67 FR 56 pgs. 13380-13382 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Granting Partial Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 Thereto and Notice of Filing and Order Granting Partial Accelerated Approval of Amendment No. 3 Thereto by the American Stock Exchange LLC Relating to the Obligations of Specialists and Registered Options Traders
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 56Pages: 13380 - 13382
Docket number: [Release No. 34-45576; File No. SR-Amex-2001-76]
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-6901 Filed 3-21-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-45576; File No. SR-Amex-2001-76]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Granting Partial Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 Thereto and Notice of Filing and Order Granting Partial Accelerated Approval of Amendment No. 3 Thereto by the American Stock Exchange LLC Relating to the Obligations of Specialists and Registered Options Traders
March 15, 2002.
I. Introduction
On September 12, 2001, the American Stock Exchange LLC ("Amex" or "Exchange") submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act")1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2a proposed rule change relating to collective actions of specialists and registered options traders.3The Amex filed Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 to the proposed rule change on December 17, 20014and January 18, 2002,5respectively. The Federal Register published the proposed rule change and Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 for comment on February 14, 2002.6The Exchange filed Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule change on March 13, 2002.7The Commission received no comments on the proposed rule change. The Commission is publishing notice of Amendment No. 3 to solicit comments from interested persons. The Commission is also granting accelerated approval to all portions of the proposed rule change, as amended by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3, except for the provision of proposed Commentary .02(b) to Amex Rule 950 that states that "[w]ith respect to orders sent through the Exchange's order routing systems it is presumed that the member has requested a collective response."
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
3 The Amex submitted the proposed rule change pursuant to subparagraph IV.B.j of the Commission's September 11, 2000 Order, which requires in part that certain options exchanges, including the Amex, adopt new, or amend existing, rules to make express any practice or procedure "whereby market makers trading any particular option class determine by agreement the spreads or option prices at which they will trade any option class . . . ." See Order Instituting Public Administrative Proceedings Pursuant to Section 19(h)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings and Imposing Remedial Sanctions. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 43268 (September 11, 2000).
4 The Amex submitted a new Form 19b-4, which replaces and supersedes the original filing in its entirety ("Amendment No. 1").
5 Letter from Claire P. McGrath, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Amex, to Elizabeth King, Associate Director, Division of Market Regulation ("Division"), Commission, dated January 16, 2002 ("Amendment No. 2"). Amendment No. 2 amends proposed Amex Rules 950 and 958 to clarify that "large order" means orders larger than the size communicated or disseminated pursuant to Exchange Rule 958 or larger than the Exchange's auto-ex eligible size. Amendment No. 2 also makes a technical correction to proposed Amex Rule 958(h)(iii).
6 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 45413 (February 7, 2002), 67 FR 6953.
7 Letter from Claire P. McGrath, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Amex, to Elizabeth King, Associate Director, Division, Commission, dated March 8, 2002 ("Amendment No. 3").
II. Description of Proposal
The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rules 950, 958, and 958A to codify its interpretation that unless otherwise provided for in Exchange rules, it is a violation of just and equitable principles of trade for specialists and registered options traders ("traders") to determine by agreement the spreads or prices at which they will trade any option class, or the allocation of orders in any option class. The Exchange believes that there are, however, certain specific circumstances where, in order to make fair and orderly markets that are competitive with other exchanges and responsive to the needs and expectations of investors, some communication among the specialist and traders may be necessary and appropriate. According to the Exchange, these circumstances arise: (1) in connection with the specialist's establishment of parameters used by the Exchange's automated quotation updating system (known as "X-TOPS") to automatically generate options quotations in response to changes in the market for the underlying security or index; (2) in responding to customer requests for markets in size, such that the collective efforts of the specialist and traders are necessary in order to be able to fill any resulting order to buy or sell options; and (3) whenever the specialist and traders, in order to fulfill their obligations pursuant to Rule 11Ac1-1 under the Act and Amex Rule 958A, and to be competitive with other exchanges, collectively agree as to the best bid, best offer, and aggregate quotation size. The following is a description of the nature and extent of the joint action among the specialist and traders that is permitted under each of these circumstances.
X-TOPS Parameters
Proposed Commentary .02 to Exchange Rule 950(n) and proposed paragraph (h) to Exchange Rule 958 would (i) require the specialist to disclose to all registered option traders in an option class the variables of the formula used to generate automatically updated market quotations for each option class and/or series, and (ii) permit the specialist to receive input from the registered options traders on any one or all of these variables provided, however, that it is within the specialist's sole discretion to make the final independent decision in determining the variables to be used in the X-TOPS formula. Registered options traders would not be required to provide input into these decisions. Those specialists using an Exchange-approved proprietary system to calculate and generate quotes may be exempt by the Exchange from having to disclose proprietary information concerning the variables (but not the variables themselves) used by their systems.
Joint Responses to Requests for Markets
Proposed Commentary .02 to Exchange Rule 950(n) and proposed new paragraph (h) to Exchange Rule 958 would expressly permit a collective response to a request for a market to buy or sell option contracts in sizes larger than the greater of the Auto-Ex eligible size or the size communicated or disseminated pursuant to Exchange Rule 958A,8provided the member requested the collective response.
Footnotes:
8 Id. Amendment No. 3 amends proposed Amex Rules 950 and 958 to clarify that "large order" means orders larger than the greater of the size communicated or disseminated pursuant to Exchange Rule 958 or larger than the Exchange's auto-ex eligible size.
In addition, the proposed rule change would permit the specialist to agree to transact the full size of the options order at a specific price unilaterally determined by the specialist and subsequently allocate portions of the order to registered options traders that wish to participate in the trade.9If or when a trade is executed under such circumstances, the contracts would be allocated in accordance with the Exchange's specialist and registered options traders participation policy.10
Footnotes:
9 See Amendment No. 3, supra note 7. Amex No. 3 codifies in proposed Amex Rules 950 and 958 that the specialist may unilaterally give a single bid (offer) in response to a request for a market and subsequently discuss with the registered options traders whether they wish to participate in the contracts executed in accordance with that bid (offer).
10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 42964 (June 20, 2000) 65 FR 39972 (June 28, 2000) (File No. SR-Amex-00-30) which proposes to codify current practices regarding the participation in option trades executed on the Exchange by registered options traders and specialists.
Finally, the Exchange proposes that with respect to orders sent through the Exchange's order routing systems that are larger than the size disseminated pursuant to Exchange Rule 958, it would be presumed that the member has requested a collective response.11
Footnotes:
11 As noted in Section III of this order, the Commission is not approving this provision at this time.
Firm Quote Guarantees
Currently, Amex Rule 958A obligates specialists and traders to be firm for (i) customer orders up to the quotation size being disseminated, and (ii) broker-dealer orders, up to the size established and periodically published by the Exchange. Rule 11Ac1-1 under the Act anticipates that exchanges will disseminate one automatically generated quote for a trading crowd, which necessitates collective action on behalf of the specialist and traders to communicate size to the Exchange. If or when a trade is executed, the contracts will be allocated in accordance with the Exchange's specialist and registered options traders participation policy.
III. Discussion
The Commission finds that the proposed rule change, except for the portion that states that it is presumed for orders sent through the Exchange's order routing systems that the member has requested a collective response, is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.12Specifically, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change, except for the portion that states that it is presumed for orders sent through the Exchange's order routing systems that the member has requested a collective response, is consistent with the Section 6(b)(8)13requirement that the rules of an exchange not impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Footnotes:
12 In approving the proposal, the Commission has considered its impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
The Commission believes that the portion of the proposed rule change approved herein should deter collective action on the part of Exchange members by clearly establishing in the Exchange's rules that options market makers are prohibited from determining by agreement the spreads or option prices at which they will trade an issue, subject to certain specified exceptions that the Commission herein approves.14For instance, the proposal would permit specialists to receive input from members of the crowd in setting the parameters of the formula used to automatically update options quotations. At this time, the Commission believes it is reasonable for the Exchange's rules to permit the members of the crowd to be given a voice in setting autoquote parameters because, pursuant to the Exchange's rules, they will be obligated to execute orders at the resultant quote.
Footnotes:
14 The Commission expects the Exchange to monitor the collective actions that are undertaken pursuant to the rule change approved herein for any undesirable or inappropriate anticompetitive effects. The Commission's examination staff will monitor the Exchange's efforts in this regard.
In addition, the proposed rule change would permit the specialist and registered options traders to make a collective response to a member's specific request to fill a large order, provided that a collective response is requested. The Commission believes that this exception recognizes the desire of the marketplace to provide a single price to a request to fill a large order that a single member would not be able to fill. The Commission believes that any anticompetitive effect of this exception is limited by requiring that there be a request for a single price and that the order be sufficiently large. In addition, the Commission notes that notwithstanding this exception, a single crowd participant may voice a bid or offer independently from, and differently from, the specialist and other members of a trading crowd.
At this time, the Commission is not approving the provision of proposed Commentary .02(b) to Amex Rule 950, that states that it is presumed that the member has requested a collective response for orders sent through the Exchange's order routing systems, because this proposed provision warrants further consideration.
Finally, the Commission finds that the portion of the proposed rule change that is approved herein is designed to effectively limit the circumstances in which collective action is permissible.
The Commission finds good cause for accelerating approval of the proposed rule change and Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto prior to the thirtieth day after publication in the Federal Register . The Commission notes that the proposed rule change, as amended by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, was published for the full comment period and the Commission is accelerating approval of the filing on the twenty-ninth day after publication of the proposed rule change, and Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, in the Federal Register . The Commission believes that accelerated approval will permit the Exchange to implement, and investors to benefit from, the proposed rule change without undue delay. The Commission notes that the Amendment No. 3 to the proposal clarifies the proposed rules in response to issues raised by Commission staff. Accordingly, the Commission finds that good cause exists, consistent with Sections 6(b)(8) of the Act,15and 19(b)(2) of the Act16to grant partial accelerated approval of the proposed rule change and Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto.
Footnotes:
15 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
16 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning Amendment No. 3, including whether the Amendment No. 3 is consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Amex. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-Amex-2001-76 and should be submitted by April 12, 2002.
V. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,17that the proposed rule change (SR-Amex-2001-76), as amended, except for the portion that states that it is presumed for orders sent through the Exchange's order routing systems that the member has requested a collective response, is approved on an accelerated basis.
Footnotes:
17 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.18
Footnotes:
18 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-6901 Filed 3-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P