[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 174 (Friday, September 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53150-53151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14877]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54385; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2006-49]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Extend the 
Exchange's Standard Position and Exercise Limit Pilot Program

August 30, 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 August 18, 2006, the NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' 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 Exchange. The Exchange has filed the proposal 
as a ``non-controversial'' rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) 
of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ which renders it 
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).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    NYSE Arca proposes to amend its rules to extend the time period in 
NYSE Arca Rule 6.8(a), which covers the position limit and exercise 
limits pilot program for equity option contracts and options on the 
Nasdaq-100 Tracking Stock (``QQQQ'') (``Pilot Program''). The text of 
the proposed rule change is available on the NYSE Arca's Web site 
(http://www.nysearca.com), at NYSE Arca's principal office, 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, NYSE Arca 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. NYSE Arca 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 this proposal is to extend the period for the 
Exchange's Pilot Program relating to standard position and exercise 
limits for equity option contracts and for options on QQQQs until March 
1, 2007.\5\ Specifically, the Pilot Program increased the applicable 
position and exercise limits for equity options and options on the QQQQ 
in accordance with the following levels:
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    \5\ The Pilot Program, which was effective upon filing on 
February 25, 2005 and subsequently extended twice, is set to expire 
on September 1, 2006. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51286 
(March 1, 2005), 70 FR 11297 (March 8, 2005) (notice of filing and 
immediate effectiveness of File No. SR-PCX-2003-55, as amended) 
(``Pilot Program Notice''). See also Securities Exchange Act Release 
Nos. 53350 (February 22, 2006), 71 FR 10582 (March 1, 2006) (notice 
of filing and immediate effectiveness of File No. SR-PCX-2006-08); 
and 52263 (August 15, 2005), 70 FR 49003 (August 22, 2005) (notice 
of filing and immediate effectiveness of File No. SR-PCX-2005-95).
    \6\ Except when the Pilot Program is in effect.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Current equity option contract        Pilot Program equity option
             limit \6\                          contract limit
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                         13,500                               25,000
                         22,500                               50,000
                         31,500                               75,000
                         60,000                              200,000
                         75,000                              250,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Current QQQQ Option Contract Limit   Pilot Program QQQQ Option Contract
                                                    Limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        300,000                              900,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that extending the Pilot Program until March 
1, 2007 is warranted due to the positive feedback from OTP Holders and 
for the reasons cited in the original rule filing that proposed the 
Pilot Program.\7\ The Exchange has not encountered any problems or 
difficulties relating to the Pilot Program since its inception. For 
these reasons, the Exchange requests that the Commission extend the 
Pilot Program until March 1, 2007.
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    \7\ See Pilot Program Notice, supra note 5.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and, in particular, 
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\8\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \9\ that requires that the rules of an exchange be 
designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts, to remove impediments to and perfect 
the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, 
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

    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.

[[Page 53151]]

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received from Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments on the proposed rule change were neither solicited 
nor received.

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

    Because the foregoing rule change does not: (1) Significantly 
affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) impose 
any significant burden on competition; and (3) become operative for 30 
days from the date of this filing, or such shorter time as the 
Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \10\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\11\
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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    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.\12\ 
However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \13\ permits the Commission to designate 
a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest. The Exchange provided the Commission 
with written notice of its intent to file this proposed rule change at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing the proposed rule 
change. In addition, the Exchange has requested that the Commission 
waive the 30-day pre-operative delay. The Commission believes that 
waiving the 30-day pre-operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and in the public interest because it will 
allow the Pilot Program to continue uninterrupted.\14\
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    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \13\ Id.
    \14\ For purposes only of waiving the pre-operative delay, the 
Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, 
competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
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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 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 No. SR-NYSEArca-2006-49 on the subject line.

Paper comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File No. SR-NYSEArca-2006-49. 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 will also be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of NYSE Arca. 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 No. SR-NYSEArca-2006-49 and should be submitted on or before 
September 29, 2006.

    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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Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-14877 Filed 9-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P