[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17932-17934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5084]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-53586; File No. SR-CBOE-2006-29]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, 
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 
Rule Change To Increase the Class Quoting Limit in the Option Class 
Apple Computer

April 3, 2006.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on March 16, 2006, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated 
(``CBOE'' 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 CBOE. The 
Exchange has designated this proposal as one constituting a stated 
policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, 
administration, or enforcement of an existing rule under

[[Page 17933]]

Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act,\3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) 
thereunder,\4\ 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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    CBOE proposes to increase the class quoting limit in the option 
class Apple Computer (``AAPL''). The text of the proposed rule change 
is available on CBOE's Web site (http://www.cboe.com), at the CBOE'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 CBOE 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 CBOE 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
    CBOE Rule 8.3A establishes class quoting limits (``CQLs'') for each 
class traded on the Hybrid Trading System.\5\ A CQL is the maximum 
number of quoters that may quote electronically in a given product and 
the current levels are established from 25-40, depending on the trading 
activity of the particular product.
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    \5\ See CBOE Rule 8.3A.01.
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    CBOE Rule 8.3A, Interpretation .01(c) provides a procedure by which 
the President of the Exchange may increase the CQL for a particular 
product. In this regard, the President of the Exchange may increase the 
CQL in exceptional circumstances, which would include substantial 
trading volume, whether actual or expected.\6\ The effect of an 
increase in the CQL is procompetitive in that it increases the number 
of market participants that may quote electronically in a product. The 
purpose of this filing is to increase the CQL in the option class AAPL 
from its current limit of 44 to 47.\7\
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    \6\ Any actions taken by the President of the Exchange pursuant 
to this paragraph must be submitted to the Commission in a rule 
filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act. CBOE Rule 
8.3A.01(c).
    \7\ CBOE previously increased the CQL in AAPL from 40 to 44 on 
April 21, 2005. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51720 (May 
19, 2005), 70 FR 30164 (May 25, 2005).
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    AAPL is one of the most active equity option classes traded on the 
Exchange, and consistently ranks among the top classes in national 
average daily trading volume. Increasing the CQL in AAPL options would 
enable the Exchange to enhance the liquidity offered, thereby offering 
deeper and more liquid markets.
2. Statutory Basis
    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.\8\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the 
proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 
6(b)(5) \9\ 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.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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 received nor solicited written comments on the 
proposal.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing proposed rule change will take effect upon filing 
with the Commission pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act \10\ 
and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) thereunder,\11\ because it constitutes a stated 
policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, 
administration, or enforcement of an existing rule.
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
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    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.

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 [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-CBOE-2006-29 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-CBOE-2006-29. 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 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 available publicly. All submissions should refer to 
File Number SR-CBOE-2006-29 and should be submitted on or before April 
28, 2006.


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    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
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    \12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-5084 Filed 4-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P