[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51116-51118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20899]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-65098; File No. SR-Phlx-2011-102]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to 
Options on ETFS Gold Trust

August 11, 2011.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 \2\ thereunder, notice is hereby given 
that on August 2, 2011, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``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 list and trade options on the ETFS Gold 
Trust.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/micro.aspx?id=PHLXRulefilings, 
at the principal office of the Exchange, 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 Exchange 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 Exchange 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 the proposed rule change is to amend certain rules 
to enable the listing and trading on the Exchange of options on the 
ETFS Gold Trust (``SGOL'').\3\ Specifically, the Exchange proposes to 
amend Exchange Rule 1009, entitled ``Criteria for Underlying 
Securities,'' to amend Commentary .06 (iv) to add SGOL to the list of 
products deemed appropriate for options trading.
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    \3\ The ETFS is physically-backed by gold bullion which are held 
in Switzerland.
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    Currently Exchange Rule 1009 lists the securities deemed 
appropriate for options trading, which includes shares or other 
securities (``Exchange-Traded Fund Shares'' or ``ETFS''), including but 
not limited to Partnership Units, as defined in Commentary .08, that 
are principally traded on a national securities exchange and are 
defined as an ``NMS stock'' under Rule 600 of Regulation NMS, and that 
(i) Represent an interest in a registered investment company organized 
as an open-end management investment company, a unit investment trust 
or a similar entity which holds securities and/or financial instruments 
including, but not limited to, stock index futures contracts, options 
on futures, options on securities and indexes, equity caps, collars and 
floors, swap agreements, forward contracts, repurchase agreements and 
reverse repurchase agreements (the ``Financial Instruments''), and 
money market instruments, including, but not limited to, U.S. 
government securities and repurchase agreements (the ``Money Market 
Instruments'') constituting or otherwise based on or representing an 
investment in an index or portfolio of securities and/or Financial 
Instruments and Money Market Instruments, or (ii) represent commodity 
pool interests principally engaged, directly or indirectly, in holding 
and/or managing portfolios or baskets of securities, commodity futures 
contracts, options on commodity futures contracts, swaps, forward 
contracts and/or options on physical commodities and/or non-U.S. 
currency (``Commodity Pool ETFs'') or (iii) represent interests in a 
trust or similar entity that holds a specified non-U.S. currency or 
currencies deposited with the trust or similar entity when aggregated 
in some specified minimum number may be surrendered to the trust by the 
beneficial owner to receive the specified non-U.S. currency or

[[Page 51117]]

currencies and pays the beneficial owner interest and other 
distributions on the deposited non-U.S. currency or currencies, if any, 
declared and paid by the trust (``Currency Trust Shares''), or (iv) are 
SPDR Gold Shares or are issued by the iShares COMEX Gold Trust or the 
iShares Silver Trust. This rule change proposes to expand the types of 
ETFs that may be approved for options trading to include SGOL.
    Apart from allowing SGOL to be an underlying for options traded in 
the Exchange as described above, the listing standards for ETFs will 
remain unchanged from those that apply under current Exchange Rules. 
ETFs on which options may be listed and traded must still be listed and 
traded on a national securities exchange and must satisfy other listing 
standards.\4\
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    \4\ The ETFS must meet the criteria and guidelines for 
underlying securities as set forth in Commentary .01 to Exchange 
Rule 1009 and must meet other criteria specified in Commentary .06 
(a) and (b) to Exchange Rule 1009.
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    The Exchange notes that the current continued listing standards for 
options on Exchange-Traded Fund Shares would also apply to options on 
SGOL. Specifically, under the applicable continued listing standards in 
Rule 1010, Commentary .08, absent exceptional circumstances, options on 
Exchange-Traded Fund Shares shall not be deemed to meet the Exchange's 
requirements for continued approval, and the exchange shall not open 
for trading any additional series of option contracts of the class 
covering such Exchange-Traded Fund Shares, whenever the Exchange-Traded 
Fund Shares are delisted and trading in the Shares is suspended on a 
national securities exchange, or the Exchange-Traded Fund Shares cease 
to be an ``NMS stock.'' In addition, the exchange shall consider the 
suspension of opening transactions in any series of options of the 
class covering Exchange-Traded Fund Shares in any of the following 
circumstances: (1) In accordance with the terms of paragraphs 1, 
through 7, of Commentary .01 of Rule 1010 in the case of options 
covering Exchange-Traded Fund Shares when such options were approved 
pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Commentary .06 of Rule 1009; (2) 
following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the 
commencement of trading of the Exchange-Traded Fund Shares on a 
national securities exchange and are defined as an ``NMS stock'' under 
Rule 600 of Regulation NMS, there are fewer than 50 record and/or 
beneficial holders of Exchange-Traded Fund Shares for 30 or more 
consecutive trading day; (3) the value of the index, non-U.S. currency, 
portfolio of commodities including commodity futures contracts, options 
on commodity futures contracts, swaps, forward contracts and/or options 
on physical commodities and/or Financial Instruments or Money Market 
Instruments, or portfolio of securities on which the Exchange-Traded 
Fund Shares are based is no longer calculated or available; or (4) such 
other event shall occur or condition exist that in the opinion of the 
Exchange makes further dealing in such options on the Exchange 
inadvisable.\5\
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    \5\ See Exchange Rule 1010, Commentary .08.
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    The addition of SGOL to Exchange Rule 1009, Commentary .06 will not 
have any effect on the rules pertaining to position and exercise limits 
or margin.\6\ Further, the Exchange represents that its surveillance 
procedures applicable to trading in options on SGOL will be similar to 
those applicable to all other options on other ETFs currently traded on 
the Exchange. The Exchange may obtain trading information via the 
Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG'') from other exchanges who are 
members or affiliates of the ISG. The Exchange may also obtain trading 
information from various commodity futures exchanges worldwide that 
have entered into comprehensive surveillance sharing agreements with 
the Exchange. In connection with SGOL, the Exchange represents that it 
may obtain information from the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. 
(``NYMEX''), pursuant to a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement, related to any financial instrument that is based, in whole 
or in part, upon an interest in or performance of gold. Prior to 
listing and trading options on SGOL, the Exchange represents that it 
will either have the ability to obtain specific trading information via 
ISG or through a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with the 
marketplace or marketplaces with last sale reporting that represent(s) 
the highest volume in derivatives (options or futures) on the 
underlying gold.
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    \6\ See Exchange Rules 1001 (Position Limits), 1002 (Exercise 
Limits) and 721 (Proper and Adequate Margin).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act \7\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \8\ 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 amending its rules to accommodate the listing and trading of options 
on SGOL, which will benefit investors by providing them with valuable 
risk management tools.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \8\ 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 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: (i) Does not 
significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) does not impose any significant burden on competition; 
and (iii) by its terms does not become operative for 30 days after the 
date of the filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may 
designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public 
interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \9\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\10\
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission 
with 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 has fulfilled this requirement.
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does 
not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, 
Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter 
time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest. The Exchange requests that the Commission waive 
the 30-day operative delay so that the Exchange can list and trade 
options on ETFS Gold Trust immediately. The Commission believes that 
waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest.\11\ The Commission notes

[[Page 51118]]

the proposal is substantively identical to proposals previously 
approved by the Commission, and does not raise any new regulatory 
issues.\12\ For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposed 
rule change as operative upon filing.
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    \11\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
    \12\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 61483 (February 3, 
2010), 75 FR 6753 (February 10, 2010) (SR-CBOE-2010-007, SR-ISE-
2009-106, SR-NYSEAmex-2009-86, and SR-NYSEArca-2009-110), 62464 
(July 7, 2010), 75 FR 40007 (July 13, 2010) (SR-BX-2010-045) (rule 
filings to enable the listing and trading of options on ETFS Gold 
Trust on CBOE, ISE, NYSE Amex, NYSE Arca and BOX).
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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-Phlx-2011-102 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-Phlx-2011-102. 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 Web site 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.\13\ 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-2011-102 and should be 
submitted on or before September 7, 2011.
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    \13\ The text of the proposed rule change is available on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-20899 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P