803
contracts (120,229 calls and 640,574
puts) traded on that day. This record
level volume beat the previous singleday high of 727,521 contracts on May
17, 2006.
As a result, the Exchange proposes
that options on IWM be subject to
position and exercise limits of 500,000
contracts on a pilot basis to run from
January 25, 2007 through July 22, 2007.7
The Exchange believes that increasing
position and exercise limits for IWM
options will lead to a more liquid and
more competitive market environment
for IWM options that will benefit
customers interested in this product.
The Exchange would require that each
member or member organization that
maintains a position on the same side of
the market in excess of 10,000 contracts
in the IWM option class, for its own
account or for the account of a
customer, report certain information.8
This data would include, but would not
be limited to, the option position,
whether such position is hedged and if
so, a description of the hedge, and if
applicable, the collateral used to carry
the position. Exchange market-makers
(including LMMs) would continue to be
exempt from this reporting requirement
as market-maker information can be
accessed through the Exchange’s market
surveillance systems. In addition, the
general reporting requirement for
customer accounts that maintain a
position in excess of 200 contracts will
remain at this level for IWM options.9
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
and furthers the objectives of Section
6(b)(5) of the Act,10 in that it is designed
to promote just and equitable principles
of trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and
7 Pursuant to Commentary .03 to NYSE Arca Rule
6.9, the exercise limit established under Rule 6.9 for
IWM options shall be equivalent to the position
limit prescribed for IWM options in Commentary
.06 under Rule 6.8. The increased exercise limits
would only be in effect during the pilot period, to
run from January 25, 2007 through July 22, 2007.
8 See NYSE Arca Rule 6.6(b).
9 See NYSE Arca Rule 6.6(a).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
PO 00000
Frm 00069
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange 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
Because the forgoing rule change does
not: (1) Significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public
interest; (2) impose any significant
burden on competition; and (3) become
operative for 30 days after the date of
this filing, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 11 and Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) thereunder.12
A proposed rule change filed under
19b–4(f)(6) normally may not become
operative prior to 30 days after the date
of filing.13 However, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6)(iii) 14 permits the Commission to
designate a shorter time if such action
is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest. The
Exchange has requested that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative
delay. The Commission believes that
waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest
because such waiver would permit
position and exercise limits for options
on IWM to continue at 500,000 option
contracts for an approximately sixmonth pilot period. For this reason, the
Commission designates the proposed
rule change to be effective and operative
upon filing with the Commission.15
11 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
13 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule
19b–4(f)(6)(iii) requires that a self-regulatory
organization submit to the Commission 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 Commission has decided to waive
the five-day pre-filing notice requirement.
14 Id.
15 For the purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has considered the
12 17
E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM
06FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 6, 2007 / Notices
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change the
Commission may summarily abrogate
such 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:
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEArca–2007–10 and
should be submitted on or before
February 27, 2007.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
authority.16
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7–1829 Filed 2–5–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–55186; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2007–08]
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–NYSEArca–2007–10 on the
subject line.
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change Relating to Further
Extending the Time Period by Which
the Exchange Will Enter Into the NASD/
NYSE Arca Options Agreement
Pursuant to Rule 17d–2
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEArca–2007–10. 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 (https://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. Copies of the filing also will be
available for inspection and copying at
the principal office of NYSEArca. 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
January 29, 2007.
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:03 Feb 05, 2007
Jkt 211001
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 January
23, 2007, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE
Arca’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the Exchange. The Exchange filed the
proposal as a ‘‘non-controversial’’ rule
change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act 3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)
thereunder,4 which renders the proposal
effective upon filing with the
Commission.5 The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange is proposing to amend
its undertaking 6 to extend for 90 days
from the date of this filing the time
16 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
5 The Exchange has asked the Commission to
waive the 5-day pre-filing notice requirement and
the 30-day operative delay. See 15 U.S.C.
78s(b)(3)(A), 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54238
(July 28, 2006), 71 FR 44758 (August 7, 2006) (SR–
NYSEArca–2006–13) (OX Approval Order). See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54690
(November 2, 2006), 71 FR 66211 (November 13,
2006) (SR–NYSEArca–2006–79) (90-Day Extension).
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00070
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Sfmt 4703
5483
period by which the Exchange will enter
into an agreement with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(‘‘NASD’’) pursuant to Rule 17d–2
under the Act 7 (the ‘‘NASD/NYSE Arca
Options Agreement’’ or ‘‘Agreement’’).
The Agreement would expand the
allocation to NASD of regulatory
responsibility to encompass all the
regulatory oversight and enforcement
responsibilities with respect to the
options activities of Archipelago
Securities, L.L.C. (‘‘Archipelago
Securities’’),8 except for ‘‘real-time
market surveillance.’’
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
In connection with the Commission’s
approval of the Exchange’s new
electronic options trading platform, OX,
Archipelago Securities became a routing
broker for OX options orders on the
Exchange.9 In Amendment No. 3 to its
filing seeking approval of the OX
platform,10 the Exchange proposed to
7 17
CFR 240.17d–2.
Securities, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Archipelago Holdings, Inc. and a
registered broker-dealer, acts as the outbound order
router for the NYSE Arca Marketplace (formerly
known as the Archipelago Exchange) and, as such,
is regulated as an exchange ‘‘facility’’ of NYSE Arca
and NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(a)(2). As such, any proposed rule change
relating to Archipelago Securities’ order-routing
function must be filed with the Commission, and
must operate in a manner that is consistent with the
provisions of the Act applicable to exchanges and
with NYSE Arca rules.
9 See OX Approval Order, supra note 6. Pursuant
to NYSE Arca Rule 6.1A(a)(15), which was adopted
in connection with the establishment of the new OX
trading platform, the term ‘‘OX Routing Broker’’
refers to the broker-dealer affiliate of the Exchange
that acts as agent for routing orders entered into OX
of OTP Holders, OTP Firms and OTP Firms’
Sponsored Participants to other Market Centers for
execution whenever such routing is permitted by
Exchange Rules. Archipelago Securities is the
Exchange’s only OX Routing Broker.
10 See OX Approval Order, supra note 6.
8 Archipelago
E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5481-5483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1829]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-55185; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2007-10]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the
Establishment of a Pilot Program That Increases Position and Exercise
Limits for Options on the iShares[supreg] Russell 2000[supreg] Index
Fund
January 29, 2007.
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 January 25, 2007, the NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' or
``Exchange'') 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 NYSE Arca.
NYSE Arca has filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the
Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal
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).
\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
NYSE Arca proposes to amend Rule 6.8 to exempt options on the
iShares[supreg] Russell 2000[supreg] Index Fund (``IWM'') from the
position and exercise limits provided for under the Rule 6.8 Pilot
Program and to increase the standard position and exercise limits for
IWM as part of an approximately six-month pilot (``Rule 6.8 IWM Pilot
Program'').\5\ The text of the proposed rule change is available at
NYSE Arca, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and
www.nysearca.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Due to the effective date of this filing, the duration of
the pilot will actually be slightly less than six months so that the
expiration date of the pilot may coincide with similar pilot
programs in effect at other options exchanges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, NYSE Arca included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed
[[Page 5482]]
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.
NYSE Arca 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
The Exchange proposes to amend Commentary .06 to Rule 6.8 on an
approximately six-month pilot basis to exempt options on IWM from the
Rule 6.8 Pilot Program. Under the Rule 6.8 Pilot Program, the position
and exercise limits for IWM would be reduced on January 22, 2007 from
500,000 to 250,000 contracts. The Exchange now proposes to allow
position and exercise limits for options on IWM to remain at 500,000
contracts on a pilot basis, from January 25, 2007 through July 22,
2007.
In June 2005, as a result of a 2-for-1 stock split, the position
limit for IWM options was temporarily increased from 250,000 contracts
(covering 25,000,000 shares) to 500,000 contracts (covering 50,000,000
shares). At the time of the split, the furthest IWM option expiration
date was January 2007. Therefore, the temporary increase of the IWM
position limit will revert to the pre-split level (as provided for in
connection with the Rule 6.8 Pilot Program) of 250,000 contracts after
expiration in January 2007, or on January 22, 2007.
The Exchange believes that a position limit of 250,000 contracts is
too low and may be a deterrent to the successful trading of IWM
options. Importantly, options on IWM are 1/10th the size of options on
the Russell 2000[supreg] Index (``RUT''), which are presently listed on
both the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated and the
International Securities Exchange, LLC, have a position limit of 50,000
contracts.\6\ Traders on NYSE Arca who trade IWM options to hedge
positions in RUT options would likely find a position limit of 250,000
contracts in IWM options too restrictive and insufficient to properly
hedge. For example, if a trader held 50,000 RUT options and wanted to
hedge that position with IWM options, the trader would need--at a
minimum-500,000 IWM options to properly hedge the position. Therefore,
the Exchange believes that a position limit of 250,000 contracts is too
low and may adversely affect market participants' ability to provide
liquidity in this product.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See CBOE Rule 24.4(a) and ISE Rule 2004(a). While options on
the RUT are presently not listed on NYSE Arca, the Exchange has
looked into the feasibility of listing this product and may propose
to do so in a future filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additionally, IWM options have grown to become one of the largest
options contracts in terms of trading volume. For example, the volume
in options on IWM set a new single-day record on June 8, 2006, when
760,803 contracts (120,229 calls and 640,574 puts) traded on that day.
This record level volume beat the previous single-day high of 727,521
contracts on May 17, 2006.
As a result, the Exchange proposes that options on IWM be subject
to position and exercise limits of 500,000 contracts on a pilot basis
to run from January 25, 2007 through July 22, 2007.\7\ The Exchange
believes that increasing position and exercise limits for IWM options
will lead to a more liquid and more competitive market environment for
IWM options that will benefit customers interested in this product.
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\7\ Pursuant to Commentary .03 to NYSE Arca Rule 6.9, the
exercise limit established under Rule 6.9 for IWM options shall be
equivalent to the position limit prescribed for IWM options in
Commentary .06 under Rule 6.8. The increased exercise limits would
only be in effect during the pilot period, to run from January 25,
2007 through July 22, 2007.
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The Exchange would require that each member or member organization
that maintains a position on the same side of the market in excess of
10,000 contracts in the IWM option class, for its own account or for
the account of a customer, report certain information.\8\ This data
would include, but would not be limited to, the option position,
whether such position is hedged and if so, a description of the hedge,
and if applicable, the collateral used to carry the position. Exchange
market-makers (including LMMs) would continue to be exempt from this
reporting requirement as market-maker information can be accessed
through the Exchange's market surveillance systems. In addition, the
general reporting requirement for customer accounts that maintain a
position in excess of 200 contracts will remain at this level for IWM
options.\9 \
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\8\ See NYSE Arca Rule 6.6(b).
\9\ See NYSE Arca Rule 6.6(a).
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\10\ in
that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade,
to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange 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
Because the forgoing rule change does not: (1) Significantly affect
the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (3) become operative for 30 days
after the date of this filing, or such shorter time as the Commission
may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act \11\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\12\
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\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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A proposed rule change filed under 19b-4(f)(6) normally may not
become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing.\13\
However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \14\ permits the Commission to designate
a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes
that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the
protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver
would permit position and exercise limits for options on IWM to
continue at 500,000 option contracts for an approximately six-month
pilot period. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed
rule change to be effective and operative upon filing with the
Commission.\15\
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\13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) requires that a self-regulatory organization submit to
the Commission 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 Commission has decided to waive the five-day
pre-filing notice requirement.
\14\ Id.
\15\ For the 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).
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[[Page 5483]]
At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change the Commission may summarily abrogate such 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 (https://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2007-10 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2007-10.
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 (https://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. Copies of the
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the
principal office of NYSEArca. 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 Number SR-NYSEArca-2007-10 and should be submitted on or before
February 27, 2007.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation,
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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\16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-1829 Filed 2-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
