Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to a Market Maker Incentive Plan for Foreign Currency Options, 12778-12780 [2011-5186]
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12778
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / 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–C2–2011–008 on the
subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–C2–2011–008. 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, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing
also will be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of C2. 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–C2–2011–008 and should
be submitted on or before March 29,
2011.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Cathy H. Ahn,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–5190 Filed 3–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–64012; File No. SR–ISE–
2011–11]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to a Market Maker
Incentive Plan for Foreign Currency
Options
March 2, 2011.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on February
22, 2011, the International Securities
Exchange, LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or the
‘‘ISE’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’)
the proposed rule change, as described
in Items I and II below, which items
have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. 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 ISE is proposing to amend its
incentive plan for market makers in
foreign currency (‘‘FX’’) options.
Specifically, ISE proposes to add six
currently listed FX options to the
incentive plan. The text of the proposed
rule change is available on the
Exchange’s Web site (https://
www.ise.com), at the principal office of
the Exchange, on the Commission’s Web
site at https://www.sec.gov, 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 these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The self-regulatory organization has
prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B and C below, of the most
significant aspects of such statements.
1 15
14 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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2 17
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U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
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Sfmt 4703
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of this proposed rule
change is to amend the Exchange’s
incentive plan for market makers in FX
options. The Exchange currently has an
incentive plan for FX options that was
initially adopted on August 3, 2009 for
the following three FX options: the New
Zealand dollar (‘‘NZD’’), the Mexican
peso (‘‘PZO’’), the Swedish krona
(‘‘SKA’’).3 The Exchange subsequently
added the Brazilian real (‘‘BRB’’) to the
incentive plan.4 The Exchange now
proposes to add the following FX
options to the incentive plan: the
Australian dollar (‘‘AUX’’), the British
pound (‘‘BPX’’), the Canadian dollar
(‘‘CDD’’), the euro (‘‘EUI’’), the Japanese
yen (‘‘YUK’’) and the Swiss franc
(‘‘SFC’’).5 Market makers will be able to
enter into the incentive plan until
March 31, 2011.6
Options on AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI,
YUK and SFC began trading on the
Exchange on April 17, 2007. Until now,
the market maker currently appointed to
these FX options has been trading these
products without the benefit of the
privileges afforded by the incentive
plan. The Exchange notes that
competition between exchanges that
trade like products, in this case, the
World Currency Options traded on
NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc., [sic] has
intensified. In order to promote the
continued growth and trading in these
products, the Exchange now proposes to
add AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and
SFC to the incentive plan, effective
March 1, 2011.
Participants in the incentive plan are
known on the Exchange’s Schedule of
Fees as Early Adopter Market Makers.
Under the incentive plan, the Exchange
waives the applicable transaction fees
for both the Early Adopter FXPMM 7
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60536
(August 19, 2009) [sic], 74 FR 43204 (August 26,
2009) (SR–ISE–2009–59).
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61459
(January 19, 2010), 75 FR 6248 (February 8, 2010)
(SR–ISE–2010–07).
5 The Commission previously approved the
trading of options on AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK
and SFC. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.
55575 (April 3, 2007), 72 FR 17963 (April 10, 2007)
(SR–ISE–2006–59).
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63639
(January 4, 2011), 76 FR 1488 (January 10, 2011)
(SR–ISE–2010–121).
7 A FXPMM is a primary market maker selected
by the Exchange that trades and quotes in FX
Options only. See ISE Rule 2213.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / Notices
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
and all Early Adopter FXCMMs 8 that
make a market in AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI,
YUK and SFC for as long as the
incentive plan is in effect. Further,
pursuant to a revenue sharing agreement
entered into between an Early Adopter
Market Maker and ISE, the Exchange
pays the Early Adopter FXPMM forty
percent (40%) of the transaction fees
collected on any customer trade in
AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC
and pays up to ten (10) Early Adopter
FXCMMs that participate in the
incentive plan twenty percent (20%) of
the transaction fees collected for trades
between a customer and that FXCMM.
Market makers that do not participate in
the incentive plan are charged regular
transaction fees for trades in these
products.
The Exchange currently charges an
execution fee of $0.40 per contract for
all Public Customer Orders 9 in options
on AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and
SFC.10 The amount of the execution fee
for all Firm Proprietary orders for
options on AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK
and SFC is $0.20 per contract and the
execution fee for all non-Early Adopter
ISE Market Makers in options on AUX,
BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC is equal
to the execution fee currently charged
by the Exchange for ISE Market Maker
orders in equity options.11 Finally, the
amount of the execution fee for all nonISE Market Maker orders for options on
AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC is
$0.45 per contract.12 The Exchange does
not charge a Payment for Order Flow fee
for these products.
The Exchange also proposes to waive
transaction charges for all Early Adopter
Market Makers in AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI,
YUK and SFC in order to further
encourage trading in these products.
The Exchange believes that the revenue
generated from customer, firm
proprietary and non-ISE market maker
transaction charges and increased order
flow will offset the transaction fees that
would otherwise be applied to market
8 A FXCMM is a competitive market maker
selected by the Exchange that trades and quotes in
FX Options only. See ISE Rule 2213.
9 Public Customer Order is defined in Exchange
Rule 100(a)(39) as an order for the account of a
Public Customer. Public Customer is defined in
Exchange Rule 100(a)(38) as a person or entity that
is not a broker or dealer in securities.
10 These fees are will be [sic] charged only to
Exchange members.
11 The Exchange applies a sliding scale, between
$0.01 and $0.18 per contract side, based on the
number of contracts an ISE market maker trades in
a month.
12 The amount of the execution fee for non-ISE
Market Maker transactions executed in the
Exchange’s Facilitation and Solicitation
Mechanisms and for Orders entered into the Price
Improvement Mechanism by the member initiating
the price improvement order is $0.20 per contract.
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12779
makers in AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK
and SFC, thereby allowing the Exchange
to recoup those fees while increasing
order flow and generating increased
revenues.
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change will further the Exchange’s
goal of promoting trading of its FX
options through competitive pricing.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
2. Statutory Basis
Electronic Comments
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,13
in general, and furthers the objectives of
Section 6(b)(4),14 in particular, in that it
is designed to provide for the equitable
allocation of reasonable dues, fees and
other charges among its members and
other persons using its facilities. The
Exchange believes that extending the
incentive plan to options on AUX, BPX,
CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC will generate
additional order flow in these products
to the Exchange.
• 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–ISE-2011–11 on the subject line.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change does not
impose any burden on competition that
is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and
does not intend to solicit, comments on
this proposed rule change. The
Exchange has not received any
unsolicited written comments from
members or other interested parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.15 At any time
within 60 days of the filing of such
proposed rule change, the Commission
summarily may temporarily suspend
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. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall
institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule should be
approved or disapproved.
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposal is
consistent with the Act. Comments may
be submitted by any of the following
methods:
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File No.
SR–ISE–2011–11. 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 changes 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, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing
also will be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of ISE.
All comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You
should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File No.
SR–ISE–2011–11 and should be
submitted on or before March 29, 2011.
13 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
14 15
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12780
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / Notices
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.16
Cathy H. Ahn,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–5186 Filed 3–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–64010; File No. SR–Phlx–
2011–26]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change Relating to
Inactive Nominee Fee
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
March 2, 2011.
1. Purpose
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 February
22, 2011, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC
(‘‘Phlx’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘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.
The purpose of the proposed rule
change is to memorialize the Inactive
Nominee Fee in the Exchange’s Fee
Schedule.
The Exchange currently assesses a
member organization an Inactive
Nominee Fee of $500 to maintain an
individual’s inactive nominee status for
a six month period, as provided for in
Exchange By-Law Article XII, Section
12–10.4 The member organization is
required to pay a fee for the privilege of
maintaining the inactive nominee status
of an individual.5 An inactive
nominee’s status terminates after six
months unless it has been reaffirmed in
writing by the Member Organization or
is terminated sooner.6 An inactive
nominee is assessed the $500 fee every
time the status is reaffirmed.7
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its
Fee Schedule to memorialize its Inactive
Nominee 3 Fee. The text of the proposed
rule change is available on the
Exchange’s Web site at https://
nasdaqtrader.com/
micro.aspx?id=PHLXfilings, at the
principal office of the Exchange, on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
www.sec.gov, and at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room.
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
16 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 The term ‘‘inactive nominee’’ means a natural
person associated with and designated as such by
a member organization and who has been approved
for such status and is registered as such with the
Membership Department. An inactive nominee
shall have no rights or privileges under a permit
unless and until said inactive nominee becomes
admitted as a member of the Exchange pursuant to
the By-Laws and Rules of the Exchange. An inactive
nominee merely stands ready to exercise rights
under a permit upon notice by the member
organization to the Membership Department on an
expedited basis. See Exchange Rule 1(i).
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4 Pursuant to Exchange By-Law Article XII,
Section 12–10, a member organization may
designate an individual as an inactive nominee. To
be eligible to be an inactive nominee an individual
must be approved as eligible to hold a permit in
accordance with the Exchange’s By-Laws and Rules.
An inactive nominee has no rights and privileges
of a permit holder until the inactive nominee
becomes an effective permit holder and all
applicable Exchange fees are paid. See By-Law
Article XII, Section 12–10.
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39851
(April 10, 1998), 63 FR 19282 (April 17, 1998) (SR–
Phlx–97–35) (a rule change which subjected
inactive nominees to the membership application
process, including fees, including a fee for the
privilege of maintaining an inactive nominee
status).
6 See By-Law Article XII, Section 12–10.
7 An inactive nominee is also assessed the
Application and Initiation Fees when such person
applies to be an inactive nominee. Such fees are
reassessed if there is a lapse in the inactive
nominee’s membership status. However, an inactive
nominee would not be assessed the Application and
Initiation Fees if such inactive nominee applied for
membership without a lapse in that individual’s
association with a particular member organization.
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63780
(January 26, 2011), 76 FR 5846 (February 2, 2011)
PO 00000
Frm 00090
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Exchange has assessed the
Inactive Nominee Fee of $500 since the
inception of the inactive nominee
category.8 This fee was administered
pursuant to By-Law Article XII, Section
12–10, and never appeared in the
Exchange’s Fee Schedule. In recent
years, the Exchange has memorialized
additional fees within the Fee Schedule
to create a centralized location for fees.
The Exchange desires to memorialize
this fee in the Fee Schedule and to make
clear which membership fees an
Inactive Nominee Fee [sic] would be
assessed and when an inactive nominee
would be assessed such fees by adding
explanatory text to the Fee Schedule.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its
proposal to amend its Fee Schedule is
consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 9
in general, and furthers the objectives of
Section 6(b)(4) of the Act 10 in
particular, in that it is an equitable
allocation of reasonable fees and other
charges among Exchange members and
other persons using its facilities.
The Exchange believes that it is
reasonable to memorialize the Inactive
Nominee Fee on the Exchange’s Fee
Schedule so the fee is transparent to all
members. While the Exchange has been
assessing the Inactive Nominee Fee
since 1998, the fee was administered
pursuant to By-Law Article XII, Section
12–10 and was not located on the Fee
Schedule. The Exchange believes that
placing the fee on the Fee Schedule
would summarize all the membership
fees in one location and clarify all the
fees an individual is subject to for the
privilege of maintain [sic] an inactive
nominee status.
The Exchange believes that it is
equitable to place the Inactive Nominee
Fee on the Fee Schedule because it
uniformly impacts all inactive nominees
as they are all subject to the Inactive
Nominee Fee.
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.
(SR–Phlx–2011–07). See also By-Law Article XII,
Section 12–10.
8 Originally, the inactive nominee was defined in
Exchange Rule 21, but the definition was later
moved to the definitions section in Rule 1.
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12778-12780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5186]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-64012; File No. SR-ISE-2011-11]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to a Market Maker Incentive Plan for Foreign Currency
Options
March 2, 2011.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on February 22, 2011, the International Securities Exchange, LLC
(the ``Exchange'' or the ``ISE'') filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change, as
described in Items I and II below, which items have been prepared by
the self-regulatory organization. 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 ISE is proposing to amend its incentive plan for market makers
in foreign currency (``FX'') options. Specifically, ISE proposes to add
six currently listed FX options to the incentive plan. The text of the
proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (https://www.ise.com), at the principal office of the Exchange, on the
Commission's Web site at https://www.sec.gov, 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 these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization
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 this proposed rule change is to amend the Exchange's
incentive plan for market makers in FX options. The Exchange currently
has an incentive plan for FX options that was initially adopted on
August 3, 2009 for the following three FX options: the New Zealand
dollar (``NZD''), the Mexican peso (``PZO''), the Swedish krona
(``SKA'').\3\ The Exchange subsequently added the Brazilian real
(``BRB'') to the incentive plan.\4\ The Exchange now proposes to add
the following FX options to the incentive plan: the Australian dollar
(``AUX''), the British pound (``BPX''), the Canadian dollar (``CDD''),
the euro (``EUI''), the Japanese yen (``YUK'') and the Swiss franc
(``SFC'').\5\ Market makers will be able to enter into the incentive
plan until March 31, 2011.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60536 (August 19,
2009) [sic], 74 FR 43204 (August 26, 2009) (SR-ISE-2009-59).
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61459 (January 19,
2010), 75 FR 6248 (February 8, 2010) (SR-ISE-2010-07).
\5\ The Commission previously approved the trading of options on
AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC. See Securities Exchange Act Release
No. 55575 (April 3, 2007), 72 FR 17963 (April 10, 2007) (SR-ISE-
2006-59).
\6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63639 (January 4,
2011), 76 FR 1488 (January 10, 2011) (SR-ISE-2010-121).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options on AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC began trading on the
Exchange on April 17, 2007. Until now, the market maker currently
appointed to these FX options has been trading these products without
the benefit of the privileges afforded by the incentive plan. The
Exchange notes that competition between exchanges that trade like
products, in this case, the World Currency Options traded on NASDAQ OMX
PHLX, Inc., [sic] has intensified. In order to promote the continued
growth and trading in these products, the Exchange now proposes to add
AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC to the incentive plan, effective March
1, 2011.
Participants in the incentive plan are known on the Exchange's
Schedule of Fees as Early Adopter Market Makers. Under the incentive
plan, the Exchange waives the applicable transaction fees for both the
Early Adopter FXPMM \7\
[[Page 12779]]
and all Early Adopter FXCMMs \8\ that make a market in AUX, BPX, CDD,
EUI, YUK and SFC for as long as the incentive plan is in effect.
Further, pursuant to a revenue sharing agreement entered into between
an Early Adopter Market Maker and ISE, the Exchange pays the Early
Adopter FXPMM forty percent (40%) of the transaction fees collected on
any customer trade in AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC and pays up to
ten (10) Early Adopter FXCMMs that participate in the incentive plan
twenty percent (20%) of the transaction fees collected for trades
between a customer and that FXCMM. Market makers that do not
participate in the incentive plan are charged regular transaction fees
for trades in these products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ A FXPMM is a primary market maker selected by the Exchange
that trades and quotes in FX Options only. See ISE Rule 2213.
\8\ A FXCMM is a competitive market maker selected by the
Exchange that trades and quotes in FX Options only. See ISE Rule
2213.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange currently charges an execution fee of $0.40 per
contract for all Public Customer Orders \9\ in options on AUX, BPX,
CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC.\10\ The amount of the execution fee for all Firm
Proprietary orders for options on AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC is
$0.20 per contract and the execution fee for all non-Early Adopter ISE
Market Makers in options on AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC is equal to
the execution fee currently charged by the Exchange for ISE Market
Maker orders in equity options.\11\ Finally, the amount of the
execution fee for all non-ISE Market Maker orders for options on AUX,
BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC is $0.45 per contract.\12\ The Exchange does
not charge a Payment for Order Flow fee for these products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ Public Customer Order is defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(39)
as an order for the account of a Public Customer. Public Customer is
defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(38) as a person or entity that is
not a broker or dealer in securities.
\10\ These fees are will be [sic] charged only to Exchange
members.
\11\ The Exchange applies a sliding scale, between $0.01 and
$0.18 per contract side, based on the number of contracts an ISE
market maker trades in a month.
\12\ The amount of the execution fee for non-ISE Market Maker
transactions executed in the Exchange's Facilitation and
Solicitation Mechanisms and for Orders entered into the Price
Improvement Mechanism by the member initiating the price improvement
order is $0.20 per contract.
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The Exchange also proposes to waive transaction charges for all
Early Adopter Market Makers in AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC in order
to further encourage trading in these products. The Exchange believes
that the revenue generated from customer, firm proprietary and non-ISE
market maker transaction charges and increased order flow will offset
the transaction fees that would otherwise be applied to market makers
in AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC, thereby allowing the Exchange to
recoup those fees while increasing order flow and generating increased
revenues.
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will further the
Exchange's goal of promoting trading of its FX options through
competitive pricing.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,\13\ in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4),\14\ in particular, in that
it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable
dues, fees and other charges among its members and other persons using
its facilities. The Exchange believes that extending the incentive plan
to options on AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC will generate additional
order flow in these products to the Exchange.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition
that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of
the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit,
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received
any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested
parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\15\ At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend 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. If the Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.
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\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposal 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-ISE-2011-11 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File No. SR-ISE-2011-11. 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 changes 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, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal office of ISE. All comments
received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit
personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit
only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File No. SR-ISE-2011-11 and should be
submitted on or before March 29, 2011.
[[Page 12780]]
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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\16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Cathy H. Ahn,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-5186 Filed 3-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P