Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on December 13, 2006, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Phlx. The Phlx filed the proposed rule change as a “non-controversial” rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder, which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. 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 Phlx proposes to add the Hapoalim American Israeli Index (“Hapoalim Index” or “Index”) to Phlx Rule 1101A, which would enable the Exchange to list and trade options on the Hapoalim Index at $2.50 or greater strike price intervals if the strike price is less than $200.
The Exchange has recently entered into a license with Hapoalim Securities USA, Inc. that would, among other things, allow it to list and trade options on the Index.
The text of the proposed Exchange rule is set forth immediately below, with deletions [bracketed] and additions in italics.
Rule 1101A.
Terms of Option Contracts
(a) The Exchange shall determine fixed point intervals of exercise prices for index options (options on indexes). Generally, the exercise (strike) price intervals will be no less than $5; provided, that the Exchange may determine to list strike prices at no less than $2.50 intervals for options on the following indexes (which may also be known as sector indexes):
(i)—(xxviii)—No Change.
(xxix) Wellspring Bioclinical Trials IndexTM, if the strike price is less than $200[.],
(xxx) Hapoalim American Israeli Index or Hapoalim Index, if the strike price is less than $200.
Remainder of (a)—No Change.
(b)—(c)—No Change.
Commentary—No Change.
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 Phlx 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 Phlx 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 purpose of the proposed amendment is to add the Hapoalim Index to Rule 1101A, which would allow the Exchange to list options on the Index at $2.50 strike price intervals if the strike price is less than $200.
Exchange Rule 1101A currently indicates that the Exchange shall determine fixed point strike price intervals for index options at no less than $5.00, provided that for indexes that are listed in Rule 1101A the Exchange may determine to list strike prices at no less than $2.50 intervals if the strike price is less than $200. The proposed rule change adds the Hapoalim Index to the list of indexes in Rule 1101A upon which the Exchange may list options at $2.50 strike price intervals.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in particular, in that it is designed 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, by allowing options on the Hapoalim Index to be listed at $2.50 strike price intervals similarly to options on other indexes listed on the Exchange.
15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
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.
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 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) thereunder.
17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). When filing a proposed rule change pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act, an Exchange is required 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 provided notice to the Commission four business days prior to filing the proposed rule change, and the Commission has determined to waive the five business day requirement.
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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.
A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally may not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Phlx has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because it will allow the Exchange to offer additional strike prices for options on the Hapoalim Index to investors without delay. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposal to be effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.
Id.
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).
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-Phlx-2006-82 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
- Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2006-82. 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Phlx. 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-Phlx-2006-82 and should be submitted on or before January 18, 2007.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.13
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-22194 Filed 12-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P