79 FR 91 pgs. 27016-27017 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. Relating to Mini Options
Type: NOTICEVolume: 79Number: 91Pages: 27016 - 27017
Pages: 27016, 27017Docket number: [Release No. 34-72104; File No. SR-BX-2014-020]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2014-10777 Filed 5-9-14; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-72104; File No. SR-BX-2014-020]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. Relating to Mini Options
May 6, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act")1, and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2notice is hereby given that, on April 24, 2014, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. ("BX" or "Exchange") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "Commission") the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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.
Footnotes:
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
The Exchange proposes to amend Supplementary Material .08 to Chapter IV, Section 6 (Series of Options Contracts Open for Trading), entitled "Mini Options Contracts." Specifically, the Exchange proposes to replace the reference to "GOOG" to "GOOGL."
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.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 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 Supplementary Material .08 to Chapter IV, Section 6, regarding Mini Options traded on BX, to replace the reference to "GOOG" to "GOOGL." This filing is similar to filings made by the International Securities Exchange, LLC ("ISE"), BOX Options Exchange LLC ("BOX") and the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated ("CBOE").3
Footnotes:
3 See Securities Exchange Release Nos. 71873 (April 4, 2014), 79 FR 19953 (April 10, 2014) (SR-BOX-2014-13); 71848 (April 2, 2014), 79 FR 19405 (April 8, 2014) (SR-CBOE-2014-030); SR-ISE-2014-021 (not yet published).
The Exchange is proposing to make a change to Supplementary Material .08 to enable the continued trading of Mini Options on Google's class A shares. The Exchange is proposing to make this change because, on April 2, 2014, Google issued a new class of shares (class C) to its shareholders in lieu of a cash dividend payment. The new Google Class C shares were given the old Google ticker symbol, "GOOG," and the new [sic] class A shares have been given a new ticker symbol of "GOOGL." The Exchange is proposing to change the Google ticker referenced in Chapter IV, Section 6 from "GOOG" to "GOOGL."
The purpose of this change is to ensure that Supplementary Material .08 to Chapter IV, Section 6 properly reflects the intention and practice of the Exchange to trade Mini Options on only an exhaustive list of underlying securities outlined in Supplementary Material .08 to Chapter IV, Section 6. This change is meant to continue the inclusion of class A shares of Google in the current list of underlying securities that Mini Options can be traded on, while making it clear that class C shares of Google are not part of that list as that class of options has not been approved for Mini Options trading. As a result, the proposed change will also help avoid confusion.
2. Statutory Basis
[top] 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.4Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5)5requirements 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 the Section 6(b)(5)6requirement that the rules of an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. In particular, the proposed rule change to change the Google class A ticker to its new designation is consistent with the Act because the proposed change is merely updating the corresponding ticker to allow for continued mini option trading on Google's class A shares. The proposed change will allow for continued benefit to investors by
Footnotes:
4 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
5 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
6 Id.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The [sic] 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 change does not impose any burden on intramarket competition because it applies to all Participants. There is no burden on intermarket competition as the proposed change is merely attempting to update the new ticker for Google class A for Mini Options. As a result, there will be no substantive changes to the Exchange's operations or its rules.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were either solicited or received.
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 for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act7and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.8
Footnotes:
7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
8 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and the 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.
A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)9normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)10the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.
Footnotes:
9 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
10 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest as it will help to ensure that market participants are properly informed as to the underlying securities eligible for trading of Mini Options contracts on the Exchange. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.11
Footnotes:
11 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also 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.
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-BX-2014-020 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-BX-2014-020. 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-BX-2014-020 and should be submitted on or before June 2, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.12
Footnotes:
12 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-10777 Filed 5-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P