68 FR 97 pgs. 27609-27610 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto by the Pacific Exchange, Inc. Relating to a One Tick Step Up Requirement for Auto-Ex in Certain Option Issues
Type: NOTICEVolume: 68Number: 97Pages: 27609 - 27610
Docket number: [Release No. 34-47843; File No. SR-PCX-2002-54]
FR document: [FR Doc. 03-12610 Filed 5-19-03; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-47843; File No. SR-PCX-2002-54]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto by the Pacific Exchange, Inc. Relating to a One Tick Step Up Requirement for Auto-Ex in Certain Option Issues
May 13, 2003.
I. Introduction
On August 27, 2002, the Pacific Exchange, Inc. ("PCX" or "Exchange") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "Commission") pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act")1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2a proposed rule change to adopt a one-tick step up requirement for market makers who are participating on the Exchange's Automatic Execution System ("Auto-Ex"). On March 19, 2003, the Exchange submitted Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change. The proposed rule change, as amended, was published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2003.3The Commission received no comments regarding the proposal. This order approves the proposed rule change, as amended.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act No. 47615 (April 2, 2003), 68 FR 17420.
II. Description
The Exchange is proposing to adopt PCX Rule 6.87(e)(8) relating to the Exchange's Auto-Ex System for options trading. Currently, options market makers who are logged on to Auto-Ex are obligated to meet certain requirements with respect to their use of Auto-Ex. These obligations are set forth in PCX Rule 6.87(e)(1)-(7). The Exchange is proposing to adopt a new rule that would require Lead Market Makers ("LMMs") participating on Auto-Ex to step up and execute certain orders at prices better than the Exchange is disseminating under specified conditions.
PCX Rule 6.87(i) currently allows the Options Floor Trading Committee ("OFTC") to require market makers to step up at least one trading increment to the national best bid or offer ("NBBO") for electronic orders in selected issues.4The proposed rule change would impose an alternative step up requirement on LMMs. Under the proposal, if the OFTC has not exercised its authority to require step up to the NBBO, the Exchange will set the Auto-Ex System to require LMMs to step up and execute trades in selected issues at the NBBO if the LMM is quoting a price within one tick of the NBBO as disseminated by another exchange. If the LMM is quoting a price that is more than one trading increment inferior to the price being disseminated by another options exchange, the order will default for manual representation in the trading crowd.
Footnotes:
4 Further, pursuant to PCX Rule 6.87(i), the OFTC may designate that an order will default for manual representation in the trading crowd if the order would be executed at a price that is more than one trading increment away from the PCX market price.
Proposed PCX Rule 6.87(e)(8) only will apply to non-broker-dealer orders for ten contracts or less in option issues that are ranked in the 120 most actively traded equity options based on the total number of contracts traded nationally for a specified month based on volume as reported by the Options Clearing Corporation. In addition, the rule will only apply to orders in option series that are not designated as LEAPS pursuant to PCX Rule 6.4(e).
The Exchange's determination of whether an equity option ranks in the top 120 most active, nationally-traded issues will be based on volume statistics reported by the Options Clearing Corporation. The Exchange's determination of whether an equity option ranks in the top 120 most active issues will be based on volume statistics for the three calendar months of trading activity beginning four months prior to the current month. The Exchange has represented that it intends to notify its Members of the issues that are designated to be in the top 120 via a regulatory bulletin that will be published at the beginning of each month.
III. Discussion
After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange. In particular the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b)(5) of the Act,5which requires among other things, that the Exchange's rules be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments and to perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and in general, to protect investors and the public interest.6The Commission believes that requiring LMMs to step up one tick to match the NBBO in the most highly traded options series should increase the ability of investors to gain access to the best bids and offers available in those options series.
Footnotes:
5 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
6 In approving this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
IV. Conclusion
For all of the aforementioned reasons, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act,7that the proposed rule change (SR-PCX-2002-54), as amended, is approved.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.8
Footnotes:
7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
8 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-12610 Filed 5-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P