Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the $1 Strike Pilot Program, 71986-71988 [E7-24535]
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71986
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 19, 2007 / Notices
indirectly controls the ISE, the books,
records, premises, officers, Trustees,
Delaware trustee, and employees of the
Trust shall be deemed to be the books,
records, premises, officers, Trustees,
Delaware trustee, and employees of the
ISE for purposes of and subject to
oversight pursuant to the Act.103 The
Trust agrees to keep confidential, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, all confidential information
pertaining to the self-regulatory function
of the ISE (including, without
limitation, disciplinary matters, trading
data, trading practices, and audit
information) contained in the books and
records of the ISE and not use such
information for any commercial 104
purposes.105
The Trust Agreement requires that it
may only be amended with prior written
approval of the Commission, as and to
the extent required under the Act.106
Further, for so long as Holdings or the
Trust shall control, directly or
indirectly, the ISE, any changes to the
Trust must be submitted to the ISE
Board. If the change must be filed with,
or filed with and approved by, the
Commission under section 19 of the
Act 107 and the rules thereunder, then
the change shall not be effective until
filed with, or filed with and approved
by, the Commission.108
The Commission finds that the Trust
Agreement is designed to enable the ISE
to operate in a manner that complies
with the federal securities laws,
including the objectives and
requirements of sections 6(b) and 19(g)
of the Act,109 facilitate the ability of the
ISE and the Commission to fulfill their
regulatory and oversight obligations
under the Act,110 and are consistent
with the provisions other entities that
directly or indirectly own or control an
SRO have instituted and that have been
approved by the Commission.111 The
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
103 Id.
104 The Commission believes that any nonregulatory use of such information would be for a
commercial purpose.
105 Trust Agreement, Article VI, Section 6.1(a).
The Trust Agreement states that none of its
provisions shall be interpreted so as to limit or
impede (1) the rights of the Commission or the ISE
to have access to and examine such confidential
information pursuant to the U.S. federal securities
laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, or
(2) the ability of any Trustees, Delaware trustee,
officers, directors, employees, or agents of Holdings
or the Trust to disclose such confidential
information to the Commission or the ISE. See Trust
Agreement, Article VI, Section 6.2.
106 Trust Agreement, Article VIII, Section 8.2.
107 15 U.S.C. 78s.
108 Trust Agreement, Article VIII, Section 8.2.
109 15 U.S.C. 78f(b) and 15 U.S.C. 78s(g).
110 Trust Agreement, Articles V, VI, and VIII.
111 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
55293 (February 14, 2007), 72 FR 8033 (February
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Commission finds that the Trust’s
provisions are consistent with the Act
and that they are designed to facilitate
the Exchange’s ability to comply with
the requirements of the Act.
Under section 20(a) of the Act,112 any
person with a controlling interest in the
ISE shall be jointly and severally liable
with and to the same extent that the ISE
is liable under any provision of the Act,
unless the controlling person acted in
good faith and did not directly or
indirectly induce the act or acts
constituting the violation or cause of
action. In addition, section 20(e) of the
Act 113 creates aiding and abetting
liability for any person who knowingly
provides substantial assistance to
another person in violation of any
provision of the Act or rule thereunder.
Further, section 21C of the Act 114
authorizes the Commission to enter a
cease-and-desist order against any
person who has been ‘‘a cause of’’ a
violation of any provision of the Act
through an act or omission that the
person knew or should have known
would contribute to the violation. These
provisions are applicable to the Trust
and all other entities controlling the ISE.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the Act
and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to a national
securities exchange.115
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
section 19(b)(2) of the Act 116 that the
proposed rule change (SR–ISE–2007–
101) is approved, and Amendment No.
1 is approved on an accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.117
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7–24500 Filed 12–18–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
22, 2007) (SR–NYSE–2006–120) (merger of NYSE
Group, Inc. and Euronext N.V.) and 53382
(February 27, 2006), 71 FR 11251 (March 6, 2006)
(SR–NYSE–2005–77) (merger of New York Stock
Exchange, Inc. and Archipelago Holdings, Inc.).
112 15 U.S.C. 78t(a).
113 15 U.S.C. 78t(e).
114 15 U.S.C. 78u–3.
115 The Commission’s approval of the proposed
rule change based on the Exchange’s representation
that the Resolutions will be signed by the Upstream
Owners before or at the closing of the Transaction.
116 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
117 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–56956; File No. SR–ISE–
2007–110]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to the $1 Strike Pilot
Program
December 13, 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 November
14, 2007, the International Securities
Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’)
filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items
have been substantially prepared by the
Exchange. 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
ISE proposes to expand the $1 Strike
Pilot Program (‘‘Pilot Program’’) and
requests permanent approval of the Pilot
Program. The text of the proposed rule
change is available at the Exchange, the
Commission’s Public Reference Room,
and https://www.ise.com.
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
The purpose of the proposed rule
change is to expand the Pilot Program
and to request permanent approval of
1 15
2 17
E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
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mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
the Pilot Program.3 The Pilot Program
currently allows ISE to select a total of
5 individual stocks on which an option
series may be listed at $1 strike price
intervals. In order to be eligible for
selection into the Pilot Program, the
underlying stock must close below $20
in its primary market on the previous
trading day. If selected for the Pilot
Program, the Exchange may list strike
prices at $1 intervals from $3 to $20, but
no $1 strike price may be listed that is
greater than $5 from the underlying
stock’s closing price in its primary
market on the previous day. The
Exchange also may list $1 strikes on any
other option class designated by other
securities exchanges that employ a
similar Pilot Program under their
respective rules. The Exchange may not
list long-term option series (LEAPS) at
$1 strike price intervals for any class
selected for the Pilot Program. The
Exchange also is restricted from listing
any series that would result in strike
prices being $0.50 apart.
The Exchange proposes to expand the
Pilot Program to allow ISE to select a
total of 10 individual stocks on which
an option series may be listed at $1
strike price intervals. Additionally, ISE
proposes to expand the price range on
which it may list $1 strikes from $3 to
$50. The existing restrictions on listing
$1 strikes would continue, i.e., no $1
strike price may be listed that is greater
than $5 from the underlying stock’s
closing price in its primary market on
the previous day, and ISE is restricted
from listing any series that would result
in strike prices being $0.50 apart.
As stated in the Commission order
approving ISE’s Pilot Program and in
the subsequent extensions of the Pilot
Program,4 ISE believes that $1 strike
price intervals provide investors with
greater flexibility in the trading of
equity options that overlie lower priced
stocks by allowing investors to establish
equity options positions that are better
tailored to meet their investment
3 The Commission approved the Pilot Program on
June 16, 2003. See Securities Exchange Act Release
No. 48033 (June 16, 2003), 68 FR 37036 (June 20,
2003) (SR–ISE–2003–17). The Pilot Program has
subsequently been extended through June 5, 2008.
See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 49827
(June 8, 2004), 69 FR 33966 (June 17, 2004) (SR–
ISE–2004–21) (extending the Pilot Program until
August 5, 2004); 50060 (July 22, 2004), 69 FR 45864
(July 30, 2004) (SR–ISE–2004–26) (extending the
Pilot Program for 10 months until June 5, 2005);
51769 (May 31, 2005), 70 FR 33232 (June 7, 2005)
(SR–ISE–2005–22) (extending the Pilot Program
until June 5, 2006); 53806 (May 15, 2006), 71 FR
29694 (May 23, 2006) (SR–ISE–2006–20) (extending
the Pilot Program until June 5, 2007); and 55715
(May 7, 2007), 72 FR 26854 (May 11, 2007) (SR–
ISE–2007–26) (extending the Pilot Program until
June 5, 2008).
4 See id.
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21:40 Dec 18, 2007
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objectives. The Exchange states that its
member firms representing customers
have repeatedly requested that ISE seek
to expand the Pilot Program, both in
terms of the number of classes on which
an option series may be listed at $1
strike price intervals and the range in
which $1 strikes may be listed.
With regard to the impact on systems
capacities, ISE’s analysis of the Pilot
Program shows that the impact on the
automated systems of ISE, the Options
Price Reporting Authority (‘‘OPRA’’),
and market data vendors has been
minimal. The Exchange analyzed the
quoting activity for all classes selected
for the Pilot Program as a percentage of
all quoting activity for all classes being
quoted during the specified number of
months.5 The Exchange concluded that,
prior to the implementation of the Pilot
Program in May 2003, the number of
Best Bid/Offer (‘‘BBO’’) quotes sent to
OPRA in the five classes selected for the
Pilot Program represented
approximately 0.47% of all BBO quotes
sent by the Exchange.6 As of April 2007,
the BBO quote share in the five classes
selected for the Pilot Program remained
below May 2003 levels in all months
analyzed by the Exchange, with the
exception of one month, February
2005.7 The Exchange notes that these
statistics may overstate the contribution
of $1 strike prices because these figures
also include quotes for options series
listed in intervals higher than $1 (i.e.,
$2.50 strikes) in the same option classes.
Even with the non-$1 strike series
quotes included in these figures, ISE
believes that the overall impact on
capacity is still minimal. ISE represents
that is has sufficient capacity to handle
an expansion of the Pilot Program, as
proposed.
The Exchange believes that the Pilot
Program has provided investors with
greater trading opportunities and
flexibility and the ability to more
closely tailor their investment strategies
and decisions to the movement of the
underlying security. Furthermore, the
Exchange has not detected any material
proliferation of illiquid option series
resulting from the narrower strike price
intervals. For these reasons, ISE requests
that the Pilot Program be approved on
a permanent basis.
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55715
(May 7, 2007), 72 FR 26854 (May 11, 2007) (SR–
ISE–2007–26), Exhibit 3, Pilot Program Report
(providing empirical analyses of the impact of the
Pilot Program on the capacity of automated systems
during years 2003 to 2007).
6 Id.
7 Id.
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71987
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is consistent with the Act
and the rules and regulations
thereunder and, in particular, the
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.8
Specifically, the Exchange believes the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of
the Act,9 in that the rules of an exchange
be designed to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts, 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. The Exchange believes
that expanding the Pilot Program will
result in a continuing benefit to
investors by giving them more flexibility
to closely tailor their investment
decisions in a greater number of
securities and for a more extended
period of time than currently permitted.
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
comments on the proposed rule change
and 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
Within 35 days of the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register or within such longer period (i)
as the Commission may designate up to
90 days of such date if it finds such
longer period to be appropriate and
publishes its reasons for so finding or
(ii) as to which ISE consents, the
Commission will:
A. By order approve such proposed
rule change, or
B. Institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule change
should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
8 15
9 15
E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
19DEN1
71988
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 19, 2007 / Notices
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 rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–ISE–2007–110 on the
subject line.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–56957; File No. SR–ISE–
2007–115]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to Historical ISE
Open/Close Trade Profile Fees
December 13, 2007.
Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
• Send paper comments in triplicate
(‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary,
notice is hereby given that on December
Securities and Exchange Commission,
11, 2007, the International Securities
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’)
20549–1090.
filed with the Securities and Exchange
All submissions should refer to File
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
Number SR–ISE–2007–110. This file
proposed rule change as described in
number should be included on the
Items I and II below, which Items have
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the been substantially prepared by ISE. The
Commission process and review your
Exchange filed the proposal pursuant to
comments more efficiently, please use
section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 3 and Rule
only one method. The Commission will 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder,4 which renders
post all comments on the Commission’s the proposal effective upon filing with
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
the Commission. The Commission is
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
publishing this notice to solicit
submission, all subsequent
comments on the proposed rule change
amendments, all written statements
from interested persons.
with respect to the proposed rule
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
change that are filed with the
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
Commission, and all written
the Proposed Rule Change
communications relating to the
ISE proposes to amend its Schedule of
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than Fees to: (1) Clarify the terms on which
it offers the ISE Open/Close Trade
those that may be withheld from the
Profile, a market data product described
public in accordance with the
below; and (2) adopt a subscription fee
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
for the sale of historical ISE Open/Close
available for inspection and copying in
Trade Profile. The text of the proposed
the Commission’s Public Reference
rule change is available at the Exchange,
Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington,
on the Exchange’s Web site at https://
DC 20549, on official business days
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. www.ise.com, and at the Commission’s
Copies of the filing also will be available Public Reference Room.
for inspection and copying at the
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
principal office of the Exchange. All
Statement of the Purpose of, and
comments received will be posted
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
without change; the Commission does
Change
not edit personal identifying
In its filing with the Commission, the
information from submissions. You
Exchange included statements
should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All concerning the purpose of, and basis for,
the proposed rule change and discussed
submissions should refer to File
any comments it received on the
Number SR–ISE–2007–110 and should
proposed rule change. The text of these
be submitted on or before January 9,
statements may be examined at the
2008.
places specified in Item IV below. The
For the Commission, by the Division of
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
authority.10
the most significant aspects of such
Florence E. Harmon,
statements.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Paper Comments
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7–24535 Filed 12–18–07; 8:45 am]
1 15
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
2 17
10 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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21:40 Dec 18, 2007
Jkt 214001
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).
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A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
ISE currently creates volume data for
each ISE listed option that consists of
opening buys and opening sells and
closing buys and closing sells.5 ISE
currently uses a subset of this data, the
customer ‘‘opening only’’ trade data, for
its calculation of investor sentiment, the
ISE Sentiment Index, or ISEE, and
for ISEE Select. The Commission
recently approved a broader market data
offering comprised of the entire opening
and closing trade data of ISE listed
options of both customers and firms,
referred to by the Exchange as the ISE
Open/Close Trade Profile.6 The ISE
Open/Close Trade Profile offering is
subdivided by origin code (i.e.,
customer or firm) and the customer data
is then further subdivided by order size.
The volume data is summarized by day
and series (i.e., symbol, expiration date,
strike price, call or put). ISE Open/Close
Trade Profile is a subscription service,
available to both members and nonmembers, and that enables subscribers
to create their own proprietary put/call
calculations. The data is compiled and
formatted by ISE as an end of day file.
The Exchange charges both members
and non-members $600 per month
based on an annual subscription 7 for
the ISE Open/Close Trade Profile market
data offering.
ISE now proposes to sell historical
ISE Open/Close Trade Profile, a market
data offering comprised of the entire
opening and closing trade data of both
customers and firms that dates back to
May 2005, to both members and nonmembers, on an ad-hoc basis or as a
complete set that dates back to May
2005. Ad-hoc subscribers will be able to
purchase this data for any number of
months, beginning from May 2005
through the current month.
Alternatively, subscribers will be able to
purchase the entire set of this data,
beginning from May 2005 through the
5 An opening buy is a transaction that creates or
increases a long position and an opening sell is a
transaction that creates or increases a short
position. A closing buy is a transaction made to
close out an existing position. A closing sell is a
transaction to reduce or eliminate a long position.
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56254
(August 15, 2007), 72 FR 47104 (August 22, 2007)
(SR–ISE–2007–70).
7 The Exchange notes that while historical ISE
Open/Close Trade Profile is available on a month
to month basis, the non-historical ISE Open/Close
Trade Profile offering is available only on an annual
subscription basis, which the Exchange proposes to
clarify by adding the words ‘‘With an annual
subscription’’ under the Notes section on its
Schedule of Fees.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71986-71988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24535]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-56956; File No. SR-ISE-2007-110]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the $1 Strike
Pilot Program
December 13, 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 November 14, 2007, the International Securities Exchange, LLC
(``ISE'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been substantially
prepared by the Exchange. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
ISE proposes to expand the $1 Strike Pilot Program (``Pilot
Program'') and requests permanent approval of the Pilot Program. The
text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, the
Commission's Public Reference Room, and https://www.ise.com.
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
The purpose of the proposed rule change is to expand the Pilot
Program and to request permanent approval of
[[Page 71987]]
the Pilot Program.\3\ The Pilot Program currently allows ISE to select
a total of 5 individual stocks on which an option series may be listed
at $1 strike price intervals. In order to be eligible for selection
into the Pilot Program, the underlying stock must close below $20 in
its primary market on the previous trading day. If selected for the
Pilot Program, the Exchange may list strike prices at $1 intervals from
$3 to $20, but no $1 strike price may be listed that is greater than $5
from the underlying stock's closing price in its primary market on the
previous day. The Exchange also may list $1 strikes on any other option
class designated by other securities exchanges that employ a similar
Pilot Program under their respective rules. The Exchange may not list
long-term option series (LEAPS) at $1 strike price intervals for any
class selected for the Pilot Program. The Exchange also is restricted
from listing any series that would result in strike prices being $0.50
apart.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The Commission approved the Pilot Program on June 16, 2003.
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 48033 (June 16, 2003), 68 FR
37036 (June 20, 2003) (SR-ISE-2003-17). The Pilot Program has
subsequently been extended through June 5, 2008. See Securities
Exchange Act Release Nos. 49827 (June 8, 2004), 69 FR 33966 (June
17, 2004) (SR-ISE-2004-21) (extending the Pilot Program until August
5, 2004); 50060 (July 22, 2004), 69 FR 45864 (July 30, 2004) (SR-
ISE-2004-26) (extending the Pilot Program for 10 months until June
5, 2005); 51769 (May 31, 2005), 70 FR 33232 (June 7, 2005) (SR-ISE-
2005-22) (extending the Pilot Program until June 5, 2006); 53806
(May 15, 2006), 71 FR 29694 (May 23, 2006) (SR-ISE-2006-20)
(extending the Pilot Program until June 5, 2007); and 55715 (May 7,
2007), 72 FR 26854 (May 11, 2007) (SR-ISE-2007-26) (extending the
Pilot Program until June 5, 2008).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes to expand the Pilot Program to allow ISE to
select a total of 10 individual stocks on which an option series may be
listed at $1 strike price intervals. Additionally, ISE proposes to
expand the price range on which it may list $1 strikes from $3 to $50.
The existing restrictions on listing $1 strikes would continue, i.e.,
no $1 strike price may be listed that is greater than $5 from the
underlying stock's closing price in its primary market on the previous
day, and ISE is restricted from listing any series that would result in
strike prices being $0.50 apart.
As stated in the Commission order approving ISE's Pilot Program and
in the subsequent extensions of the Pilot Program,\4\ ISE believes that
$1 strike price intervals provide investors with greater flexibility in
the trading of equity options that overlie lower priced stocks by
allowing investors to establish equity options positions that are
better tailored to meet their investment objectives. The Exchange
states that its member firms representing customers have repeatedly
requested that ISE seek to expand the Pilot Program, both in terms of
the number of classes on which an option series may be listed at $1
strike price intervals and the range in which $1 strikes may be listed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With regard to the impact on systems capacities, ISE's analysis of
the Pilot Program shows that the impact on the automated systems of
ISE, the Options Price Reporting Authority (``OPRA''), and market data
vendors has been minimal. The Exchange analyzed the quoting activity
for all classes selected for the Pilot Program as a percentage of all
quoting activity for all classes being quoted during the specified
number of months.\5\ The Exchange concluded that, prior to the
implementation of the Pilot Program in May 2003, the number of Best
Bid/Offer (``BBO'') quotes sent to OPRA in the five classes selected
for the Pilot Program represented approximately 0.47% of all BBO quotes
sent by the Exchange.\6\ As of April 2007, the BBO quote share in the
five classes selected for the Pilot Program remained below May 2003
levels in all months analyzed by the Exchange, with the exception of
one month, February 2005.\7\ The Exchange notes that these statistics
may overstate the contribution of $1 strike prices because these
figures also include quotes for options series listed in intervals
higher than $1 (i.e., $2.50 strikes) in the same option classes. Even
with the non-$1 strike series quotes included in these figures, ISE
believes that the overall impact on capacity is still minimal. ISE
represents that is has sufficient capacity to handle an expansion of
the Pilot Program, as proposed.
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\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55715 (May 7, 2007),
72 FR 26854 (May 11, 2007) (SR-ISE-2007-26), Exhibit 3, Pilot
Program Report (providing empirical analyses of the impact of the
Pilot Program on the capacity of automated systems during years 2003
to 2007).
\6\ Id.
\7\ Id.
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The Exchange believes that the Pilot Program has provided investors
with greater trading opportunities and flexibility and the ability to
more closely tailor their investment strategies and decisions to the
movement of the underlying security. Furthermore, the Exchange has not
detected any material proliferation of illiquid option series resulting
from the narrower strike price intervals. For these reasons, ISE
requests that the Pilot Program be approved on a permanent basis.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and, in particular,
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\8\ Specifically, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the
requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\9\ in that the rules of an
exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade,
to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts, 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. The Exchange believes that expanding the Pilot Program will
result in a continuing benefit to investors by giving them more
flexibility to closely tailor their investment decisions in a greater
number of securities and for a more extended period of time than
currently permitted.
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\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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 comments on the proposed rule change
and 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
Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to
which ISE consents, the Commission will:
A. By order approve such proposed rule change, or
B. Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
[[Page 71988]]
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-ISE-2007-110 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-ISE-2007-110. 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, 100 F Street,
NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours
of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the 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 Number SR-ISE-2007-110 and should be
submitted on or before January 9, 2008.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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\10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-24535 Filed 12-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
