Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Amending Its Fees Schedule, 22770-22772 [2020-08594]
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22770
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 79 / Thursday, April 23, 2020 / Notices
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549 on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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.
Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit
personal identifying information from
comment submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish
to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–ISE–2020–18, and should
be submitted on or before May 14, 2020.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.12
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–88678; File No. SR–CBOE–
2020–033]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
Rule Change Amending Its Fees
Schedule
April 17, 2020.
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD 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 April 16,
2020, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) 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.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’
or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) proposes to amend
its fees schedule. The text of the
proposed rule change is provided in
Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change
is also available on the Exchange’s
website (https://www.cboe.com/
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
19:28 Apr 22, 2020
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend
Footnote 12 of the Fees Schedule, which
governs pricing changes in the event the
Exchange trading floor becomes
inoperable. In the event the trading floor
becomes inoperable, the Exchange will
continue to operate in a screen-based
only environment using a floorless
configuration of the System that is
operational while the trading floor
facility is inoperable. The Exchange
would operate using that configuration
only until the Exchange’s trading floor
facility became operational. Open
outcry trading would not be available in
the event the trading floor becomes
inoperable. Particularly, the Exchange
proposes to amend Footnote 12 to waive
fees incurred from certain transactions
executed in electronic compression
forums.
By way of background, the Exchange
recently adopted Rule 5.24(e)(1)(E),
which provides that in the event the
trading floor is inoperable, the Exchange
will make available an electronic
‘‘compression forum’’ in the same
manner as an open outcry ‘‘compression
forum’’ as set forth in Rule 5.88, subject
to certain exceptions.3 When the trading
floor is open, the Exchange facilitates
compression forums on the trading floor
at the end of each calendar week,
month, and quarter in which Trading
Permit Holders (‘‘TPHs’’) may reduce
open positions in series of SPX options
in order to mitigate the effects of capital
3 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No.
88490 (March 26, 2020), 85 FR 18318 (April 1,
2020) (SR–CBOE–2020–026).
1 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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
[FR Doc. 2020–08590 Filed 4–22–20; 8:45 am]
12 17
AboutCBOE/
CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), at
the Exchange’s Office of the Secretary,
and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
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constraints on market participants,
which may contribute to continued
depth of liquidity in the SPX options
market.4 The Exchange adopted Rule
5.24(e)(1)(E) to provide for an electronic
forum that replicates the compression
forum that is available when the
Exchange is operating with an open
outcry environment. Particularly, an
electronic compression forum would
continue to provide TPHs an
opportunity to efficiently reduce their
open SPX positions and free up capital
in the event the Exchange must operate
in an all-electronic environment (as it
currently is), which is particularly
important in volatile market conditions.
The Exchange currently waives
transaction fees (and surcharges)
incurred as a result of transactions that
compress or reduce certain open
positions.5 One such waiver in
particular is for transactions involving
SPX and SPXW compression-list
positions executed in a floor
compression forum (pursuant to Rule
5.88).6 Particularly, the Exchange
waives SPX/SPXW transaction fees,
including surcharges, in order to
encourage TPHs to submit compressionlist positions in advance of monthly
compression forums and compress these
positions during compression forums.7
The Exchange wishes to similarly waive
all transaction fees, including any
applicable surcharges (e.g., Index
License Surcharge and SPX/SPXW
Execution Surcharges), for closing
transactions involving SPX and SPXW
compression-list positions executed in
an electronic compression forum
(pursuant to Rule 5.24).
The Exchange believes compression
of these positions may improve market
4 In general, under the floor Compression Forum
process, each month, TPHs may submit to the
Exchange lists of open SPX positions (these
positions are referred to in Rule 5.88 as
‘‘compression-list positions’’) they wish to close
against opposing (long/short) positions of other
TPHs. The Exchange would then aggregate these
positions into a single list to allow TPHs to more
easily identify those positions with counterparty
interest on the Exchange. The Exchange then
provides a forum on the Exchange’s trading floor
during which TPHs could conduct closing-only
transactions in series of SPX options. The Exchange
holds compression forums on the last three trading
days of each calendar month.
5 See CBOE Fees Schedule, Footnote 41.
6 See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 41.
The Exchange notes it inadvertently failed to
update the rule references in Footnote 41, including
Rule 5.88, when it relocated the rules upon
migration. See Securities and Exchange Act Release
No. 86772 (August 27, 2019), 84 FR 46069
(September 3, 2019) (SR–CBOE–2019–042). The
Exchange proposes to update those rule references
now.
7 See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 41.
A rebate of transaction fees would include the
transaction fee assessed along with any other
surcharges assessed per contract (e.g., the Index
License Surcharge).
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
23APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 79 / Thursday, April 23, 2020 / Notices
liquidity by freeing capital currently
tied up in positions for which there is
a minimal chance that a significant loss
would occur. The Exchange further
believes advanced submission of
compression-list positions to the
Exchange allows TPHs to more easily
identify counterparty interest and
efficiently conduct closing transactions
of these positions during compression
forums. The Exchange notes the
submission of compression-list
positions is completely voluntary, open
to all TPHs with open positions in SPX,
and does not require a TPH to trade any
compression-list position or participate
in a compression forum. As such, the
Exchange believes it’s appropriate to
waive fees incurred for transaction
executed in an electronic compression
forum. The Exchange proposes to make
clear that in order to receive a fee
waiver of all transaction fees and
applicable surcharges for these
transactions, a TPH must mark its orders
in a form and manner determined by the
Exchange to identify them as eligible for
the compression fee waiver. Orders
identified as eligible for a fee waiver
will yield fee code ‘‘SC’’. The Exchange
proposes to similarly clarify in Footnote
41, that in order for a TPH to receive a
rebate for compression trades that occur
on floor, a TPH must mark its orders in
a form and manner determined by the
Exchange to identify them as eligible for
the compression rebates.8
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to the Exchange
and, in particular, the requirements of
Section 6(b) of the Act.9 Specifically,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Section
6(b)(5) 10 requirements that the rules of
an exchange be 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 regulating, clearing, settling,
processing information with respect to,
and facilitating transactions in
securities, to remove impediments to
and perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
Additionally, the Exchange believes the
8 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No.
87338 (October 17, 2019), 84 FR 56873 (October 23,
2019) (SR–CBOE–2019–094).
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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19:28 Apr 22, 2020
Jkt 250001
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,11 which
requires that Exchange rules provide for
the equitable allocation of reasonable
dues, fees, and other charges among its
Trading Permit Holders and other
persons using its facilities.
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change to waive transaction fees,
including the Index License Surcharge
and SPX/SPXW Execution Surcharges,
for closing transactions involving SPX
and SPXW compression-list positions
executed in an electronic compression
forum (pursuant to Rule 5.24) while the
trading floor is inoperable is reasonable
because market participants will not be
subject to transaction fees or surcharges
for these executions. While the trading
floor is inoperable, the Exchange still
wishes to incentivize TPHs to submit to
the Exchange compression-list positions
executed in a compression forum, albeit
for an electronic compression forum,
and as such, does not wish to assess any
transaction fees or surcharges on such
volume that would otherwise be
executed on the trading floor and not be
charged. The Exchange believes
compression of these positions would
improve market liquidity by freeing
capital currently tied up in positions for
which there is a minimal chance that a
significant loss would occur. All TPHs
may submit compression-list positions
and may participate in compression
forums. Moreover, as noted above, the
Exchange already waives transaction
fees, including surcharges, for closing
transactions involving SPX and SPXW
compression-list positions executed in a
compression forum on the trading floor
(pursuant to Rule 5.88).12 The Exchange
believes the proposed change is also
equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory as it applies uniformly to
all market participants that identify
eligible orders in the form and manner
determined by the Exchange.
Lastly, the Exchange believes the
proposed clarification and updates to
rule references in Footnote 41 maintains
transparency in the Fees Schedule and
alleviates potential confusion, thereby
removing impediments to, and
perfecting the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, protecting
investors and the public interest.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule changes will impose
any burden on competition that are not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
11 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 41.
12 See
PO 00000
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22771
of the purposes of the Act. The
Exchange notes the proposed changes
are not intended to address any
competitive issue, but rather to address
a fee change it believes is reasonable in
the event the trading floor becomes
inoperable, thereby only permitting
electronic participation on the
Exchange. The Exchange does not
believe that the proposed rule change
will impose any burden on intramarket
competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act because the
proposed changes apply equally to all
similarly situated market participants.
The Exchange does not believe that the
proposed rule changes will impose any
burden on intermarket competition that
is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act
because the proposed changes only
affect trading on the Exchange in
limited circumstances.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor
received comments on the proposed
rule change.
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)
of the Act 13 and paragraph (f) of Rule
19b–4 14 thereunder. 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. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission will institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
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:
13 15
14 17
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f).
23APN1
22772
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 79 / Thursday, April 23, 2020 / Notices
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
CBOE–2020–033 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.
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CBOE–2020–033. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email 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 website (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 website 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
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
offices of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change.
Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit
personal identifying information from
comment submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish
to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CBOE–2020–033, and
should be submitted on or before May
14, 2020.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.15
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–08594 Filed 4–22–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
15 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:28 Apr 22, 2020
Jkt 250001
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
of the most significant parts of such
statements.
[Release No. 34–88682; File No. SR–
NYSEAMER–2020–31]
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
American LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Change To Amend the NYSE American
Options Fee Schedule
April 17, 2020.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on April 16,
2020, NYSE American LLC (‘‘NYSE
American’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III 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 Exchange proposes to amend the
NYSE American Options Fee Schedule
(‘‘Fee Schedule’’) to modify the Strategy
Execution Fee Cap to allow the
inclusion of certain Qualified
Contingent Cross transactions for the
month of April 2020. The Exchange
proposes to implement the fee change
effective April 16 2020.4 The proposed
change is available on the Exchange’s
website at www.nyse.com, at the
principal office of the Exchange, 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,
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
4 The Exchange originally filed to amend the Fee
Schedule on April 1, 2020 (SR–NYSEAMER–2020–
27) and withdrew such filing on April 9, 2020. The
Exchange then filed to amend the Fee Schedule on
April 9, 2020 (SR–NYSEAMER–2020–30) and
withdrew such filing on April 16, 2020.
2 15
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
1. Purpose
The purpose of this filing is to amend
the Fee Schedule to modify the Strategy
Execution Fee Cap (‘‘Strategy Cap’’) to
allow the inclusion of certain Qualified
Contingent Cross (‘‘QCC’’) transactions
for the month of April 2020, as set forth
below. The Exchange proposes to
implement the rule change on April 16
2020.
Since March 9, 2020, markets
worldwide have been experiencing
unprecedented market-wide declines
and volatility that has resulted from the
ongoing spread of the novel COVID–19
virus. In addition, beginning March 16,
2020, to slow the spread of COVID–19
through social-distancing measures,
significant limitations have been placed
on large gatherings throughout the
country.5 Shortly thereafter, U.S.
options exchanges that operate physical
trading floors, such as Cboe, Inc. and
NASDAQ PHLX, announced the
temporary closure of such floors as a
precautionary measure to prevent the
potential spread of COVID–19. The
Exchange likewise announced the
temporary closure of the Trading Floor,
effective March 23, 2020, which meant
that Exchange Floor Brokers could not
engage in open outcry trading.
Section I.J. of the Fee Schedule
currently provides a Strategy Cap that
limits to $1,000 the daily fees for certain
options strategies execution on the same
trading day.6 Strategy executions that
qualify for the Strategy Cap are (a)
reversals and conversions, (b) box
spreads, (c) short stock interest spreads,
(d) merger spreads, and (e) jelly rolls,
which are described in detail in the Fee
Schedule.7 However, the Strategy Cap
specifically excludes from the Cap
‘‘[a]ny qualifying Strategy Execution
executed as a QCC.’’ 8 A QCC is defined
as an originating order to buy or sell at
least 1000 contracts that is identified as
being part of a qualified contingent
5 For example, in New York City, which is where
the NYSE Trading Floor is located, public and
private schools, universities, churches, restaurants,
bars, movie theaters, and other commercial
establishments where large crowds can gather have
been closed.
6 See Fee Schedule, Section I.J., Strategy
Execution Fee Cap, available here: https://
www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/americanoptions/NYSE_American_Options_Fee_
Schedule.pdf.
7 See id.
8 See id.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 79 (Thursday, April 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22770-22772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08594]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-88678; File No. SR-CBOE-2020-033]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Amending
Its Fees Schedule
April 17, 2020.
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 April 16, 2020, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``Cboe
Options'') 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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
Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``Cboe Options'') proposes
to amend its fees schedule. The text of the proposed rule change is
provided in Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the
Exchange's website (https://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), 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 Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend Footnote 12 of the Fees Schedule,
which governs pricing changes in the event the Exchange trading floor
becomes inoperable. In the event the trading floor becomes inoperable,
the Exchange will continue to operate in a screen-based only
environment using a floorless configuration of the System that is
operational while the trading floor facility is inoperable. The
Exchange would operate using that configuration only until the
Exchange's trading floor facility became operational. Open outcry
trading would not be available in the event the trading floor becomes
inoperable. Particularly, the Exchange proposes to amend Footnote 12 to
waive fees incurred from certain transactions executed in electronic
compression forums.
By way of background, the Exchange recently adopted Rule
5.24(e)(1)(E), which provides that in the event the trading floor is
inoperable, the Exchange will make available an electronic
``compression forum'' in the same manner as an open outcry
``compression forum'' as set forth in Rule 5.88, subject to certain
exceptions.\3\ When the trading floor is open, the Exchange facilitates
compression forums on the trading floor at the end of each calendar
week, month, and quarter in which Trading Permit Holders (``TPHs'') may
reduce open positions in series of SPX options in order to mitigate the
effects of capital constraints on market participants, which may
contribute to continued depth of liquidity in the SPX options
market.\4\ The Exchange adopted Rule 5.24(e)(1)(E) to provide for an
electronic forum that replicates the compression forum that is
available when the Exchange is operating with an open outcry
environment. Particularly, an electronic compression forum would
continue to provide TPHs an opportunity to efficiently reduce their
open SPX positions and free up capital in the event the Exchange must
operate in an all-electronic environment (as it currently is), which is
particularly important in volatile market conditions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 88490 (March 26,
2020), 85 FR 18318 (April 1, 2020) (SR-CBOE-2020-026).
\4\ In general, under the floor Compression Forum process, each
month, TPHs may submit to the Exchange lists of open SPX positions
(these positions are referred to in Rule 5.88 as ``compression-list
positions'') they wish to close against opposing (long/short)
positions of other TPHs. The Exchange would then aggregate these
positions into a single list to allow TPHs to more easily identify
those positions with counterparty interest on the Exchange. The
Exchange then provides a forum on the Exchange's trading floor
during which TPHs could conduct closing-only transactions in series
of SPX options. The Exchange holds compression forums on the last
three trading days of each calendar month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange currently waives transaction fees (and surcharges)
incurred as a result of transactions that compress or reduce certain
open positions.\5\ One such waiver in particular is for transactions
involving SPX and SPXW compression-list positions executed in a floor
compression forum (pursuant to Rule 5.88).\6\ Particularly, the
Exchange waives SPX/SPXW transaction fees, including surcharges, in
order to encourage TPHs to submit compression-list positions in advance
of monthly compression forums and compress these positions during
compression forums.\7\ The Exchange wishes to similarly waive all
transaction fees, including any applicable surcharges (e.g., Index
License Surcharge and SPX/SPXW Execution Surcharges), for closing
transactions involving SPX and SPXW compression-list positions executed
in an electronic compression forum (pursuant to Rule 5.24).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See CBOE Fees Schedule, Footnote 41.
\6\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 41. The Exchange
notes it inadvertently failed to update the rule references in
Footnote 41, including Rule 5.88, when it relocated the rules upon
migration. See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 86772 (August
27, 2019), 84 FR 46069 (September 3, 2019) (SR-CBOE-2019-042). The
Exchange proposes to update those rule references now.
\7\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 41. A rebate of
transaction fees would include the transaction fee assessed along
with any other surcharges assessed per contract (e.g., the Index
License Surcharge).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes compression of these positions may improve
market
[[Page 22771]]
liquidity by freeing capital currently tied up in positions for which
there is a minimal chance that a significant loss would occur. The
Exchange further believes advanced submission of compression-list
positions to the Exchange allows TPHs to more easily identify
counterparty interest and efficiently conduct closing transactions of
these positions during compression forums. The Exchange notes the
submission of compression-list positions is completely voluntary, open
to all TPHs with open positions in SPX, and does not require a TPH to
trade any compression-list position or participate in a compression
forum. As such, the Exchange believes it's appropriate to waive fees
incurred for transaction executed in an electronic compression forum.
The Exchange proposes to make clear that in order to receive a fee
waiver of all transaction fees and applicable surcharges for these
transactions, a TPH must mark its orders in a form and manner
determined by the Exchange to identify them as eligible for the
compression fee waiver. Orders identified as eligible for a fee waiver
will yield fee code ``SC''. The Exchange proposes to similarly clarify
in Footnote 41, that in order for a TPH to receive a rebate for
compression trades that occur on floor, a TPH must mark its orders in a
form and manner determined by the Exchange to identify them as eligible
for the compression rebates.\8\
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\8\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 87338 (October
17, 2019), 84 FR 56873 (October 23, 2019) (SR-CBOE-2019-094).
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular,
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\9\ Specifically, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the
Section 6(b)(5) \10\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be
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 regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and,
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\11\ which requires that Exchange rules
provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and
other charges among its Trading Permit Holders and other persons using
its facilities.
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\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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The Exchange believes the proposed rule change to waive transaction
fees, including the Index License Surcharge and SPX/SPXW Execution
Surcharges, for closing transactions involving SPX and SPXW
compression-list positions executed in an electronic compression forum
(pursuant to Rule 5.24) while the trading floor is inoperable is
reasonable because market participants will not be subject to
transaction fees or surcharges for these executions. While the trading
floor is inoperable, the Exchange still wishes to incentivize TPHs to
submit to the Exchange compression-list positions executed in a
compression forum, albeit for an electronic compression forum, and as
such, does not wish to assess any transaction fees or surcharges on
such volume that would otherwise be executed on the trading floor and
not be charged. The Exchange believes compression of these positions
would improve market liquidity by freeing capital currently tied up in
positions for which there is a minimal chance that a significant loss
would occur. All TPHs may submit compression-list positions and may
participate in compression forums. Moreover, as noted above, the
Exchange already waives transaction fees, including surcharges, for
closing transactions involving SPX and SPXW compression-list positions
executed in a compression forum on the trading floor (pursuant to Rule
5.88).\12\ The Exchange believes the proposed change is also equitable
and not unfairly discriminatory as it applies uniformly to all market
participants that identify eligible orders in the form and manner
determined by the Exchange.
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\12\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 41.
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Lastly, the Exchange believes the proposed clarification and
updates to rule references in Footnote 41 maintains transparency in the
Fees Schedule and alleviates potential confusion, thereby removing
impediments to, and perfecting the mechanism of a free and open market
and a national market system, and, in general, protecting investors and
the public interest.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule changes will
impose any burden on competition that are not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange notes the
proposed changes are not intended to address any competitive issue, but
rather to address a fee change it believes is reasonable in the event
the trading floor becomes inoperable, thereby only permitting
electronic participation on the Exchange. The Exchange does not believe
that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intramarket
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act because the proposed changes apply equally to all
similarly situated market participants. The Exchange does not believe
that the proposed rule changes will impose any burden on intermarket
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act because the proposed changes only affect trading on
the Exchange in limited circumstances.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the
proposed rule change.
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) of the Act \13\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \14\
thereunder. 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. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission will institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or
disapproved.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
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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 proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
[[Page 22772]]
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to [email protected]. Please include
File Number SR-CBOE-2020-033 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.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2020-033. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email 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 website (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 website 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 10:00 a.m. and
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection
and copying at the principal offices of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying
information from comment submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2020-033, and should be submitted
on or before May 14, 2020.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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\15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-08594 Filed 4-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P