78 FR 224 pgs. 69737-69739 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fourteen Month Extension of Pilot Program That Eliminates Position and Exercise Limits for Physically-Settled SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (“SPY”) Options
Type: NOTICEVolume: 78Number: 224Pages: 69737 - 69739
Pages: 69737, 69738, 69739Docket number: [Release No. 34-70878; File No. SR-CBOE-2013-106]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2013-27758 Filed 11-19-13; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-70878; File No. SR-CBOE-2013-106]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fourteen Month Extension of Pilot Program That Eliminates Position and Exercise Limits for Physically-Settled SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ("SPY") Options
November 14, 2013.
[top] Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"),1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2notice is hereby given that on November 5, 2013, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (the "Exchange" or "CBOE") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") the proposed rule
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
4 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 Interpretation and Policy .07 to Rule 4.11 (Position Limits) by extending a pilot program that eliminates the position and exercise limits for physically-settled options on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ("SPY Pilot Program"), which is currently set to expire on November 27, 2013.
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site ( http://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 Interpretation and Policy .07 to Rule 4.11 (Position Limits) to extend the duration of the SPY Pilot Program for an additional fourteen months.5The SPY Pilot Program is currently scheduled to expire on November 27, 2013 and this proposal would extend the SPY Pilot Program through January 27, 2015. There are no substantive changes being proposed to the SPY Pilot Program.
Footnotes:
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67937 (September 27, 2012) 77 FR 60489 (October 3, 2012) (SR-CBOE-2012-091).
In proposing to extend the SPY Pilot Program, the Exchange reaffirms its consideration of several factors that supported its original proposal to establish the SPY Pilot Program, which include: (1) The liquidity of the option and the underlying security; (2) the market capitalization of the underlying security and the securities that make up the S&P 500 Index; (3) options reporting requirements; and (4) financial requirements imposed by CBOE and the Commission.
In the original proposal to establish the SPY Pilot Program, CBOE stated that if CBOE were to submit a proposal to either extend the SPY Pilot Program, adopt the SPY Pilot Program on a permanent basis, or terminate the SPY Pilot Program, CBOE would submit, along with any proposal, a report providing any analysis of the SPY Pilot Program covering the first twelve months during which the SPY Pilot Program was in effect (the "Pilot Report").6However, because not all self-regulatory organizations ("SROs") have adopted similar rules eliminating position and exercise limits for SPY options and because market participants that are members of such SROs are required to comply with the more restrictive SPY option position and exercise limits, no market participants have availed themselves of the SPY Pilot Program. As a result, there is not sufficient data to compile a meaningful Pilot Report at this time to file with this current extension request.
Footnotes:
6 See 77 FR at 60490.
The Exchange believes that it is appropriate to extend the SPY Pilot Program for an additional fourteen months to provide time for other SROs to adopt similar pilot programs that eliminate positions and exercise limits for SPY options. In that event (and in a year's time), the Exchange will be able to prepare a meaningful Pilot Report in support of a proposal to either extend the SPY Pilot Program, adopt the SPY Pilot Program on a permanent basis, or terminate the SPY Pilot Program.
As with the original proposal to establish the SPY Pilot Program, the Exchange represents that the Pilot Report would be submitted within thirty (30) days of the end of the first twelve months of the extended SPY Pilot Program time period and would cover the twelve months that just ended. The Pilot Report would detail the size and different types of strategies employed with respect to positions established as a result of the elimination of position limits in SPY options. In addition, the Pilot Report would note whether any problems resulted due to the no limit approach and any other information that may be useful in evaluating the effectiveness of the SPY Pilot Program. The Pilot Report would compare the impact of the SPY Pilot Program, if any, on the volumes of SPY options and the volatility in the price of the underlying SPY shares, particularly at expiration. In preparing the report the Exchange would utilize various data elements such as volume and open interest. In addition the Exchange would make available to Commission staff data elements relating to the effectiveness of the SPY Pilot Program.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.7Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5)8requirements 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 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.
Footnotes:
7 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
Specifically, the Exchange believes that extending the SPY Pilot Program promotes just and equitable principles of trade by permitting market participants, including market makers, institutional investors and retail investors, to establish greater positions when pursuing their investment goals and needs.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
[top] The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is not designed to address any aspect of competition, whether between the Exchange and its competitors, or among market participants. Instead, the proposed rule change is designed to allow the SPY Pilot Program to continue while other SROs adopt similar provisions and meaningful data can be compiled into a Pilot Report.
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
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act9and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.10
Footnotes:
9 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
10 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its 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.
A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act11normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)12permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay. The Exchange believes that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because it will benefit market participants since immediate operability will allow the SPY Pilot Program to continue without interruption. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposal operative upon filing.13
Footnotes:
11 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
12 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
13 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. 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:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission's Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or
• Use the Commission's Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov . Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2013-106 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.
• 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-2013-106. 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 Web site ( http://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 10:00 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; 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-2013-106 and should be submitted on or before December 11, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.14
Footnotes:
14 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-27758 Filed 11-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P