[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74968-74969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21173]



[[Page 74968]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54876; File No. SR-CBOE-2006-103]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, 
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 
Rule Change Relating to the Extension of the Pilot Period Applicable to 
CBOE's Listing and Trading of Options on the iShares MSCI Emerging 
Markets Index Fund

December 5, 2006.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on December 4, 2006, 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 filed this proposal as a ``non-
controversial'' proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ 
which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing with the 
commission.\5\ 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)(iii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \5\ The Exchange requested the Commission to waive the five-day 
pre-filing notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay, as 
specified in Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii). 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (``CBOE'' or 
``Exchange'') proposes to extend the pilot period applicable to CBOE's 
listing and trading of options on the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets 
Index Fund (``Fund Options''). CBOE is not proposing any textual 
changes to the rules of CBOE. The text of the proposed rule change is 
available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.cboe.com), the Office 
of the Secretary, CBOE, 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, 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 those 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 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
    On April 10, 2006, the Commission approved a CBOE proposal (SR-
CBOE-2006-32) to list and trade Fund Options.\6\ SR-CBOE-2006-32 was 
approved for a sixty-day pilot period that was due to expire on June 9, 
2006 (``Pilot''). On May 31, 2006, CBOE filed SR-CBOE-2006-56 which 
extended the Pilot for an additional 90 days, until September 7, 
2006.\7\ On August 21, 2006, CBOE filed SR-CBOE-2006-72 which extended 
the Pilot for an additional 90 days, until December 7, 2006.\8\
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    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53621 (April 10, 
2006), 71 FR 19568 (April 14, 2006) (SR-CBOE-2006-32).
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53930 (June 1, 
2006), 71 FR 33322 (June 8, 2006) (granting immediate effectiveness 
to SR-CBOE-2006-56).
    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54347 (August 22, 
2006), 71 FR 51242 (August 29, 2006) (granting immediate 
effectiveness to SR-CBOE-2006-72).
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    The Fund Options will continue to meet substantially all of the 
listing and maintenance standards in CBOE Rules 5.3.06 and 5.4.08, 
respectively. For the requirements that are not met, the Exchange 
continues to represent that sufficient mechanisms exist that would 
provide the Exchange with adequate surveillance and regulatory 
information with respect to the Fund. Continuation of the Pilot would 
permit the Exchange to continue to work with the Bolsa Mexicana de 
Valores (``Bolsa'') to develop a surveillance sharing agreement.\9\
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    \9\ Telephone conference between Patrick Sexton, Associate 
General Counsel, Exchange and Geoffrey Pemble, Special Counsel, 
Division of Market Regulation, Commission, on December 5, 2006.
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    CBOE now proposes to extend the Pilot for an additional 90 days, 
until June 7, 2007.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a 
national securities exchange and, in particular, the requirements of 
Section 6(b) of the Act.\10\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the 
proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) Act \11\ 
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.
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \11\ 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 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 with respect 
to the proposed rule change.

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

    The foregoing proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \12\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder 
\13\ because the proposed rule change: (1) Does not significantly 
affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not 
impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) does not become 
operative for 30 days from the date of filing, or such shorter time as 
the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of 
the Act \14\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \15\ thereunder.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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    The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the five-day 
pre-filing notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay.\16\ The 
Commission is exercising its authority to waive the five-day pre-filing 
notice requirement and believes that the waiver of the 30-day operative 
delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the

[[Page 74969]]

public interest. Waiver of the five-day pre-filing and 30-day operative 
periods will extend the Pilot, which would otherwise expire on December 
7, 2006, and allow the Exchange to continue in its efforts to obtain a 
surveillance agreement with the Bolsa. Accordingly, the Commission 
designates the proposal to be effective and operative upon filing with 
the Commission.\17\
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    \16\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \17\ For the purposes only of waiving the operative date of this 
proposal, 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 the 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-2006-103 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-2006-103. 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 Section, 100 F Street, 
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. 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-2006-103 and should be submitted on or before January 3, 2007.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\18\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
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    \18\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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 [FR Doc. E6-21173 Filed 12-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P