Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposal To Retire a Pilot Program and To Harmonize CBOE's Rules Regarding Listing Expirations With the Existing Rules of Other Exchanges, 55429-55431 [2011-22827]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 7, 2011 / Notices
Commissioner Aguilar, as duty
officer, voted to consider the items
listed for the Closed Meeting in a closed
session.
The subject matter of the Closed
Meeting scheduled for Thursday,
September 9, 2011 will be:
Institution and settlement of
injunctive actions;
Institution and settlement of
administrative proceedings; and
Other matters relating to enforcement
proceedings.
At times, changes in Commission
priorities require alterations in the
scheduling of meeting items.
For further information and to
ascertain what, if any, matters have been
added, deleted or postponed, please
contact:
The Office of the Secretary at (202)
551–5400.
Dated: September 1, 2011.
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–22901 Filed 9–2–11; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–65241; File No. SR–CBOE–
2011–080]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposal
To Retire a Pilot Program and To
Harmonize CBOE’s Rules Regarding
Listing Expirations With the Existing
Rules of Other Exchanges
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 August
22, 2011, the Chicago Board Options
Exchange, Incorporated (the
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the Exchange. The Exchange has
designated the proposed rule change as
constituting a non-controversial rule
change under Rule 19b–4(f)(6) under the
Act,3 which renders the proposal
effective upon filing with the
Commission. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
2 17
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:37 Sep 06, 2011
Jkt 223001
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
CBOE proposes to amend its rules to
retire a pilot program and to harmonize
CBOE’s rules regarding listing
expirations with the existing rules of
other exchanges. The text of the rule
proposal is available on the Exchange’s
Web site (https://www.cboe.org/legal), at
the Exchange’s Office of the Secretary,
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
August 31, 2011.
1 15
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
The purpose of the proposed rule
change is to retire the Additional
Expiration Months Pilot Program (‘‘Pilot
Program’’) and to amend CBOE’s rules
regarding listing expirations. This filing
is based on the existing rules of other
options exchanges.4
CBOE Rules Governing Listing of
Expirations
Pursuant to Interpretation and Policy
.03 to Rule 5.5, CBOE typically opens
four expiration months for each class of
options open for trading on the
Exchange: The first two being the two
nearest months, regardless of the
quarterly cycle on which that class
trades; the third and fourth being the
next two months of the quarterly cycle
previously designated by the Exchange
4 See NASDAQ Options Market (‘‘NOM’’) Chapter
IV, Section 6 (Series of Options Contracts Option
for Trading) and NASDAQ OMX PHLX, LLC
(‘‘PHLX’’) Rule 1012 (Series of Options Listed for
Trading). See also Securities Exchange Act Release
Nos. 57478 (March 12, 2008), 73 FR 14521 (March
18, 2008) (SR–NASDAQ–2007–004 and NASDAQ–
2007–080) and 63700 (January 11, 2011) 76 FR 2931
(January 18, 2011) (SR–PHLX–2011–04). The PHLX
filing was based on NOM’s existing rules.
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55429
for that specific class. CBOE does not
believe that Rule 5.5.03 limits the
maximum number of expirations that
may be listed. Rules 5.5(a) and 5.5(c)
provide CBOE with the flexibility to add
additional expirations, which the
Exchange has previously done.
Notwithstanding this position and for
competitive reasons, in 2010 the
Exchange established the Pilot Program
pursuant to which CBOE could list up
to an additional two expiration months,
for a total of six expiration months for
each class of options open for trading on
the Exchange.5 The filing to establish
the Pilot Program was substantially
similar in all material respects to a
proposal of the International Securities
Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’).6
After CBOE and ISE established their
respective Pilot Programs, ISE submitted
a filing in response to a PHLX filing
regarding the listing of expirations.7 In
the PHLX filing, PHLX amended its
rules so that it could open ‘‘at least one
expiration month’’ for each class of
standard options open for trading on
PHLX.8 PHLX stated in its filing that
this amendment was ‘‘based directly on
the recently approved rules of another
options exchange, namely Chapter IV,
Sections 6 and 8’’ of NOM. Since
PHLX’s rules did not hard code an
upper limit on the maximum number of
expirations that may be listed per class,
ISE believed that PHLX (and NOM) had
the ability to list expirations that ISE
would not be able to currently list under
its rules. As a result, ISE amended its
rules by adding new Supplementary
Material .10 to ISE Rule 504 and
Supplementary Material to .04 to ISE
Rule 2009 to permit ISE to list
additional expiration months on options
classes opened for trading on ISE if such
expiration months are opened for
trading on at least one other national
securities exchange.9
Because CBOE had adopted a Pilot
Program similar to ISE’s, CBOE adopted
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63185
(October 27, 2010), 75 FR 67419 (November 2, 2010)
(SR–CBOE–2010–97). As stated in footnote 5 at
page 67419, CBOE does not believe that Rule 5.5.03
limits the maximum number of expiration months
that may be listed. Rule 5.5(a) and 5.5(c) provide
CBOE with the flexibility to add additional
expiration months, which the Exchange has
previously done. By establishing the Additional
Series Pilot Program, CBOE did not limit its existing
ability.
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63104
(October 14, 2010), 75 FR 64773 (October 20, 2010)
(SR–ISE–2010–91). Unlike CBOE’s Rule 5.5, ISE
believed that ISE Rule 504(e) hard coded an upper
limit on the maximum number of expirations that
may be listed per class.
7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64343
(April 26, 2011), 76 FR 24546 (May 2, 2011) (SR–
ISE–2011–26).
8 See id. at 24546–24547.
9 See id. at 24547.
E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM
07SEN1
55430
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 7, 2011 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
new Interpretation and Policy .19 to
Rule 5.5 and new Interpretation and
Policy .12 to Rule 24.9 that permits
CBOE to list additional expiration
months on options classes opened for
trading on the Exchange if such
expiration months are opened for
trading on at least one other national
securities exchange.10
Retire Additional Expiration Months
Pilot and Adopt Amended Rules
When CBOE originally established the
Pilot Program, the Exchange believed
that it had the ability to list more than
four expirations per class. Another
exchange with a similar expirations
listing rule, however, interpreted its rule
provisions more restrictively. As a
result, CBOE established the Pilot
Program for competitive reasons. Now
that CBOE has the ability to match the
expiration listings of other exchanges 11
(that may exceed six expirations and
may occur on a regular basis) the
Exchange believes that the Pilot
Program is no longer necessary and is
proposing to retire it. To affect this
change, the Exchange is proposing to
delete Interpretation and Policy .18 to
Rule 5.5, which sets forth the terms of
the Pilot Program, which is currently
scheduled to expire on October 31,
2011.
In addition, CBOE’s ability to match
the expirations listed by other
exchanges is set forth in Interpretation
and Policy .19 to Rule 5.5. This
provision, however, only provides
CBOE with the ability to match
expirations initiated by other options
exchanges. To encourage competition
and to place CBOE on a level playing
field, the Exchange should have the
same ability as PHLX and NOM to
initiate expirations. Therefore, CBOE is
proposing to harmonize its rules with
the rules of PHLX and NOM by
clarifying that CBOE will open at least
one expiration month and one series of
for each class open for trading on the
Exchange. To affect this change, the
Exchange is proposing to amend the text
of Rule 5.5(b) to track the rule text of
NOM Chapter IV, Section 6 and PHLX
Rule 1012 and to delete Interpretation
and Policy .03 to Rule 5.5.
Finally, the Exchange is proposing to
slightly modify Rule 5.5 regarding the
opening of additional series.
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to
amend Rule 5.5(c) to permit the listing
of additional series when (among other
reasons) the market price of the
10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64614
(June 7, 2011), 76 FR 34278 (June 13, 2011) (SR–
CBOE–2011–053).
11 See Rule 5.5.19.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:37 Sep 06, 2011
Jkt 223001
underlying stock moves more than five
strike prices from the initial exercise
price or prices.12 Currently, Rule 5.5(c)
permits the listing of additional series
when the market price of the underlying
stock moves substantially from the
initial exercise price or prices. This
proposed rule change again tracks PHLX
and NOM’s existing rule text.
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is proper, and indeed
necessary, in light of the need to have
rules that do not put the Exchange at a
competitive disadvantage. CBOE’s
proposal puts the Exchange in the same
position as PHLX and NOM and
provides the Exchange with the same
ability to initiate and match identical
expirations across exchanges for
products that are multiply-listed and
fungible with one another. The
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change should encourage
competition and be beneficial to traders
and market participants by providing
them with a means to trade on the
Exchange securities that are initiated by
the Exchange and listed and traded on
other exchanges.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is consistent with the Act 13
and the rules and regulations
thereunder and, in particular, the
requirements of Section 6(b) of the
Act.14 Specifically, the Exchange
believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) 15
requirements 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 to
perfect the mechanism for a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest. In
particular, the proposed rule change
will permit the Exchange to
accommodate requests made by its
Trading Privilege Holders and other
market participants to list additional
expiration months and thus encourages
competition without harming investors
or the public interest.
12 Rule 5.5(c) also permits CBOE to add additional
series of options of the same class when the
Exchange deems is necessary to maintain an orderly
market and to meet customer demand. These
‘‘additional series’’ provisions are similar to
existing provisions in NOM Chapter IV, Section 6
and PHLX Rule 1012.
13 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
15 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
PO 00000
Frm 00086
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
CBOE does not believe that the
proposed rule change will impose any
burden on competition not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were solicited
or received with respect to the proposed
rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule
change does not significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public
interest, does not impose any significant
burden on competition, and, by its
terms, does not become operative for 30
days from the date on which it was
filed, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 16 and Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) thereunder.17
The Exchange has requested that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative
delay. The Commission believes that
waiver of the operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest
because the proposal will allow the
CBOE to initiate the listing of series
with the same range of expiration
months as are available to its competitor
exchanges, subject to certain conditions.
Therefore, the Commission designates
the proposal operative upon filing.18
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the 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.
16 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the
Commission written notice of the Exchange’s intent
to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief
description and text of the proposed rule change,
at least five business days prior to the date of filing
of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time
as designated by the Commission. The Exchange
has satisfied this requirement.
18 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
17 17
E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM
07SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 7, 2011 / Notices
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:
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.19
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–22827 Filed 9–6–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
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–CBOE–2011–080 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.
[Release No. 34–65238; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2011–64]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change Amending Its Equities
Schedule of Fees and Services for
Exchange Services (‘‘Fee Schedule’’)
for Co-Location Services To Correct
Several Typographical Errors
August 31, 2011.
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 August
All submissions should refer to File
24, 2011, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE
Number SR–CBOE–2011–080. This file
Arca’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
number should be included on the
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
Commission process and review your
change as described in Items I, II, and
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will III below, which Items have been
post all comments on the Commission’s prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
solicit comments on the proposed rule
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
change from interested persons.
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 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–CBOE–
2011–080 and should be submitted on
or before September 28, 2011.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:37 Sep 06, 2011
Jkt 223001
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its
equities Schedule of Fees and Services
for Exchange Services (‘‘Fee Schedule’’)
for co-location services to correct
several typographical errors. The text of
the proposed rule change is available at
the Exchange, the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, on the Commission’s
Web site at https://www.sec.gov, and
https://www.nyse.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
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.
19 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00087
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55431
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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend its
Fee Schedule for co-location services to
correct several typographical errors.
The Exchange currently offers space
at its data center in cabinets with tiered
fees for the use of this space
corresponding to the aggregated number
of kilowatts allocated. However, the
Exchange’s Fee Schedule provides an
incomplete list of power tier levels.
Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to
amend its Fee Schedule to reflect that
the tiered fees are based on the
aggregated power allocation of (i) Four
to eight kilowatts; (ii) nine to 20
kilowatts; (iii) 21 to 40 kilowatts; or (iv)
41 kilowatts and greater. A co-location
user whose power allocation has been at
a level that is currently not reflected in
the Fee Schedule has been charged
according to the tiers set forth herein.
For example, a user with twelve
kilowatts allocated has been charged
$1,200 per-kilowatt per-month for the
first 8 kilowatts and $1,050 per-kilowatt
per-month for the next 4 kilowatts
(between 9 and 12).
In addition to the space that it offers
at its data center, the Exchange provides
co-location users with access to the
Exchange’s trading and execution
systems and to the Exchange’s
proprietary market data products
through either the Exchange’s Liquidity
Center Network (‘‘LCN’’), a local area
network available in the data center, or
the Exchange’s Secure Financial
Transaction Infrastructure (‘‘SFTI’’)
network, to which all co-location users
have access. Access is available in either
one or ten gigabit capacities, for which
co-location users incur an initial charge
per connection and an ongoing monthly
charge per connection. The Exchange
proposes to amend its Fee Schedule to
reflect that the initial charge for a one
gigabit circuit for Bundled Network
Access, Option 3 is $27,000, not $27,500
as currently stated in the Fee Schedule.
The change in price is due to a
typographical error in the Exchange’s
previous filing.3 Co-location users have
always been charged $27,000 for this fee
and have never been charged the fee of
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63275
(November 8, 2010), 75 FR 70048 (November 16,
2010) (SR–NYSEArca–2010–100).
E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM
07SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55429-55431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22827]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-65241; File No. SR-CBOE-2011-080]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposal
To Retire a Pilot Program and To Harmonize CBOE's Rules Regarding
Listing Expirations With the Existing Rules of Other Exchanges
August 31, 2011.
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 August 22, 2011, the Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated (the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in
Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange.
The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a
non-controversial rule change under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act,\3\
which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission.
The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
CBOE proposes to amend its rules to retire a pilot program and to
harmonize CBOE's rules regarding listing expirations with the existing
rules of other exchanges. The text of the rule proposal is available on
the Exchange's Web site (https://www.cboe.org/legal), at the Exchange's
Office of the Secretary, 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 the proposed rule change is to retire the Additional
Expiration Months Pilot Program (``Pilot Program'') and to amend CBOE's
rules regarding listing expirations. This filing is based on the
existing rules of other options exchanges.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See NASDAQ Options Market (``NOM'') Chapter IV, Section 6
(Series of Options Contracts Option for Trading) and NASDAQ OMX
PHLX, LLC (``PHLX'') Rule 1012 (Series of Options Listed for
Trading). See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57478 (March
12, 2008), 73 FR 14521 (March 18, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2007-004 and
NASDAQ-2007-080) and 63700 (January 11, 2011) 76 FR 2931 (January
18, 2011) (SR-PHLX-2011-04). The PHLX filing was based on NOM's
existing rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBOE Rules Governing Listing of Expirations
Pursuant to Interpretation and Policy .03 to Rule 5.5, CBOE
typically opens four expiration months for each class of options open
for trading on the Exchange: The first two being the two nearest
months, regardless of the quarterly cycle on which that class trades;
the third and fourth being the next two months of the quarterly cycle
previously designated by the Exchange for that specific class. CBOE
does not believe that Rule 5.5.03 limits the maximum number of
expirations that may be listed. Rules 5.5(a) and 5.5(c) provide CBOE
with the flexibility to add additional expirations, which the Exchange
has previously done.
Notwithstanding this position and for competitive reasons, in 2010
the Exchange established the Pilot Program pursuant to which CBOE could
list up to an additional two expiration months, for a total of six
expiration months for each class of options open for trading on the
Exchange.\5\ The filing to establish the Pilot Program was
substantially similar in all material respects to a proposal of the
International Securities Exchange, LLC (``ISE'').\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63185 (October 27,
2010), 75 FR 67419 (November 2, 2010) (SR-CBOE-2010-97). As stated
in footnote 5 at page 67419, CBOE does not believe that Rule 5.5.03
limits the maximum number of expiration months that may be listed.
Rule 5.5(a) and 5.5(c) provide CBOE with the flexibility to add
additional expiration months, which the Exchange has previously
done. By establishing the Additional Series Pilot Program, CBOE did
not limit its existing ability.
\6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63104 (October 14,
2010), 75 FR 64773 (October 20, 2010) (SR-ISE-2010-91). Unlike
CBOE's Rule 5.5, ISE believed that ISE Rule 504(e) hard coded an
upper limit on the maximum number of expirations that may be listed
per class.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
After CBOE and ISE established their respective Pilot Programs, ISE
submitted a filing in response to a PHLX filing regarding the listing
of expirations.\7\ In the PHLX filing, PHLX amended its rules so that
it could open ``at least one expiration month'' for each class of
standard options open for trading on PHLX.\8\ PHLX stated in its filing
that this amendment was ``based directly on the recently approved rules
of another options exchange, namely Chapter IV, Sections 6 and 8'' of
NOM. Since PHLX's rules did not hard code an upper limit on the maximum
number of expirations that may be listed per class, ISE believed that
PHLX (and NOM) had the ability to list expirations that ISE would not
be able to currently list under its rules. As a result, ISE amended its
rules by adding new Supplementary Material .10 to ISE Rule 504 and
Supplementary Material to .04 to ISE Rule 2009 to permit ISE to list
additional expiration months on options classes opened for trading on
ISE if such expiration months are opened for trading on at least one
other national securities exchange.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64343 (April 26,
2011), 76 FR 24546 (May 2, 2011) (SR-ISE-2011-26).
\8\ See id. at 24546-24547.
\9\ See id. at 24547.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because CBOE had adopted a Pilot Program similar to ISE's, CBOE
adopted
[[Page 55430]]
new Interpretation and Policy .19 to Rule 5.5 and new Interpretation
and Policy .12 to Rule 24.9 that permits CBOE to list additional
expiration months on options classes opened for trading on the Exchange
if such expiration months are opened for trading on at least one other
national securities exchange.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64614 (June 7,
2011), 76 FR 34278 (June 13, 2011) (SR-CBOE-2011-053).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retire Additional Expiration Months Pilot and Adopt Amended Rules
When CBOE originally established the Pilot Program, the Exchange
believed that it had the ability to list more than four expirations per
class. Another exchange with a similar expirations listing rule,
however, interpreted its rule provisions more restrictively. As a
result, CBOE established the Pilot Program for competitive reasons. Now
that CBOE has the ability to match the expiration listings of other
exchanges \11\ (that may exceed six expirations and may occur on a
regular basis) the Exchange believes that the Pilot Program is no
longer necessary and is proposing to retire it. To affect this change,
the Exchange is proposing to delete Interpretation and Policy .18 to
Rule 5.5, which sets forth the terms of the Pilot Program, which is
currently scheduled to expire on October 31, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ See Rule 5.5.19.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, CBOE's ability to match the expirations listed by
other exchanges is set forth in Interpretation and Policy .19 to Rule
5.5. This provision, however, only provides CBOE with the ability to
match expirations initiated by other options exchanges. To encourage
competition and to place CBOE on a level playing field, the Exchange
should have the same ability as PHLX and NOM to initiate expirations.
Therefore, CBOE is proposing to harmonize its rules with the rules of
PHLX and NOM by clarifying that CBOE will open at least one expiration
month and one series of for each class open for trading on the
Exchange. To affect this change, the Exchange is proposing to amend the
text of Rule 5.5(b) to track the rule text of NOM Chapter IV, Section 6
and PHLX Rule 1012 and to delete Interpretation and Policy .03 to Rule
5.5.
Finally, the Exchange is proposing to slightly modify Rule 5.5
regarding the opening of additional series. Specifically, the Exchange
proposes to amend Rule 5.5(c) to permit the listing of additional
series when (among other reasons) the market price of the underlying
stock moves more than five strike prices from the initial exercise
price or prices.\12\ Currently, Rule 5.5(c) permits the listing of
additional series when the market price of the underlying stock moves
substantially from the initial exercise price or prices. This proposed
rule change again tracks PHLX and NOM's existing rule text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ Rule 5.5(c) also permits CBOE to add additional series of
options of the same class when the Exchange deems is necessary to
maintain an orderly market and to meet customer demand. These
``additional series'' provisions are similar to existing provisions
in NOM Chapter IV, Section 6 and PHLX Rule 1012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is proper, and
indeed necessary, in light of the need to have rules that do not put
the Exchange at a competitive disadvantage. CBOE's proposal puts the
Exchange in the same position as PHLX and NOM and provides the Exchange
with the same ability to initiate and match identical expirations
across exchanges for products that are multiply-listed and fungible
with one another. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change
should encourage competition and be beneficial to traders and market
participants by providing them with a means to trade on the Exchange
securities that are initiated by the Exchange and listed and traded on
other exchanges.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Act \13\ and the rules and regulations thereunder and, in
particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\14\
Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \15\ requirements 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 to perfect the mechanism for a free and open market
and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and
the public interest. In particular, the proposed rule change will
permit the Exchange to accommodate requests made by its Trading
Privilege Holders and other market participants to list additional
expiration months and thus encourages competition without harming
investors or the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any
burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not significantly
affect the protection of investors or the public interest, does not
impose any significant burden on competition, and, by its terms, does
not become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed,
or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \16\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\17\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the
Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a
brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The
Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day
operative delay. The Commission believes that waiver of the operative
delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public
interest because the proposal will allow the CBOE to initiate the
listing of series with the same range of expiration months as are
available to its competitor exchanges, subject to certain conditions.
Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon
filing.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay,
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission 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.
[[Page 55431]]
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-CBOE-2011-080 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 Number SR-CBOE-2011-080. 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 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-CBOE-2011-080 and should be
submitted on or before September 28, 2011.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-22827 Filed 9-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P