[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 213 (Friday, November 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56599-56601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28006]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-37863; File No. SR-Phlx-96-33]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Granting Approval to 
Proposed Rule Change by the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc., Relating 
to an Increase in Narrow-Based Index Option Position and Exercise 
Limits

October 24, 1996.

I. Introduction

    On August 2, 1996, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (``Phlx'' 
or ``Exchange'') submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a 
proposed rule change to amend Exchange Rules 1001A(b)(1) and 1002A to 
increase the position and exercise limits for narrow-based index 
options from 6,000, 9,000, or 12,000 contracts to 9,000, 12,000, or 
15,000 contracts.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. Sec. 78s(b)(1) (1988).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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    The proposed rule change appeared in the Federal Register on 
September 10, 1996.\3\ No comments were received on the proposed rule 
change. This order approves the Phlx's proposal.
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    \3\  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 37629 (September 3, 
1996), 61 FR 47775 (September 10, 1996).
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II. Background and Description

    According to the Phlx, the purpose of the proposed rule change is 
to increase narrow-based index option position and exercise limits \4\ 
in order to attract additional trading interest and, thus, promote 
depth and liquidity in Phlx index options. The Exchange believes that 
the current limits constrain certain investors from trading index 
options.
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    \4\ Position limits impose a ceiling on the number of option 
contracts which an investor or group of investors acting in concert 
may hold or write in each class of options on the same side of the 
market (i.e., aggregating long calls and short puts or long puts and 
short calls). Exercise limits prohibit an investor or group of 
investors acting in concert from exercising more than a specified 
number of puts or calls in a particular class within five 
consecutive business days.
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    Currently, Exchange Rules 1001A(b)(1) and 1002A establish the 
following position and exercise limits for narrow-based (industry) 
index options: (i) 6,000 contracts for an index where a single 
component stock accounted, on average, for 30% or more of the index 
value during the 30-day period immediately preceding the Exchange's 
semi-annual review of narrow-based index option position limits; (ii) 
9,000 contracts for an index where a single component stock accounted, 
on average, for 20% or more of the index value or any five component 
stocks together accounted, on average, for more than 50% of the index 
value but no single component stock accounted, on average, for 30% or 
more of the index value during the 30-day period immediately preceding 
the Exchange's semi-annual review of narrow-based index option position 
limits; and (iii) 12,000 contracts where the conditions requiring a 
limit of 6,000 contracts or 9,000 contracts have not occurred. The Phlx 
proposes to amend Exchange Rules 1001A(b)(1) and 1002A to increase the 
position and exercise limits for narrow-based index options from 6,000, 
9,000, or 12,000 contracts to 9,000, 12,000, or 15,000 contracts.\5\
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    \5\ The Phlx trades options on the following seven narrow-based 
indexes, with their current position limits noted: (1) Gold/Silver 
Index (``XAU'') 6,000 contracts; (2) Utility Index (``UTY'') 12,000 
contracts; (3) Phlx/KBW Bank Index (``BKX'') 12,000 contracts; (4) 
Phone Index (``PNX'') 6,000 contracts; (5) Semiconductor Index 
(``SOX'') 12,000 contracts; (6) Airline Sector Index (``PLN'') 
12,000 contracts; and (7) Forest/Paper Products (``FPP'') 12,000 
contracts.
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed increase is appropriate in 
light of the Exchange's more than ten years experience trading index 
options. In 1983, the Gold/Silver Index (``XAU'') was the first narrow-
based index option to be traded on the Phlx, listed with a position 
limit of 4,000 contracts.\6\ Since that time, the Exchange has honed 
its experience in monitoring and surveilling index options trading by 
developing and implementing an increasingly sophisticated regulatory 
program. This program has benefitted from technological advances and 
has matured alongside index options trading. Moreover, the market for 
index options has also evolved, as more investors are familiar with the 
product and its uses. This is reflected in the appreciable growth in 
index options volume not only since 1983 but in more recent years as 
well.\7\
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    \6\  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 20437 (December 2, 
1983), 48 FR 55229 (December 9, 1983) (File No. SR-Phlx-83-17).
    \7\ According to the Phlx, index options volume increased 48% 
(from 998,780 contracts to 1,483,585 contracts) from the period 
January-June 1995 to January-June 1996.
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    The Exchange recognizes that the purposes of these limits are to 
prevent manipulation and to protect against disruption of the markets 
for both options as well as the underlying securities. The Exchange has 
considered the effects of increased position limits on the marketplace 
and believes that concerns regarding manipulation and disruption are 
adequately addressed by the Phlx's regulatory program. The Phlx 
continues to monitor the markets for evidence of manipulation or 
disruption caused by investors with positions at or near current 
position or exercise limits and the new limits will not diminish the 
surveillance function in this regard.
    The current levels for narrow-based index options have been in 
place since September 1995.\8\ Since that time, however, index options 
have continued

[[Page 56600]]

to experience heavy and steady volume, with a concomitant increase in 
open interest. In this light, the Exchange believes that the proposed 
limits of 9,000, 12,000, or 15,000 contracts should further increase 
the depth and liquidity of the markets for index options by attracting 
additional investor interest. The Phlx also believes that higher 
position limits would further accommodate the hedging needs of Exchange 
market makers and specialists, who are restricted by current levels.
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    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36194 (September 6, 
1995), 60 FR 47637 (September 13, 1995) (File No. SR-Phlx-95-16) 
(increasing position and exercise limits for narrow-based index 
options to 6,000, 9,000, or 12,000 contracts) (``Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 36194'').
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    Further, the Exchange believes that the proposed increases are 
reasonable. The Phlx states that in prior releases approving increased 
position limits, the Commission has acknowledged that a gradual, 
evolutionary approach has been adopted in increasing position and 
exercise limits. Accordingly, the Phlx proposes a 25% increase in the 
highest tier (from 12,000 to 15,000 contracts); a 33% increase in the 
middle tier (from 9,000 to 12,000 contracts); and a 50% increase in the 
lowest tier (from 6,000 to 9,000 contracts). The Exchange believes that 
these proposed increases are consistent with the gradual evolution 
cited by the Commission, as the proposed levels represent reasonable 
increases which are in line with prior changes.\9\
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    \9\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36194, supra 
note 8, where the Phlx's narrow-based position limit changes 
represented a 9% increase in the lowest tier (from 5,500 to 6,000 
contracts); a 20% increase in the middle tier (from 7,500 to 9,000 
contracts); and a 14% increase in the highest tier (from 10,500 to 
12,000 contracts).
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    The Exchange believes that the 1995 changes were so modest (20% or 
less) that position limit increases are once again needed. Since the 
1995 changes were implemented, the Exchange has been requested by its 
members and customers to again propose an increase in position limits, 
arguing that these limits hamper their ability to execute investment 
strategies. In light of the large portfolios common to institutional 
trading and the large-sized transactions that are required to execute 
complicated, cross-market strategies, such requests emphasize that 
institutional hedging needs and trading objectives may exceed current 
limits. Floor members have also expressed the resulting deleterious 
effect on index options trading in an exchange environment. Based on 
such member and customer requests, the Exchange believes that the 
current position limit levels continue to discourage market 
participation by large investors and the institutions that compete to 
facilitate the trading interests of large investors. Accordingly, this 
proposal aims to accommodate the liquidity and hedging needs of large 
investors as well as the facilitators of those investors.
    Concurrent with the proposed increase in position limits, the 
Exchange is also proposing a corresponding increase to narrow-based 
index option exercise limits. The Exchange believes that this increase 
is necessary and appropriate for the same reasons as the rationale 
cited above for proposed increases in position limits. Furthermore, 
exercise limits constrict trading strategies by preventing investors 
from exercising positions larger than the limit within five consecutive 
business days. The Exchange also notes that most of its index options 
currently are or will become European-style, exercisable only during a 
specified period at expiration, such that the manipulation and market 
disruption concerns associated with large exercises will be 
limited.\10\
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    \10\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 37575 
(August 15, 1996), 61 FR 43289 (August 21, 1996), File No. SR-Phlx-
96-18) (order approving change in exercise style of Phlx's National 
Over-the-Counter Index from American-style to European-style).
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III. Discussion

    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, and, in 
particular, with the requirements of Section 6(b)(5),\11\ in that it is 
designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, as well as to protect 
investors and the public interest. In addition, the Commission believes 
that the proposal should remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market by providing market opportunity to 
investors constricted by current position limit levels.
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. Sec. 78f(b) (1988).
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    Since the inception of standardized options trading, the options 
exchanges have had rules imposing limits on the aggregate number of 
option contracts that a member or customer can hold or exercise. These 
rules are intended to prevent the establishment of large options 
positions that can be used or might create incentives to manipulate or 
disrupt the underlying market so as to benefit the options position. At 
the same time, the Commission has recognized that option position and 
exercise limits must not be established at levels that are so low as to 
discourage participation in the options market by institutions and 
other investors with substantial hedging needs or to prevent 
specialists and market makers from adequately meeting their obligations 
to maintain a fair and orderly market.
    In this regard, the Phlx has stated that the current position 
limits discourage market participation by certain large investors and 
the institutions that compete to facilitate their trading. In addition, 
the Phlx notes that index option trading volume has increased 
significantly since 1995, when the current industry index option 
position limits were established. In light of the increased volume of 
narrow-based index option trading and the needs of investors and market 
makers, the Commission believes that the Phlx's proposal is a 
reasonable effort to accommodate the needs of market participants.
    In addition, the Commission notes that the proposal, while 
increasing the positions limits for narrow-based index options, 
continues to reflect the unique characteristics of each index option 
and to maintain the structure of the current three-tiered system. 
Specifically, the lowest proposed limit, 9,000 contracts, will apply to 
narrow-based index options in which a single underlying stock accounts 
for 30% or more of the index value during the 30-day period immediately 
preceding the Exchange's semi-annual review of industry index option 
positions limits. A position limit of 12,000 contracts will apply if 
any single underlying stock accounts, on average, for 20% or more of 
the index value or any five underlying stocks account, on average for 
more than 50% of the index value, but no single stock in the group 
accounts, on average, for 30% or more of the index value during the 30-
day period immediately preceding the Exchange's semi-annual review of 
industry index option position limits. The 15,000 contract limit will 
apply only if the Exchange determines that the conditions requiring 
either the 9,000 contract limit or the 12,000 contract limit have not 
occurred.
    The Commission believes that the proposed increases for the three 
tiers of 25%, 33%, and 50%, for highest to lowest, respectively, appear 
to be appropriate and consistent with the Commission's evolutionary 
approach to position and exercise limits. In this regard, the absence 
of discernible manipulative problems under the current three-tiered 
position and exercise limit system for narrow-based index options leads 
the Commission to conclude that the increases proposed by the Exchange 
are warranted. The Commission recognizes that there are no ideal limits 
in the sense that options positions of any given size can be stated 
conclusively to be free of any

[[Page 56601]]

manipulative concerns. However, based upon the absence of discernible 
manipulation or disruption problems under current limits, the 
Commission believes that the proposed limits can be safely considered. 
Accordingly, the Commission believes that the Phlx's proposed increases 
of existing position and exercise limits for narrow-based index options 
is now appropriate.\12\
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    \12\ The Commission continues to believe that proposals to 
increase position limits and exercise limits must be justified and 
evaluated separately. After reviewing the proposed exercise limits, 
along with the eligibility criteria for each tier, the Commission 
has concluded that the proposed exercise limit increases for the 
three-tiered framework do not raise manipulation problems or 
increase concerns over market disruption in the underlying 
securities.
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    The Commission notes that the Exchange has had considerable 
experience monitoring the current three-tiered framework in narrow-
based index options. The Commission has not found that differing 
position and exercise limit requirements based on the particular 
options product to have created programming or monitoring problems for 
securities firms, or to have led to significant customer confusion. 
Based on the current experience in handling position and exercise 
limits, the Commission believes that the proposed increase in position 
and exercise limits for narrow-based index options will not cause 
significant problems.
    Finally, the Phlx has indicated that its surveillance procedures 
have become increasingly sophisticated and automated. The Commission 
believes that the Exchange's surveillance programs are adequate to 
detect and deter violations of position and exercise limits as well as 
to detect and deter attempted manipulative activity and other trading 
abuses through the use of such illegal positions by market 
participants.\13\
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    \13\ The Commission emphasizes that the Phlx must closely 
monitor compliance with position and exercise limits and to impose 
appropriate sanctions for failures to comply with the Exchange's 
position and exercise limit rules.
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IV. Conclusion

    For the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the Phlx's 
proposal to increase the position and exercises limits for narrow-based 
index options is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the 
rules and regulations thereunder.
    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\14\ that the proposed rule change (SR-Phlx-96-33) is approved.

    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2) (1988).
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    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-28006 Filed 10-31-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M