[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 249 (Thursday, December 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78252-78253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22194]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54973; File No. SR-Phlx-2006-82]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to Addition of the Hapoalim Israeli American Index to Rule 
1101A

December 20, 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 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 \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
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).
    \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

    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.\5\
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    \5\ 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.
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    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.

[[Page 78253]]

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 \6\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \7\ 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.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \7\ 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.

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 \8\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\9\
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \9\ 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.
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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.
    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.\10\ 
However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \11\ 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.\12\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \11\ Id.
    \12\ 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).
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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-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.
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    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    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