Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Establish Strike Price Intervals and Trading Hours for Options on Index-Linked Securities, 13614-13616 [2010-6113]
Download as PDF
13614
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 54 / Monday, March 22, 2010 / Notices
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[File No. 500–1]
In the Matter of Talisman Enterprises,
Inc., Tangent Solutions, Inc., Telepanel
Systems, Inc., Telesis North
Communications, Inc., Telzuit Medical
Technologies, Inc., Tengtu
International Corp., Thomaston Mills,
Inc., Three D Departments, Inc., Tiger
Telematics, Inc., and TIS Mortgage
Investment Co.; Order of Suspension
of Trading
pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
March 18, 2010.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Talisman
Enterprises, Inc. because it has not filed
any periodic reports since the period
ended September 30, 2000.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Tangent
Solutions, Inc. because it has not filed
any periodic reports since the period
ended March 31, 2003.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Telepanel
Systems, Inc. because it has not filed
any periodic reports since the period
ended January 31, 2002.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Telesis
North Communications, Inc. because it
has not filed any periodic reports since
the period ended February 28, 2002.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Telzuit
Medical Technologies, Inc. because it
has not filed any periodic reports since
the period ended September 30, 2007.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Tengtu
International Corp. because it has not
filed any periodic reports since the
period ended March 31, 2005.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Thomaston
Mills, Inc. because it has not filed any
periodic reports since the period ended
December 30, 2000.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:41 Mar 19, 2010
Jkt 220001
concerning the securities of Three D
Departments, Inc. because it has not
filed any periodic reports since the
period ended August 1, 1998.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Tiger
Telematics, Inc. because it has not filed
any periodic reports since the period
ended September 30, 2005.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of TIS
Mortgage Investment Co. because it has
not filed any periodic reports since the
period ended September 30, 2004.
The Commission is of the opinion that
the public interest and the protection of
investors require a suspension of trading
in the securities of the above-listed
companies.
Therefore, it is ordered, pursuant to
Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, that trading in the
securities of the above-listed companies
is suspended for the period from 9:30
a.m. EDT on March 18, 2010, through
11:59 p.m. EDT on March 31, 2010.
By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–6315 Filed 3–18–10; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–61695; File No. SR–Phlx2010–40]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc.; Notice of
Filing of Proposed Rule Change To
Establish Strike Price Intervals and
Trading Hours for Options on IndexLinked Securities
March 12, 2010.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’
or ‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that
on March 1, 2010, NASDAQ OMX
PHLX, Inc. (‘‘Phlx’’ 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 prepared by the Exchange.
The Commission is publishing this
notice to solicit comments on the
1 15
2 17
PO 00000
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
Frm 00132
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 filing with the
Commission a proposal to amend: Phlx
Rule 1012 (Series of Options Open for
Trading) to establish strike-price
intervals for options on Index-Linked
Securities; 3 and Phlx Rule 101 (Hours
of Business) to establish trading hours
for these products. The text of the
proposed rule change is available on
Phlx’s Web site at https://
nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/
NASDAQOMXPHLX/Filings/, on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
www.sec.gov, at Phlx, 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
self-regulatory organization 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 those 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 parts 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 this proposal is to
amend Rules 1012 and 101 to establish
3 Index-Linked Securities, also known as
exchange-traded notes, are long-term notes that are
the non-convertible debt of an issuer with a term
of at least one year but not greater than thirty years.
These exchange-traded securities are designed for
investors who desire to participate in a specific
market segment by providing exposure to one or
more identifiable underlying securities,
commodities, currencies, derivative instruments or
market indexes. The Exchange’s listing standards
for options on Index-Linked Securities were
established in September 2008. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 58571 (September 17,
2008), 73 FR 55188 (September 24, 2008) (SR–Phlx–
2008–60) (notice of filing and immediate
effectiveness). Other exchanges have established
similar listing standards. See Securities Exchange
Act Release Nos. 59923 (May 14, 2009), 74 FR
23902 (May 21, 2009) (SR–NASDAQ–2009–046)
(notice of filing and immediate effectiveness);
58204 (July 22, 2008), 73 FR 43807 (July 28, 2008)
(SR–CBOE–2008–64) (approval order); 58203 (July
22, 2008), 73 FR 43812 (July 28, 2008) (SR–
NYSEArca–2008–57) (approval order); and 58985
(November 20, 2008), 73 FR 72538 (November 28,
2008) (SR–ISE–2008–86) (notice of filing and
immediate effectiveness).
E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM
22MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 54 / Monday, March 22, 2010 / Notices
strike price intervals and trading hours
for options on Index-Linked Securities
(‘‘ILS’’), also known as exchange-traded
notes (‘‘ETN’’), prior to the Exchange
proposing to list and trade these new
products.
The Commission has approved the
Exchange’s proposal, as well as the
proposals of other options exchanges, to
enable the listing and trading of options
on ILS (ETN).4 Options trading has not
commenced to date and is contingent
upon the Commission’s approval of The
Options Clearing Corporation’s (‘‘OCC’’)
proposed supplement to the Options
Disclosure Document (‘‘ODD’’) that will
provide disclosure regarding options on
Index-Linked Securities.5
$1 Strikes for ILS (ETN) Options
Prior to the commencement of trading
options on Index-Linked Securities, the
Exchange is proposing to establish that
strike price intervals of $1 will be
permitted where the strike price is less
than $200. Where the strike price is
greater than $200, $5 strikes will be
permitted. These proposed changes are
reflected by the addition of Commentary
.05(a)(v) to Rule 1012.
The Exchange is seeking to establish
$1 strikes for ILS (ETN) options where
the strike price is less than $200 because
the Exchange believes the marketplace
and investors will be expecting these
types of options to trade in a similar
manner to options on exchange-traded
funds (‘‘ETFs’’). Strike prices for ETF
options are permitted in $1 or greater
intervals where the strike price is $200
or less and $5 or greater where the strike
price is greater than $200.6 Accordingly,
the Exchange believes that the rationale
for permitting $1 strikes for ETF options
equally applies to permitting $1 strikes
for ILS (ETN) options, and that investors
will be better served if $1 strike price
intervals are available for ILS (ETN)
options where the strike price is less
than $200. The Exchange believes that
$1 strike price intervals for options on
Index-Linked Securities will provide
investors with greater flexibility by
allowing them to establish positions that
are better tailored to meet their
investment objectives.
pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
Trading Hours for ILS (ETN) Options
The Exchange proposes to amend
Supplementary Material .01 to Rule 101
to provide that options on exchange4 See
supra note 3.
previously received Commission approval
to clear options based on Index-Linked Securities.
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60872
(October 23, 2009), 74 FR 55878 (October 29, 2009)
(SR–OCC–2009–14) (approval order).
6 See proposed Commentary .05(a)(iv) of Rule
1012, which is renumbered for internal consistency.
5 OCC
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:41 Mar 19, 2010
Jkt 220001
traded notes including Index-Linked
Securities may be traded on the
Exchange until 4:15 p.m. each business
day. This will establish similar trading
hours for ILS (ETN) options as the
currently-established trading hours for
ETF options.7
The Exchange has analyzed its
capacity and believes the Exchange and
the Options Price Reporting Authority
(‘‘OPRA’’) have the necessary systems
capacity to handle the additional traffic
associated with the listing and trading
of $1 strikes where the strike price is
less than $200 for ILS (ETN) options.
The Exchange expects that other
option exchanges that have adopted
rules providing for the listing and
trading of options on Index-Linked
Securities will submit similar
proposals.8
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act 9 in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 10
in particular, in that it is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in facilitating
transactions in securities, and to remove
impediments to and perfect the
mechanisms of a free and open market
and a national market system, by having
strike price intervals and trading hours
established prior to the commencement
of trading in options on Index-Linked
Securities and thereby lessening the
likelihood for investor confusion.
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 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 either
solicited or received.
7 See
Rule 101.
for example, Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 61466 (February 2, 2010), 75 FR 6243
(February 8, 2010) (SR–CBOE–2010–005) (notice of
filing).
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
8 See,
PO 00000
Frm 00133
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
13615
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 the self-regulatory
organization consents, the Commission
will:
(A) By order approve the 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,
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
No. SR–Phlx–2010–40 on the subject
line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
Station Place, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–Phlx–2010–40. 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 Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, on official business
days between the hours of 10 a.m. and
E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM
22MRN1
13616
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 54 / Monday, March 22, 2010 / Notices
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
Number SR–Phlx–2010–40 and should
be submitted on or before April 6, 2010.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–6113 Filed 3–19–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–61697; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2010–04]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Accelerated
Approval of Proposed Rule Change
Relating to the WisdomTree Real
Return Fund
March 12, 2010.
I. Introduction
On January 25, 2010, NYSE Arca, Inc.
(‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
change to list and trade the shares
(‘‘Shares’’) of the WisdomTree Real
Return Fund (‘‘Fund’’) under NYSE Arca
Equities Rule 8.600. The proposed rule
change was published for comment in
the Federal Register on February 23,
2010.3 The Commission received no
comment letters on the proposed rule
change. This order approves the
proposed rule change on an accelerated
basis.
pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
II. Description of the Proposed Rule
Change
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade the Shares pursuant to NYSE Arca
Equities Rule 8.600, which governs the
listing and trading of Managed Fund
Shares on the Exchange.4 The Fund will
11 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61519
(February 16, 2010), 75 FR 8164 (‘‘Notice’’).
4 Managed Fund Shares are defined as securities
that (a) represent an interest in a registered
investment company organized as an open-end
1 15
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:41 Mar 19, 2010
Jkt 220001
be an actively-managed exchange traded
fund, and the Shares will be offered by
the WisdomTree Trust (‘‘Trust’’), a
Delaware statutory trust that is
registered with the Commission as an
investment company.5 WisdomTree
Asset Management, Inc. (‘‘Adviser’’) will
be the investment adviser to the Fund
and is not affiliated with any brokerdealer. The Mellon Capital Management
Corporation (‘‘Sub–Adviser’’), which
will serve as the sub–adviser for the
Fund, is affiliated with multiple brokerdealers and, accordingly, has
implemented a ‘‘fire wall’’ with respect
to such broker-dealers regarding access
to information concerning the
composition and/or changes to the
Fund’s portfolio.6 The Bank of New
York Mellon will be the administrator,
custodian and transfer agent for the
Fund, and ALPS Distributors, Inc. will
serve as the distributor for the Fund.
The Exchange states that the Shares
will be subject to the initial and
continued listing criteria under NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 8.600(d) applicable
to Managed Fund Shares 7 and that the
Shares will comply with Rule 10A–3
under the Act,8 as provided by NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 5.3.
management investment company or similar entity
that invests in a portfolio of securities selected by
the investment company’s investment adviser
consistent with the investment company’s
investment objectives and policies; (b) are issued in
a specified aggregate minimum number in return for
a deposit of a specified portfolio of securities and/
or a cash amount with a value equal to the next
determined net asset value; and (c) when aggregated
in the same specified minimum number, may be
redeemed at a holder’s request, which holder will
be paid a specified portfolio of securities and/or
cash with a value equal to the next determined net
asset value. See NYSE Arca Equities Rule
8.600(c)(1).
5 See Trust Registration Statement on Form N–1A
filed on October 28, 2009 (File Nos. 333–132380
and 811–21864) (‘‘Registration Statement’’).
6 See Commentary .07 to NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.600 (requiring the use of ‘‘fire walls’’ between
investment advisers and affiliated broker-dealers
with respect to access to information concerning the
composition and/or changes to the fund portfolio).
The Exchange represents that the Adviser and the
Sub–Adviser of the Funds, and their respective
related personnel, are subject to Rule 204A–1 under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (‘‘Advisers
Act’’), which generally requires investment advisers
to adopt a code of ethics that reflects the fiduciary
nature of the relationship to clients as well as
compliance with other applicable securities laws.
Accordingly, procedures designed to prevent the
communication and misuse of non-public
information by an investment adviser must be
consistent with Rule 204A–1 under the Advisers
Act.
7 The Exchange states that a minimum of 100,000
Shares will be outstanding at the commencement of
trading on the Exchange, and the Exchange will
obtain a representation from the issuer of the Shares
that the net asset value (‘‘NAV’’) per share for the
Fund will be calculated daily and that the NAV and
the Disclosed Portfolio will be made available to all
market participants at the same time.
8 See 17 CFR 240.10A–3.
PO 00000
Frm 00134
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Fund will seek to provide
investors with total returns that exceed
the rate of inflation over long-term
investment horizons. To achieve its
objective, the Fund intends to invest in
a portfolio of inflation-linked securities,
such as U.S. Treasury Inflation
Protected Securities (‘‘TIPS’’) and other
investment-grade fixed income
securities. The Fund will have targeted
exposure to commodities and
commodity strategies.
While the Fund intends to invest up
to 70% or more of the value of its
portfolio in TIPS, the Fund may invest
in other types of inflation-linked fixed
income securities, such as investmentgrade, floating-rate fixed income
securities linked to U.S. inflation rates
that are issued by the U.S. government,
government agencies, or corporations.
The Fund may also invest in inflationlinked swaps, securities linked to
inflation rates outside the U.S.,
including securities or instruments
linked to rates in emerging market
countries, and fixed income securities
that are not linked to inflation, such as
U.S. government securities. While the
Fund intends to invest primarily in
investment-grade securities, the Fund
may invest up to 10% of its net assets
in securities rated ‘‘BB’’ or lower by at
least two nationally recognized
statistical rating organizations or, if
unrated, deemed to be of equivalent
quality. The Fund may invest in
securities with effective or final
maturities of any length and will seek to
keep the average effective duration of its
portfolio between two and ten years.
The Fund may adjust its portfolio
holdings or average effective duration
based on actual or anticipated changes
in interest rates or credit quality.
The Fund also intends to have
targeted exposure to commodities across
a number of sectors, such as energy,
precious metals, and agriculture,
primarily through its investments in the
WisdomTree Real Return Investment
Portfolio, Inc. (‘‘Subsidiary’’),9 a whollyowned subsidiary organized in the
Cayman Islands,10 as well as in
9 The Fund intends to invest up to 25% of its
assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary intends to
invest all of its assets in Commodity-Linked
Instruments and/or fixed income securities that
serve as collateral for its commodity exposure. The
Subsidiary’s investments will be consolidated into
the Fund’s financial statements, and the Fund’s and
Subsidiary’s holdings will be publicly available on
a daily basis.
10 The Exchange states that the Subsidiary is
subject to the same investment restrictions as the
Fund and will operate in the same manner as the
Fund with regard to applicable compliance policies
and procedures (other than investments in
Commodity-Linked Instruments). Although the
Subsidiary is not registered as an investment
company under the Investment Company Act of
E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM
22MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13614-13616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6113]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-61695; File No. SR-Phlx-2010-40]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc.; Notice of
Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Establish Strike Price Intervals and
Trading Hours for Options on Index-Linked Securities
March 12, 2010.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'' or ``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice
is hereby given that on March 1, 2010, NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (``Phlx''
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 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
The Exchange is filing with the Commission a proposal to amend:
Phlx Rule 1012 (Series of Options Open for Trading) to establish
strike-price intervals for options on Index-Linked Securities; \3\ and
Phlx Rule 101 (Hours of Business) to establish trading hours for these
products. The text of the proposed rule change is available on Phlx's
Web site at https://nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/NASDAQOMXPHLX/Filings/, on the Commission's Web site at https://www.sec.gov, at Phlx,
and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Index-Linked Securities, also known as exchange-traded
notes, are long-term notes that are the non-convertible debt of an
issuer with a term of at least one year but not greater than thirty
years. These exchange-traded securities are designed for investors
who desire to participate in a specific market segment by providing
exposure to one or more identifiable underlying securities,
commodities, currencies, derivative instruments or market indexes.
The Exchange's listing standards for options on Index-Linked
Securities were established in September 2008. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 58571 (September 17, 2008), 73 FR 55188
(September 24, 2008) (SR-Phlx-2008-60) (notice of filing and
immediate effectiveness). Other exchanges have established similar
listing standards. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 59923
(May 14, 2009), 74 FR 23902 (May 21, 2009) (SR-NASDAQ-2009-046)
(notice of filing and immediate effectiveness); 58204 (July 22,
2008), 73 FR 43807 (July 28, 2008) (SR-CBOE-2008-64) (approval
order); 58203 (July 22, 2008), 73 FR 43812 (July 28, 2008) (SR-
NYSEArca-2008-57) (approval order); and 58985 (November 20, 2008),
73 FR 72538 (November 28, 2008) (SR-ISE-2008-86) (notice of filing
and immediate effectiveness).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 self-regulatory organization
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 those 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 parts 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 this proposal is to amend Rules 1012 and 101 to
establish
[[Page 13615]]
strike price intervals and trading hours for options on Index-Linked
Securities (``ILS''), also known as exchange-traded notes (``ETN''),
prior to the Exchange proposing to list and trade these new products.
The Commission has approved the Exchange's proposal, as well as the
proposals of other options exchanges, to enable the listing and trading
of options on ILS (ETN).\4\ Options trading has not commenced to date
and is contingent upon the Commission's approval of The Options
Clearing Corporation's (``OCC'') proposed supplement to the Options
Disclosure Document (``ODD'') that will provide disclosure regarding
options on Index-Linked Securities.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See supra note 3.
\5\ OCC previously received Commission approval to clear options
based on Index-Linked Securities. See Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 60872 (October 23, 2009), 74 FR 55878 (October 29, 2009)
(SR-OCC-2009-14) (approval order).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1 Strikes for ILS (ETN) Options
Prior to the commencement of trading options on Index-Linked
Securities, the Exchange is proposing to establish that strike price
intervals of $1 will be permitted where the strike price is less than
$200. Where the strike price is greater than $200, $5 strikes will be
permitted. These proposed changes are reflected by the addition of
Commentary .05(a)(v) to Rule 1012.
The Exchange is seeking to establish $1 strikes for ILS (ETN)
options where the strike price is less than $200 because the Exchange
believes the marketplace and investors will be expecting these types of
options to trade in a similar manner to options on exchange-traded
funds (``ETFs''). Strike prices for ETF options are permitted in $1 or
greater intervals where the strike price is $200 or less and $5 or
greater where the strike price is greater than $200.\6\ Accordingly,
the Exchange believes that the rationale for permitting $1 strikes for
ETF options equally applies to permitting $1 strikes for ILS (ETN)
options, and that investors will be better served if $1 strike price
intervals are available for ILS (ETN) options where the strike price is
less than $200. The Exchange believes that $1 strike price intervals
for options on Index-Linked Securities will provide investors with
greater flexibility by allowing them to establish positions that are
better tailored to meet their investment objectives.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See proposed Commentary .05(a)(iv) of Rule 1012, which is
renumbered for internal consistency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trading Hours for ILS (ETN) Options
The Exchange proposes to amend Supplementary Material .01 to Rule
101 to provide that options on exchange-traded notes including Index-
Linked Securities may be traded on the Exchange until 4:15 p.m. each
business day. This will establish similar trading hours for ILS (ETN)
options as the currently-established trading hours for ETF options.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See Rule 101.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange has analyzed its capacity and believes the Exchange
and the Options Price Reporting Authority (``OPRA'') have the necessary
systems capacity to handle the additional traffic associated with the
listing and trading of $1 strikes where the strike price is less than
$200 for ILS (ETN) options.
The Exchange expects that other option exchanges that have adopted
rules providing for the listing and trading of options on Index-Linked
Securities will submit similar proposals.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See, for example, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61466
(February 2, 2010), 75 FR 6243 (February 8, 2010) (SR-CBOE-2010-005)
(notice of filing).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section
6(b) of the Act \9\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section
6(b)(5) of the Act \10\ in particular, in that it is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just
and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in
securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of
a free and open market and a national market system, by having strike
price intervals and trading hours established prior to the commencement
of trading in options on Index-Linked Securities and thereby lessening
the likelihood for investor confusion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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 either solicited or received.
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 the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve the 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, 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 No. SR-Phlx-2010-40 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2010-40. 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 Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, on official
business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and
[[Page 13616]]
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 Number SR-Phlx-2010-40 and should be submitted on
or before April 6, 2010.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-6113 Filed 3-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P