Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on August 5, 2011, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“Exchange” or “CBOE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
17 CFR 240.19b-4.
17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to extend a clearly erroneous policy pilot program pertaining to the CBOE Stock Exchange (“CBSX”, the CBOE's stock trading facility). This rule change simply seeks to extend the pilot. No other changes to the pilot are being proposed. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site ( http://www.cboe.org/Legal ), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary and at the Commission.
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 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, of the most significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
Certain amendments to Rule 52.4, Clearly Erroneous Policy, were approved by the Commission on September 10, 2010 on a pilot basis. The pilot is currently set to expire on the earlier of August 11, 2011 or the date on which a limit up-limit down mechanism to address extraordinary market volatility, if adopted, applies to the Circuit Breaker Stocks as defined in Interpretation and Policy .03 of Rule 6.3C. The clearly erroneous policy changes were developed in consultation with other markets and the Commission staff to provide for uniform treatment: (i) Of clearly erroneous execution reviews in Multi-Stock Events involving twenty or more securities; and (ii) in the event transactions occur that result in the issuance of an individual stock trading pause by the primary market and subsequent transactions that occur before the trading pause is in effect on the Exchange. Additional changes were also made to Rule 52.4 that reduce the ability of the Exchange to deviate from the objective standards set forth in the Rule. As the duration of the pilot expires on the earlier of August 11, 2011 or the date on which a limit up-limit down mechanism to address extraordinary market volatility, if adopted, applies to the Circuit Breaker Stocks as defined in Interpretation and Policy .03 of Rule 6.3C, the Exchange is proposing to extend the effectiveness of the clearly erroneous policy changes to Rule 52.4 through January 31, 2012.
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 62886 (September 10, 2010), 75 FR 56613 (September 16, 2010) (SR-CBOE-2010-056) (approval order establishing pilot through December 10, 2010), 63485 (December 9, 2010), 75 FR 78278 (December 15, 2010) (SR-CBOE-2010-113) (extension of pilot through April 11, 2011), and 64227 (April 7, 2011), 76 FR 20796 (April 13, 2011) (SR-CBOE-2011-032) (extension of pilot through the earlier of August 11, 2011 or the date on which a limit up-limit down mechanism to address extraordinary market volatility, if adopted, applies to the Circuit Breaker Stocks as defined in Interpretation and Policy .03 of Rule 6.3C, Individual Stock Trading Pause Due to Extraordinary Market Volatility).
2. Statutory Basis
Extension of the pilot period will allow the Exchange to continue to operate the pilot on an uninterrupted basis. Accordingly, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations under the Act applicable to a national securities exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act. Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.
15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b).
15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(5).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
CBOE 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.
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 proposal.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
Because the foregoing 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, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder. 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 because such waiver will allow the pilot program to continue uninterrupted and help ensure uniformity among the national securities exchanges and FINRA with respect to the treatment of clearly erroneous transactions. Accordingly, the Commission waives the 30-day operative delay requirement and designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing with the Commission.
17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires that a self-regulatory organization submit to 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 filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Commission notes that the Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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.
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
- Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2011-077 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.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2011-077. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of CBOE. 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2011-077 and should be submitted on or before September 6, 2011.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-20641 Filed 8-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P