[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5642-5644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2118]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-63771; File No. SR-ISE-2011-06]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Regarding the Listing of Option Series With $1 Strike Prices
January 25, 2011.
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 January 14, 2011, the International Securities Exchange, LLC
(``ISE'' or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as
described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by
the Exchange. 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.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its rules regarding the listing of
$1 strike prices. The text of the proposed rule change is available on
the Exchange's Web site http://www.ise.com, at the principal office of
the Exchange, on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov, 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 self-regulatory organization
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 self-regulatory organization
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 Exchange proposes to amend Supplementary Material .01 to ISE
Rule 504 to improve the operation of the $1 Strike Program. Currently,
the $1 Strike Program only allows the listing of new $1 strikes within
$5 of the previous day's closing price. In certain circumstances this
has led to situations where there are no at-the-money $1 strikes for a
day, despite significant demand. For instance, on November 15, 2010,
the underlying shares of Isilon Systems Inc. opened at $33.83. It had
closed the previous trading day at $26.29. Options were available in $1
intervals up to $31, but because of the restriction to only listing
within $5 of the previous close, the Exchange was not able to add $32,
$33, $34, $36, $37 or $38 strikes during the day.
The Exchange proposes that $1 interval strike prices be allowed to
be added immediately within $5 of the official opening price in the
primary listing market. Thus, on any day, $1 Strike Program strikes may
be added within $5 of either the opening price or the previous day's
closing price.
On occasion, the price movement in the underlying security has been
so great that listing within $5 of either the previous day's closing
price or the day's opening price will leave a gap in the continuity of
strike prices. For instance, if an issue closes at $14 one day, and the
next day opens above $27, the $21 and $22 strikes will be more than $5
from either benchmark. The Exchange proposes that any such
discontinuity be avoided by allowing the listing of all $1 Strike
Program strikes between the closing price and the opening price.
Additionally, issues that are in the $1 Strike Program may
currently have $2.50 interval strike prices added that are more than $5
from the underlying price or are more than a nine months to expiration
(long-term options series). In such cases, the listing of a $2.50
interval strike may lead to discontinuities in strike prices and also a
lack of parallel strikes in different expiration months of the same
issue. For instance, under the current rules, the Exchange may list a
$12.50 strike in a $1 Strike Program issue where the underlying price
is $24. This allowance was provided to avoid too large of an interval
between the standard strike prices of $10 and $15. The unintended
consequence, however, is that if the underlying price should decline to
$16, the Exchange would not be able to list a $12 or $13 strike. If the
underlying stayed near this level at expiration, a new expiration month
would have the $12 and $13 strike but not the $12.50, leading to a
disparity in strike intervals in different months of the same option
class. This has also led to investor confusion, as they regularly
request the addition of inappropriate
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strikes so as to roll a position from one month to another at the same
strike level.
To avoid this problem, the Exchange proposes to prohibit $2.50
interval strikes below $50 in all $1 Strike Program issues, including
long term option series. At each standard $5 increment strike more than
$5 from the price of the underlying security, the Exchange proposes to
list the strike $2 above the standard strike for each interval above
the price of the underlying security, and $2 below the standard strike,
for each interval below the price of the underlying security, provided
it meets the Options Listing Procedures Plan (``OLPP'') Provisions in
ISE Rule 504A.\3\ For instance, if the underlying security was trading
at $19, the Exchange could list, for each month, the following strikes:
$3, $5, $8, $10, $13, $14, $15, $16, $17, $18, $19, $20, $21, $22, $23,
$24, $25, $27, $30, $32, $35, and $37.
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\3\ Rule 504A codifies the limitation on strike price ranges
outlined in the OLPP, which, except in limited circumstances,
prohibits options series with an exercise price more than 100% above
or below the price of the underlying security if that price is $20
or less. If the price of the underlying security is greater than
$20, the Exchange shall not list new options series with an exercise
price more than 50% above or below the price of the underlying
security.
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Instead of $2.50 strikes for long-term options, the Exchange
proposes to list one long-term $1 Strike option series strike in the
interval between each standard $5 strike, with the $1 Strike being $2
above the standard strike price for each interval above the price of
the underlying security, and $2 below the standard strike price, for
each interval below the price of the underlying security. In addition,
the Exchange may list the long-term $1 strike which is $2 above the
standard strike just below the underlying price at the time of listing,
and may add additional long-term options series strikes as the price of
the underlying security moves, consistent with the OLPP. For instance,
if the underlying is trading at $21.25, long-term strikes could be
listed at $15, $18, $20, $22, $25, $27, and $30. If the underlying
subsequently moved to $22, the $32 strike could be added. If the
underlying moved to $19.75, the $13, $10, $8, and $5 strikes could be
added.
The Exchange also proposes that additional long-term option strikes
may not be listed within $1 of an existing strike until less than nine
months to expiration.
Finally, the Exchange represents that it has the necessary systems
capacity to support the small increase in new options series that will
result from the changes to the $1 Strike Program.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') \4\ and the rules and
regulations thereunder and, in particular, the requirements of section
6(b) of the Act.\5\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) \6\ requirements 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. In particular, the proposed rule
change seeks to reduce investor confusion and address issues that have
arisen in the operation of the $1 Strike Program by providing a
consistent application of strike price intervals for issues in the $1
Strike Program.
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\4\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change does not 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 has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit,
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received
any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested
parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not significantly
affect the protection of investors or the public interest, does not
impose any significant burden on competition, and, by its terms, does
not 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 \7\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\8\
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\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the
Exchange's 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 has satisfied this requirement.
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The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day
operative delay. The Commission believes that waiver of the operative
delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public
interest because the proposal is substantially similar to that of
another exchange that has been approved by the Commission.\9\
Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon
filing.\10\
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\9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63773 (January 25,
2011) (SR-NYSEAmex-2010-109). See also Securities Exchange Act
Release No.63770 (January 25, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-106).
\10\ 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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At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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-ISE-2011-06 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2011-06. 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
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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 website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the
principal office of the Exchange. 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-ISE-2011-06 and should be submitted on or before
February 22, 2011.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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\11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-2118 Filed 1-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P